Trolling

Patti:
You had asked about trolling but got very little useful info. I am going to try to help you out. The below thread will help out a lot. A hell/pet combo works well. Most crank baits/ rattle traps and other diving lures will work as well. The type of rod does not matter as much. Heavier duty rods and bait cast reels work but are not required. The lighter your line the deeper your lure will dive. Fish the depth changes on wind blown points. Humps also work well. When you find a school, quit trolling and try to cast in to them with a slab, spoon, humdinger, etc. You can get better numbers that way. Stay clear from anchored boats. There are plenty of fish to be caught elsewhere. Fish will gather at certain depths. If you start catching them in 15 feet of water, just follow the contour if they are scatterd.

http://texasfishingforum.com/forums/ubbt...Pet#Post2770307

If ya need pet spoons I might have a few on sale??? Always glad to help trollers,slab dudes,sassy shad guys,top water anglers,live shad & minnow killers, all people who fish.

Don't see a lot of bash'n going on, just help. I do not troll, but it is a good way to catch fish. Good luck

i find that if i don't at least put a good swivel on my line before my lure, my line gets all twisted up when im trolling and winding. maybe someone can recommend a better solution than just a good swivel?

Trolling SUUUCKS What are you thinking?

Really that is cool - I’ve had bunches of friends and even my Dad that would do it - It’s good to just sit back and with a girl friend and shoot the breeze and drink a beer (or your beverage of choice).

It can be great (and very productive) – but is no way to catch fish – but on lazy day – with your girl friend – it can be great.

I would just as soon catch them on jug lines.

I'm sorry - I forgot your question - hell pets etc.. etc.. etc;- drag a bait over any under water humps - points or humps and you might get lucky;

I love trolling

I gots no problem with trolling as a means of catching fish. In the heat of Summer, sometimes I will do it in the middle of the day over deep water and catch some big hybrid.

A hellbender with a pet spoon about 30" behind it works great. To save a little dough, I like to buy the deep crankbaits at Academy that are $3 and put the pet spoon behind them. Sometimes they work even better than the hellbender.

Now on the other hand, if you are the idjit that drives across the lake and then drops out the trolling rods and starts circling a boat with a marker out and are SITTING STILL CATCHING ONE AFTER ANOTHER - then yeah, look out - 2oz slab coming your way

Please keep this one nice guys. If you have nothing nice to say about trolling then dont say it The guy wants info on trolling so let it be info on trolling

WOW! What a can of worms I opened up! The only offense I took was the sexist "panties in a wad" comment. I thought the rest of you (in this post and the now locked post) were very helpful. I guess this is an ongoing problem with trollers vs others. I understand that people get in each other's ways. It is all about perspectives.

OK for whoever posted the Spiderman fishing pole picture....I think I will try a My Little Pony fishing pole, maybe? LOL

Thanks for all the great info. I hesitated joining since I don't know much about fishing. I'm just a middle aged city lady trying to learn new things. I do love a good fish fry!
Patti

Dont worry Patti, if you would like any more info call me directly, I was taught by Billy Seaman and he good at that.... Here is the set up you need....



This is kinda the way to use it....



Patti, most of us fisherman have had to many run ins with people trolling when fish are schooling it happens all the time and it makes then frutrated

With all the "distractions" I totally forgot what I had originally posted....My attention span is short these days.

I have a Pro Qualifier baitcaster with dual brakes and a 6.4:1 ratio and 6'6" rod. I did fairly well today learning how to cast it. I even aimed at and hit the dog today with it! (with the practice plug, I mean.) Only 1 giant tangle.

Since my brother doesn't stop the boat, I just have to reel the fish in. Will the 6.4:1 ratio be good or bad? I don't want to be a human winch and be tired before lunchtime. If someone already answered that question, I must have missed it. Thanks,
Patti

Gear Ratios:

The lower the ratio, the more power your reel has.
The higher the ratio, the faster the retrieve.


Lower ratios are good for 'horseing' fish in.

I don't know which I would prefer when trolling - I never troll. I could see where each would be beneficial. I know that doesn't really answer your question but maybe the information on what the gear ratios are generally used for will help you make a more informed decision.

Personally, I think you'll be okay with your 6.4:1 as long as the gears can handle the power too.

Good luck.

Jeff, The ratio info does help. I will probably have to "horse" it in, but at least it will be quick!

