Troll For More Fish
By Bob Jensen
There are three basic ways to present a bait to a fish. An angler can cast, drift, or troll. Each of these presentation techniques has merit, but in many situations, you just can’t beat a trolling presentation.
Trolling is effective for several reasons. A large area can be covered quickly, so concentrations of fish can be located in a short period of time.
If the fish aren’t concentrated, if they are spread
out, one here and a couple over there, trolling allows us to show our baits
to those scattered fish quickly as well.
Additionally, when trolling, our bait is in the fish zone much more of the
time.
hen a trolled bait gets to the fish zone, it stays there for a longer period of time. A bait that is being cast is in the fish zone for only a short period of time, and a drifted bait is in the fish zone during the drift, but is out of the fish zone for several minutes while a new drift is being set up. No doubt about it, there are lots of times when trolling is the way to go.
Some states allow anglers to use two or three lines. This
is a real bonus when trolling. An angler is able to use different bait colors,
sizes, and actions. By doing so, you can determine if the fish are showing
a bait preference on that day.
Crankbaits are probably the most popular lure-type for trolling. Frenzy
Diving Minnows and Frenzy Firesticks are becoming a favored bait for trolling
for walleyes. They run straight and at consistent depths, which is very
important when trolling.
Most anglers prefer a casting rod/reel combination when trolling. Casting outfits are generally tougher, making them more appropriate for trolling, as trolling can exert a good deal of pressure on the rod and reel. A C3 or C4 Abu Garcia reel teamed with a seven-foot medium action Lightning Rod makes a great trolling outfit. The medium action rod allows for more forgiveness in trolling. Ten-pound test Trilene XT is excellent for many trolling applications.
Start your trolling run in a suspected fish-holding area with a bait that will run a foot or two off the bottom. There will be times when it will be best if the bait is banging the bottom, and there will be times when the bait should be farther off the bottom. Experimentation is the key here.
Generally it works well to make gradual turns as a trolling
pass is made. By covering different depths you will quickly find which depth
is most productive.
With the growing popularity of four stroke outboards, trolling can be much
more productive and pleasant. The Honda motor that I use is quiet and runs
all day on just a little gas.
When you aren’t sure where the fish are, trolling is a great way to locate them. Trolling is also a great way to present a bait when you know that the fish are spread out over a large area. In many situations, trolling will help you catch more fish.
For more fish-catching information, visit fishingthemidwest.com
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