The Troll Debate

So I have to put this on here. I have to get some advice. What do you guys think of auto troll? What does everyone think of constantly trolling period? I need to settle this argument with my fishing partner and I'm sure some of you have different takes. Do you think that trolling into your position will scare fish? Would you rather drift into the position silently? Just some of the questions that always arise between us. You can't work a plastic if your always constantly moving my opinion.. Do you feel the same way? The question remains "to troll or not to troll".

What

In regards to the manual trolling method or flipping the switch and being on auto troll at a very low speed.

I have never used that function on my trolling motor

Depends. Sometimes constant isn't possible. Sometimes it's too noisy for fish. Sometimes it doesn't matter at all. Yesterday, with 15-25mph winds, it didn't matter. I found a ton of bass on Joe pool yesterday that were feeding on shad that had kinda "blown" into a cove. Eventually I would be right on top of the bait balls and wouldn't catch anything. But, as soon as I'd get off the top of them, it was lights out again. I was in 3-4ft of water. So when I say on top...I mean probably scaring the hell out of them. Lol. Caught about 200 bass in a few hours. Honestly, it was almost 8 bass to 10'casts. Not one every cast....but close. It was the first time I have seen 4-5 largemouths fighting over a bait. I had what looked to be an "over 21" eat an under that ate my trap....lost them both. Haha. Had a 6" bass hit the trap and had a 3" shad in its mouth already.


Ok....back to the trolller.....

I think on the very calm days where bass are holding tight to cover(nervous) and in shallow water, it's probably best to be on constant low or off. Also.....shut off the pinging and clicking graphs. The biggest ones can associate those pings, clicks, and "wirrring" noises as trouble.

Drifting in quietly is the best option. I don't like the constant going because it will take more attention towards the motor than fishing in a small area. In a bigger area like a flat then it will work ok. I like to just use as little as possible and as low as possible most of the time. And I never use the constant switch, just my foot

I pick apart cover or structure too carefully to be on any constant trolling speed. And when I do choose to move on, I do so slowly.

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Constant low speed if you can't drift into position.

Your depth finders make a pretty loud click so really the more powerful ones make a louder click-click-click all day long. I know some pros prefish with their electronics and then keep them turned off on tournament day unless the electronics are needed.

Never knew this. Great info. So are you saying to turn off your electronics when you are approaching your actual spot? I'm curious how many do this and the direct results of having it off vs. it on. Have you been able to see a significant difference with this powered off vs. powered on?