John, I just saw those pictures in another post so I asked a question there too. Usually we fish for crappie, but when desperate we troll. Last summer I went trolling during a bass tournament. Didn't know there was a tournament. We had the same problems with the bass boats. Race to a spot, fish for a few minutes, race to a spot, etc. We couldn't troll because of all that running around. I just looked at it like....they are in a competition....so let them do what they need to do. We can all share the lake and help each other out by remembering the perspectives of others. Thanks for the info on Hell-Pets. I have learned so much this week reading all the posts.

Patti (by the way have you seen the bass boat crash on You Tube this month?)

Trolling is sometimes the only way to produce fish on certain days. Look for dropoffs & underwater points - the same kind of structure you would look for when fishing normally - and work your lines across the depth changes.

Most days though, you can do well without trolling.

As far as tackle, you might want a lower gear ratio if you're gonna reel the fish in while the boat is still rolling. It'll be easier on your wrist. Also get a rod that's fairly limber, as you don't want to tear the hook out of the fish's mouth right away.

Here's something I do not quite understand --- when there are no birds working, no fish showing on the surface, no large clouds of baitfish or schooling fish "stacked up" showing on the finder, what is wrong with trolling past someone within 50 feet? It's not as if you will cause the fish to "sound" -- they are already on the bottom (or close) -- or break up a school which does not seem to have any cohesion.

When there's a "boat show" folks are often within 20 feet of each other, and as long as no one starts the "big motor" -- or only starts it to get away from others -- there seems to be very little trouble.

Trolling up to an area, then shutting off the motor, doesn't seem to be very rude, as long as you shut off far enough away from others.

In any case, of late, I've tried to find fish away from others. That just makes life simpler.

In addition, my new super-duper, totally waterproof, extra-special-expensive battery charger has gone on the fritz. It no longer charges. As a result, my trolling moter has become a useless fixture on the bow of my boat. Yes it's under warranty, yes I will drag the boat out of the water and bring it in -- but I just want to get in a day or two more of fishing before losing it until it's fixed. So, when I drift too close to anyone, I've got to start up the big motor to get away. For some strange reason, I often have a strike immediately on starting up -- has anyone else noticed that?

Eleanor, if you're trolling with an electric motor, then 50 ft really isn't a big deal ... but running the big motor on a day like you describe can be enough to run the fish off sometimes. Boat shows almost always involve guys fishing straight down or making short casts from their boat ... very little chance of crossing lines there. Trolling introduces a fairly long bit of fishing line crossing horizontally through the vertical lines ... results can sometimes be ugly.

On the other hand, I've had loads of drift fishing boat shows where you'd crank up your motor at the end of the drift & do a slow idle upwind without affecting the fishing. This is after drifting about ten feet apart 'Slow idle' is the key point. Just try to be as courteous as possible under the current conditions you're in.

Oh, I've gotten to prefer DD-22's for trolling rather than hellbenders. Dunno what to call it ... a DD-pet?

If your fishing Grapevine or Lewisville this time of year the whole trolling debate is kind of pointless. A fisherman trolling nearby doesn't make one tenth the noise or the wake as the constant barrage of wake board boats. The only time I have ever got upset about someone getting to close is when they hooked my gas line with a big spoon and the proceeded to try and yank it free.

My best trolling baits are a 5/8 ounce yellow and white humdinger or a chome rattle trap.

patti,

i troll a lot. i have electric down-riggers. like the hyper-striper jigs in the chartruse color. also use crankbaits Bomber 6-A size to DD-22's. the hell-pelt described from john varner will produce a ton of sandies. good luck. if you see the hydra-sport on the lake stop and say hello goodluck. clete

Mark, I had real high thoughts on you untill this, as a pro we are ambassadors of our sports, that said If it is a LEGAL method of take why bash someone? I have started out in many areas of my life on the frindge of things, but once I get into something I learn the ins and outs and refine myself, but by your standers of fishing I am a magot because I LOVE to troll with downriggers, and by the way clients dont care how you fish they just want to castch fish!

This probably the funniest post I have ever read. You really do need to lighten up Francis

not up tight my self, just think people should not judge just because it dose not set with them, but thanks for the welcome, been around a while just quiet for the most part.

I caught a nice Largemouth yesterday trolling with a crankbait at Grapevine...

Trolling is boring. It's also a decent way to find fish when they appear to be scattered.

That said, casting, or fishing vertically, can be far more productive (IMHO). You can vary the retrieve, keep the lure in the fishing zone longer, stop it, drop back, etc., etc., etc. Usually this results in more, and larger fish.

I think trolling is a tool to be used when needed.

At the new Academy on 377 in Wautaga, I bought some fake hellbenders for 88 cents each and some fake pet spoons for $1.49 each. That's a hell-pet rig for less than $3.00. Hard to beat...

