Trolling

[EvanT123]

Does anyone trol for smallmouth ? If so what do you use? How effective do you think it is?

[roadwarrior]

http://www.bassmaster.com/node/96856

[BradH]

I catch large numbers of smallmouth, largemouth, drum, white bass, rock bass, sauger, pike and about anything else that swims while I am trolling for walleye. I am usually pulling flicker shads, shad raps, rattle baits, square bills, deep little Ns and dd22s. I think it is very effective. The Normans are not really a "walleye trolling" crank but they sure work good. I like to pull them over rocks/gravel and let them crash the bottom for all species.

[Crestliner2008]

Shades of "Spoonplugging"! In years past we used to troll frequently for smallies on a large, hill-land reservoir. We pretty much mapped it out in great detail doing this. We learned where the bass were and why. We'd then anchor up and start jig or tube fishing. We eventually learned to drop shot. So, yes, trolling is a very effective way to learn a body of water.

If I were fishing a new body of water, without the aid of a good sonar (or even with it), I'd definitely try some trolling.