Is Trolling Cheating? ;)

[leadslinger]

It's that time of year, the water is 80+, grass is super thick down to 18ft. The bigger ones are holding at around 20+ feet (lake gets as deep as 100ft). I usually throw spinners (1+ oz), t-rig, and deep cranks. However, I seem to get so little time in the strike zone casting those baits just due to the nature of the fall and retrieve. Catch count is typically 1-4 over several hours.

A fellow fisherman mentioned he just trolls deep cranks and wally diver type lures this time of year to keep the bait down and to cover water.

Somehow I feel like that's going against some unwritten code of bass fishing   . However, I realize the idea is to CATCH fish.

So, I tried it, and landed a few nice ones marked at about 22 feet. It was cool to see the rod get bent so hard, but it seemed less satisfying.

 

What's the general opinion on trolling for bass? Cool, or uncool?

Other ideas for keeping the bait in their face at that depth?

 

Thanks,

Bill

 

[George Welcome]

Nothing illegal or immoral about it. Fish the way you want within the law and don't worry about it.

[J Francho]

Absolutely not cheating, unless it's a tournament and against the rules.  I wish my boat didn't idle to fast for it, or I'd be doing a bit of it myself.  We used to troll diving cranks and stickbaits on Lake Ontario to locate schools of smallmouth.  Get three hits on a pass, and we'd drop a waypoint, anchor up and start tossing plastics.  Another trick I use is to toss out a big, floating swimbait, either a Mattlures Hardgill or MS Slammer, and let it trail behind me while kayak fishing.  I wasn't really "trolling" but the random movements of the boat catch quite a few fish on the secondary rod.  Again, two rods are legal in NY, but not usually in tournaments, so follow your regs.

[slonezp]

It's awful boring. My dad was a salmon fisherman and I used to spend some time on Lake Michigan trolling for salmon and trout. Unless you run thru a school, it's nothing more than a boat ride. 

[BrianinMD]

If fishing for fun, not in a tourney, and its not illegal then no its not cheating.

[cast_and_destroy]

Have you thought of a modified drop shot rig with a heavier weight ? Just to keep the bait in the strikezone longer.

[AK-Jax86]

Trolling is a form of fishing I don't think it's cheating unless you are in a tourney and they state otherwise. No matter what way you fish fishing is meant to be fun.

If you want to get technical the all forms of fishing is cheating! Bring it back to the ancient times where you need your hands and a sharp stick to catch a fish. Now we have so many techniques and equipment to make it easier so that could be considered cheating

[Catt]

Some times I'll drift a flat dragging a Carolina rig

[.ghoti.]

Trolling is an excellent way to catch a lot of different species of fish. But, it bores me to tears.

[roadwarrior]

Before there were depthfinders, this was a great way to locate structure. The trick is covering a lot of water.

Keep a couple of buoys handy so when you catch a fish you can mark the spot. Then slow down and fish

the area with jigs and soft plastics.

[leadslinger]

Trolling is an excellent way to catch a lot of different species of fish. But, it bores me to tears.

I roger the boredom thing. While trolling, I was casting cranks and heavy spinners ahead of me.

[Fish Chris]

Personally speaking, trolling is likely the best way to "cheat myself" out of catching a big bass LOL

 

Not saying it can't be effective, just saying > I SUCK at it As many X's as I've tried trolling a swim bait, I've never caught 1 DD bass doing it.

 

Peace,

Fish

[flechero]

Trolling is no more cheating than using a reel to work the lure.  But like the rest, I usually find it pretty boring.

[Dwight Hottle]

Another trick I use is to toss out a big, floating swimbait, either a Mattlures Hardgill or MS Slammer, and let it trail behind me while kayak fishing.  I wasn't really "trolling" but the random movements of the boat catch quite a few fish on the secondary rod.  Again, two rods are legal in NY, but not usually in tournaments, so follow your regs.

 

 

Sounds familar J random movements of the boat when the waves are pushing you. On erie in PA waters you can have three rods out. But if you get hit on all three at the same time life can become very interesting.