He never said anybody was a mogot. He thinks it sucks, he persoanlly doesnt do it... but never called anybody any names.


Hello Elenor

Ahh, the wonderful trolling debate! Reminds me of the Ford v Chevy debate. .270 v 30-06 debate. And the list could go on.

I do what I do on the lake. And everyone else will do what they do. I've seen times when trolling was more productive, times when casting was, and times when vertical fishing was. There's times when live bait works best, and times when lures can be a preferred method.

I do what I need to to catch fish.

If any of you think less of me for trolling, think what you want. You are merely opinions on a public forum. And we all know what opinions are like!

It does open my eyes to some people's personalities every time one of these threads pop up though. So I enjoy reading them for that very reason. And I always love the keyboard commandos that claim on their PC to take actions that I yet to see take place on the water.

And what I find really funny????? To see some of these same people who despise trollers for "getting too close", or any number of reasons. Then they are the first ones to pull up on me or someone else trolling (catching fish), kill their motor, start casting, catch nothing, and then give us dirty looks for trolling too close. It has happened more than once (in a day sometimes). People like this were the main reason I bought a GPS unit for my boat. Now I don't throw out bouys for you to sit on top of.

Eleanor wrote,

"That said, casting, or fishing vertically, can be far more productive (IMHO). You can vary the retrieve, keep the lure in the fishing zone longer, stop it, drop back, etc., etc., etc."

I can do all of the things you listed while trolling. With he possible exception of keeping the baits in the strike zone longer. Because when conditions are right for it, and you find the strike zone, you can keep the baits there indefinitely.....

Trolling is an art form, just like any other kind of fishing. Some don't like it, and that's your prerogative. But to bash anyone for doing something you dislike just shows your true colors. Sure, some people are a little over zealous in everything they do. And others just don't have a clue. And this applies to any kind of fishing.


Jay

when u are out on tawak and its 102 in the shade no wind/or fish and u have no shade cause u r in a bass boat, trolling feels pretty good to get some kinda breeze blowing across the sweat getting all over ur shades and into ur eyes!!!!

+1

Once the thermocline sets up on Tawakoni, it's time for DOWNRIGGING and TROLLING!

Some of you guys put me in mind of my union days of long ago.
Upon joining that prestigious organization I was immediately demoted from human to whale poop.
The only thing that kept me going was knowing that at the end of my two year apprenticeship the angel of knowledge would visit me in my sleep and declare me "Mechanic.
From that moment on I would know all and could treat "Aprentices " like whale poop.
Best of all I would have no memory of my "Whale Poop" days and would firmly believe that I had been all knowing from birth.
Thanks for the memories.
J.B.

Man, you sure told them!!!! You rock

I love to troll. BTW Mark, I'm very disappointed in you.

I, for one, enjoy trolling. I also enjoy live baiting, both anchored and drfting. I have seen many times when I am catching and those who are jigging or slabbing are not producing as well.I have seen just as many times that they are far outproducing me. Through trolling and livebaiting, I have introduced many to the wonderful world of fishing. Kid's in particular can real up a fish without having to learn to cast or presenting a bait. Also,the hook set is not a problem as the fish that are caught while trolling are usually hooked perfectly.

I do not profess to be more holy that anyone else. I do not get mad when I am trolling and numerous folks find my spot and stop to slab, I just wish that everyone would understand that I am gonna continue what I was doing.

As far as trolling being a form of true fishing and all, I can't even begin to estimate the ammount of time and effort, money and knowledge that the offshore guy's spend on thier fishing and 80% of that envolves trolling. Tell those guy's they are not really fishing and see what they say.

All in all, I have had very little problems with others and I am quick to tell what I am doing and where I am doing it. If you want to know, ask me anytime. Just understand that I, like EVERYONE else may make mistakes, take a wrong path or some such and get into your area. It is not meant to happen. I strive to give all the room I can.

Keep up the faith and continue to catch em any way you want.

John Matlock

Hey Guys – that is just my thinking.

Trolling is great – and if you really like to do it right – get some down riggers.

I just don’t do it – but its fun and relaxing – and very productive.

Still – while trolling – hit the right spots – First and Foremost – Humps, End of Points – or where you see birds working (really just focus where the fish are - its really that simple).

If you're not a down rigger – you need to find a bait that goes to the depth they in and where you are seeing fish on your depth finders (just vary that crank bait to hit the depth they are in).

I use to use a 3 way swivel – with crank bait below (to hit the depth you are looking for) and a Jig on top with a leader coming 2 to 3 feet behind that crank bait (you will catch two at a time – plus big old Hybrids and/or Stripers).

