Just Fishing For Fun

[roadwarrior]

Like most of us I'm all about the "New Thing". Whether it's technique or the lure that KVD

used to win The Classic.  Bagely B2, Rapala DT6, Shadalicious, Blakemore Randy's Swimin'

Runner, etc. We are all looking for that silver bullet. But I'm old fashion and think there might

be a better approach or at least a couple of things to consider.

 

The fact that there are very few things that are prohibited at the professional level is a sign.

Trolling? Hmm, not in tournaments, but for the rest of us there is no better way to cover a lot

of water. As Rick Clunn said, "Catching fish is easy, finding them is the challenge." Back in the

Stone Age, before electronics, trolling was perhaps the most effective way to find fish. When

we got a strike we stopped and fished that area thoroughly with a variety of lures, but especially

the Creme purple worm!

 

Is there any lure other than the Alabama Rig that is outlawed at the professional level?

 

Hello!

 

Double down and troll The Rig. When you find the fish, stop and throw your other favorite lures

if you like.  In the spring, fall and winter there is nothing more effective for BIG bass and if your

water also features stripers, that's another bonus!

 

 

 

["hamma"]

If your just fishing for fun?, as opposed to a tourney?

 

trolling is definately going to help you "find" fish.

 But any other lure than a alabama rig outlawed?

 Lures? I cant think of any outlawed lures,.. your aforementioned "trolling" is a banned "presentation", but, then yet, if your just fishing for fun, the original outlawed presentation,... those two evil words: "live bait" will show you whats there or not.

 As far as the presentations outlawed? what do you think will happen with this "new" rod length ruling?

 How long will it be, before tough tourney days will be won on,... a fly?

[Bluebasser86]

When I had my 2 man I used to always troll on my way to the next spot. I caught a lot of fish and some big ones doing it. My first bass over 5 pounds was trolling a Yo Zuri crankbait in fact. 

[RoLo]

I'd be the last guy on earth to slam trolling, which comprised about 50% of my fishing on the Atlantic Ocean.

I don't know when they were first introduced, but they were called "umbrella rigs" in the 1960s.

The umbrella rig was the alpha dog off the Jersey coast, trolling for bluefish, striped bass & bonito.

 

My first freshwater boat was a rowboat without a motor. Back then, I didn't have a solid understanding

of fish location, when row-trolling frequently outperformed casting.  

 

Roger

 

[davecon]

Decades ago before the advent of affordable reels it was common practice in parts of Florida to "troll" rowing a boat with live bait. The fisherman would tie the end of the lines, usually 2, to the buttons on his shirt pockets. Then he would simply slowly row the boat. When a fish hit he would hand over hand the line. Talked to several old timers when I was kid and they told me it was common practice back then and very effective. I'm 65 and I was told this when I was a little kid and the guys telling me were in their 70's and 80's. 

 

Times change.

[Catt]

Since some are talking the 20th century

 

My job when fishing with my Dad was "sculling" our Jon boat by seating on the front with a small paddle!

 

I would troll a spinnerbait while Dad dropped shiners in the holes of cover with a canepole!

 

When I first starting fishing Toledo I trolled timberlines with Mudbugs & Hellbender's

[gim]

Lots of people targeting walleyes, salmon, trout, and muskies troll.  Actually in some cases that's probably the most popular way to fish especially if your out on something like the Great Lakes and have to cover a ton of water at various depths.  My boat isn't really outfitted for it so I rarely do it but it certainly can be very effective.

[Chowderhead]

2 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

When I had my 2 man I used to always troll on my way to the next spot. I caught a lot of fish and some big ones doing it. My first bass over 5 pounds was trolling a Yo Zuri crankbait in fact. 

 

I picked up a 2 person Pelican boat late in the fall last year.  I was so worried about getting the boat over to the spot I wanted to fish on the lake, that I never thought to try trolling a bait behind.  I will do that this year.

[N Florida Mike]

We trolled a deep ( for Florida ) ,clear lake a few times at night.One night he hooked a huge fish this way and fought it for a short time before it pulled the treble out of the crank bait.

He went back the next night and caught an 11 1/2 pounder that way going through the same deep hole.We were using baby bass cranks .

[Catt]

The only outlawed lure I know is they crankbaits the advertise, ya know the one with flashing lights & buzzing noises!

Edited February 19, 2017 by Catt
Operator error

[Deleted account]

Trolling an Alabama rig? We need a technique name for that...

[WRB]

Roger mentioned trolling umbrella rigs, the ocean is a big body of water and trolling is a common technique to locate fish, birds etc while running various lures behind the boat.