[Raul]

Trolling is not simply stupidly dragging a lure with your boat to catch fish, it takes as much science and art as casting and reeling in to be consistent. You have to choose the right lure, the right location, the right speed, sounds familiar doesn´t it ?

 

I quite do some trolling when I go fishing, let´s look at it this way:

 

Your lures ain´t gonna catch nuthin´ if it ain´t in the water right ? the more they´re in the water the more chances you have they get bit.

 

You gotta move and try different places throughout the day right ? that mean you gotta move from place A to place B and so on .

 

I don´t see anything wrong in dragging my lures with my boat while I´m moving from spot A to spot B, who knows, maybe I can catch something and/or discover something that I wouldn´t have discovered if I hadn´t been trolling ( like that solitary hump in the middle of thousands of square feet populated by nothingness that has produced several hundred fish for me in the past decade )

 

There used to be a time long time ago when people like me living in a third world country did not have easy access to first world technology and even if you did have that access, the truth is that that first world technology wasn´t that super great if compare it to modern day technology, by trolling you discovered places that hold fish you never knew they existed.

 

Can it be boring ? I bet it´s a lot more boring not catching even a cold, and as usual, nothing is written in this sport, there´s been many times in my 3+ decades of practicing the obsession, where the only fish I´ve caught during the day were caught by trolling.

[webertime]

Some times I'll drift a flat dragging a Carolina rig

Exactly!

[Kevin22]

Trolling for smallies when they are biting is FUN! Trolling for bass when they are not hitting like crazy would be extremely boring for me. 

[OkobojiEagle]

Although they were designed and marketed for the walleye guys, many smallmouth bass have been taken on a spinner rig trolled behind a bottom bouncer. If you want to stick strictly with artificial baits, pull a Rapala balsa minnow bait behind the same bottom bouncer.

oe

[Diablos]

Trolling is not a technique I use, but I will troll if I'm moving to a spot that's only 50-100yds away.

[tatertester]

YES it is cheating!!!!!!!!

[JeziHogg]

Its not cheating, but its extremely boring.

[(='_'=)]

Trolling is not simply stupidly dragging a lure with your boat to catch fish, it takes as much science and art as casting and reeling in to be consistent. You have to choose the right lure, the right location, the right speed, sounds familiar doesn´t it ?

 

I quite do some trolling when I go fishing, let´s look at it this way:

 

Your lures ain´t gonna catch nuthin´ if it ain´t in the water right ? the more they´re in the water the more chances you have they get bit.

 

You gotta move and try different places throughout the day right ? that mean you gotta move from place A to place B and so on .

 

I don´t see anything wrong in dragging my lures with my boat while I´m moving from spot A to spot B, who knows, maybe I can catch something and/or discover something that I wouldn´t have discovered if I hadn´t been trolling ( like that solitary hump in the middle of thousands of square feet populated by nothingness that has produced several hundred fish for me in the past decade )

 

There used to be a time long time ago when people like me living in a third world country did not have easy access to first world technology and even if you did have that access, the truth is that that first world technology wasn´t that super great if compare it to modern day technology, by trolling you discovered places that hold fish you never knew they existed.

 

Can it be boring ? I bet it´s a lot more boring not catching even a cold, and as usual, nothing is written in this sport, there´s been many times in my 3+ decades of practicing the obsession, where the only fish I´ve caught during the day were caught by trolling.

 

i prefer to be casting, changing lures, trying different tactics, than just sitting in the boat cruising around hoping to get bit.... even if i dont catch a thing, i enjoy it more than just sitting still holding the rod....

[Dwight Hottle]

Do what you want. Do what you like. Trolling is just one more technique in your arsenal if you chose to expand your expertise.

[EvanT123]

When I fish with my buddy that's all he likes to do. Do we catch fish; yes. Are they generally on the smaller side; yes. Could we be doing it wrong ;yes. Do I find it boring ;yes. There is definetly a technique to it. read this article and it might change your mind on its effectiveness or if its cheating.

http://www.bassmaster.com/news/david-hayes-and-world-record-smallmouth-bass

[NWBasslover]

YES it is cheating!!!!!!!!

 

How is it cheating?  I bet you think that A-rigs are cheating too, don't you?