Trolling is great - Sorry if I bugged you – it’s productive – Very - VERY Productive – especially as our waters warm up and they like to hang (suspend) in the thermal cline (normally about 20 to 25 feet).

I’m sorry – I did not mean to offend anyone – I know how to do it – and it’s great if that is how you like to fish – FISH ON – and enjoy it (YEP - enjoy everyone of them) – you bet it works – but that is just not how I like to do it.

Sorry – but just call me anytime – I’ll help you anyway If can (even on trolling methods) ,

The 3 way swivel idea is interesting. I might have to give that a try.

TTT - yep it's not my thing - but some good tips right here,

I used the 3 way swivel technique the other day and cleaned up. Biggest going 24".

You are most welcome to read my striper fishing web page --- or print it off if you want a copy.

www.wingsoverusa.com/home.htm

Trolling for hybrids works great for me.
I use a Norman deep little N white/yellow.
If I see them on electronics and catch one, I go back and work that area with jigs, slabs etc.
Not uncommon to pick up several in the same spot trolling and not be able to get a bite casting.
Don't get me wrong, I catch plenty casting, even with a fly rod, while schooling.
I would never troll too close to another boat or through schooling fish, but I don't believe my quiet Merc 4 stroke spooks em too much. I've caught too many while bringing my lure in, sometimes right up to the boat and with the boat in gear.

I was trolling the north side of grapevine on sunday afternoon
using one of my offshore rigs with a 10" Rapala Red/White saltwater lure with the metal lip adjusted to get down to about
20ft and within 10 minutes a large mouth at 23" 4#5oz nailed that lure. This exact same lure has caught dorado in Fiji, Thailand, Costa Rica and 2 weeks ago tuna off of jupiter, fl.
Now it has a large mouth from grapevine. I just started trolling it for heck of it.

I love trolling on the big motor (yamaha 250 4strk), drinking beer, cranking the tunes, and not wearing a life jacket).

Are there any tournaments at grapevine that allows this?

I like trolling...and I consistantly catch bigger fish
trolling if I put the bait down below the smaller fish

I do like live bait and slab'n but I ususally troll while
looking for fish.

Box of 15 hybrid all caught trolling bucktail jigs...
all caught in less than 2hrs

Nice box of hybrids - them Georgetown hybrids finally grew up!

How's the wife and Rusty doin', John? I haven't been to Waco since I can't remember the last time. I always thought jobs got easier the closer you got to retirement but not the case with me.

how about a jet diver to keep the spoon down...anybody do that?
I have trolled a white curly tail jig behind a jet diver and had some luck. mepps spinner with white bucktail works good too, and jet diver keeps spinner from twisting line all up.

John,
On that hell-pet picture, what is the part before the pet spoon made of? It looks like metal. Remember I am new to fishing!

Redfin, what is downrigging? How do you do it? Is that the picture you posted? Is it two separate things....or is the rod and reel connected to the thing that looks like a winch? I tried to find a video online to explain, but couldn't find one.

Mark, how does the 3 way swivel work? I have an image of 2 different lures/lines getting twisted around each other. Obviously that doesn't happen or people wouldn't use the swivels.

Learning a lot from you guys! Thanks
Patti

Redfin, I found something that explained downrigging. They didn't say anything about the water depth though. How do you keep from snagging a tree or stump?

Thanks, Patti

Patti, downriggers are a separate item with a rod holder attached to it. It has an 8-lb. "cannonball" weight attached to a 150-lb test wire cable. A line release is attached to the back end of the cannonball. You let the lure out about 80-100 feet behind the boat, pinch the line in the release that's attached to the cannonball, let the cannonball down to any depth you want to fish using the handle (with your reel in freespool). Then once at depth, engage your reel and put the rod in the rod holder and turn the reel handle until the rod has a bow in the tip (like the picture). Troll at 2.5 - 3.0 mph (GPS). When a fish takes the lure, the line will come out of the release, take the rod out of the rod holder to fight the fish and raise the cannonball back up on the downrigger. I now have electric downriggers where all I have to do is hit the up switch and it automatically raises the cannonball back up to water level.

To keep the rig from hanging up on trees and stumps, I stay out of tree and stump infested areas. This is strictly an open water/humps/river channel/thermocline (summertime) tactic unless you have the more expensive downriggers that automatically tie-in with your depth finder and change the cannonball depth with the depth of the water.

It can get very expensive. Stick with the jet divers for getting your baits to the right depth when you want to troll.