Trolling Techniques

[Grits]

I was hoping I could get all the experienced ifish members to share their trolling techniques. I have some posts about inexpierenced boaters getting in the way while trolling.

What is the proper way to execute a turn in a crowd? What do you do if you have a fish on? What do you do when the boat next to you has a fish on?

Any other Trolling etiquette/techniques that will help us newbies.

[Pilar]

Hi Grits, good topic. I've often thought there aught to be a school and a test for trollers.

It really depends where you fish. In T-bay the fishing grounds pretty much dictate the pattern. That's the first thing you figure out. If you're fishing a new (to you) spot, spend a few watching the guys that got there first. Fall into their pattern and follow the parade.

You give up a lot, trolling in traffic. You can't turn suddenly or change speed drastically. There's a few rules I follow, anyone else with some do's and don'ts feel free to pile on.

1) The more boats there are the closer to your boat you should fish. Long lining the Ghost Hole is for dummies and causes boat on.

2) If you have any trouble controlling your boat, don't run against the pack.

~~Lets spend a minute here (Pet peeve). If you are trolling through with the tide through a group of boats running against it beware. You are going much faster relatively than they are. They can't maneuver very much compared to you and you are sure to have close calls. This method produces take downs but involves head on a swivel boat driving. A lot of guides do this habitually. That's all good but I can't count the times I've seen one bearing down on me and the guy has his head down tying tackle. I end up gunning my kicker to dodge them or get hit by a sled full of penguins. Lately I have taken to using my air horn at close range.

3) Make way for fish on! If your troll takes you past a buckled rod, give them some room. Don't swarm the boat that hooked up. Maybe they will clear a way when you get bent. Let everyone know if you get bit and try to work the boat over out of the traffic. The fish will often have something to say about that (which way).

4) The guy in front of you has the right of way. Don't climb someones transom because they are going slow. Go around them or slow down.

5) Have your gear ready to fish when you fall in line. Tie up somewhere else.

All of this applies to combat fishing like B-10 and bays with definite sweet spots. Other places like jetties have other survival related rules. At T-Bay S. jetty, I say avoid the tip at all times. Watch out for sneaker swells too. These are pretty common in the fall and can be 2 or 3x the normal swell. Someone should be driving the boat at all times or you might 'net' yourself right up onto the jetty.

As far as turning goes, try to find the spot at the end of the pass where others are turning. Usually we do a weed/bait check at the same time. Crank up all lines and run to the beginning point or spin the boat around and make the reverse pass. Some places have a one way deal and some are like a racetrack. Freshen your bait while you move and use more scent. Don't forget to check your bait roll when it goes back down.

Smile a lot and have fun. There's nothing quite like the blue haze over the ghost hole on an October morning. Nookies go ballistic in shallow bays and make for reel burnin fun and long tearing runs under other boats.

[ 09-18-2001: Message edited by: Pilar ]