We trolled spreader bars, daisy chains, umbrella rigs and a wide variety of tuna and Marlin jigs/feathers for hours looking for signs if feeding fish.

Trolling umbrella rigs isn't new to fresh water, striper anglers do this all the time.

I troll on occasion to teach new anglers how to feel deep diving crank baits action and strikes, saves a lot of time. My son, when he was a youngster, liked to drag a slip shot rig behind the boat while I cast jigs or worms working a area and I often heard  "dad get the net"!

Tom

[JustJames]

I was thinking/planning of trolling lure while fishing for bass. I will target crappies though not bass. I dont know if it is gonna work out since the boat would move at very slow speed. I plan to use roadrunner with 2.5" zman swimz. Would it work?

 

I caught only 3 small crappies so far one on trolling double rig with marabou jig, one with inline spinner and last one from while drifting for catfish. 

[Hawkeye21]

Since I'm in a kayak I will troll while moving to a new location.  Since I'm only going about 2mph I might as well have a lure in the water while I'm paddling.  No reason to waste any fishing time.

[RoLo]

On 2/19/2017 at 1:34 PM, WRB said:

Roger mentioned trolling umbrella rigs, the ocean is a big body of water and trolling is a common technique to locate fish, birds etc while running various lures behind the boat.

 

We trolled spreader bars, daisy chains, umbrella rigs and a wide variety of tuna and Marlin jigs/feathers for hours looking for signs if feeding fish. Trolling umbrella rigs isn't new to fresh water, striper anglers do this all the time.

 

 

 

Geez, I haven't heard mention of spreaders or daisy chains in quite some time, let's throw in the Green Machine.

We'd troll daisy chains right behind the transom, on the 1st or 2nd crest (I do miss the foamy brine).

 

Roger

 

[WRB]

1 hour ago, RoLo said:

 

 

Geez, I haven't heard mention of spreaders or daisy chains in quite some time, let's throw in the Green Machine.

We'd troll daisy chains right behind the transom, on the 1st or 2nd crest (I do miss the foamy brine).

 

Roger

 

Old salt, miss my annual fishing trips from Balboa Island to Mag bay then onto Cabo for 35 years. Mean Joe Green; dark green & black Zooker...right rigger!

Tom

[everythingthatswims]

My 2nd biggest bass ever, a fish that was 24" long and I think was in the 8-9lb range, was caught trolling a shad rap behind a noisy paddleboat in July. Dumb stuff

[Oregon Native]

Have done some trolling on the Columbia River to locate smallies on miles of water that looks the same.  Also love to see new lures.  Have even started to paint some lures with paint I bought at Walmart in the spray can.  Says it works on plastic and IT DOES.  I'm hoping to paint a monster killer!!!  They ain't fancy but it's fun and it works.  I love the getting ready for the fishing day....thinking of trying to outsmart something with a smaller brain.  BUT....bass may use more of theirs!!

Tight Lines

[Airman4754]

11 hours ago, everythingthatswims said:

I caught my 2nd biggest bass ever, a fish that was 24" long and I think was in the 8-9lb range, was caught trolling a shad rap behind a noisy paddleboat in July. Dumb stuff

 

My dad and grandpa hated throwing lures all day and didn't really like bass fishing to begin with. They would both slow troll shad raps while I threw.

 

If I did have a better day than them it wasn't by much and there were times they flat out kicked my butt while sitting on theirs.

[Silas]

On 2/19/2017 at 10:16 AM, reason said:

Trolling an Alabama rig? We need a technique name for that...

 

There IS:  the Japanese invented it and rape and decimate the seas with it:

 

LONGLINING!!!  miles and miles of baited hook pulled by a ship. 

 

 

[Alpster]

I don't know if its considered 'trolling', but when the wind is up and my aluminum gets hard to control. Rather then fight it and get frustrated, I head to the upwind end of the lake and drift with the wind using a carolina rig. Have caught some decent fish.

[slonezp]

Never been big on trolling. My dad however would rather troll so we comprimise.

 

First thing I thought about when I opened this was spoonplugging and the second thing I thought of was a guy who lives on a lake I frequent. I imagine he fishes every day. I've never fished the lake without seeing him...and I watch him. I watch this older gentleman in a 1232 jon boat with an electric steer trolling motor and an anchor trolley on the bow and wheels mounted to the top of the transom so he can roll his rig up onto his property. I watch him troll. He trolls 2 lines off the back of his little jon boat. He trolls breaks. He trolls flats. Did I mention he trolls breaks? He is very precise. He is very successful. He has it down to a science. You'd think I'd learn from him......