I’ll start by saying I’ve caught my fair share of trout. Just about every rig, jig, and bait possible. But I have never trolled for them. The only trolling I’ve ever done was offshore. How would I go about setting up to troll for trout?
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Originally posted by FishMarshalHow would I go about setting up to troll for trout?
</font id=“quote”></blockquote id=“quote”>If you are going this week, the only thing that would probably matter is, troll close to the grass and go as slow (even slower) as you can go. Everyone has there favorite grubs and plugs but, try a light then a dark grub, then a small then a large plug and see what works for you. My color lately is Root Beer.Example: I have NEVER caught a fish on an “Electric Chicken” but, some people will tell you that that is all they eat. Good luck.
Electric chicken, space guppie or rootbeer with a green tail and only the paddle tail jigs. When the water is in the grass. Thats what has worked for me.
Spot on! It’s funny that when you fish from the bank, you see how far out you can fish; and from a boat, how close you can get to the bank!
B.G.
pink/chart grub work fo me
Ok, so besides lure types is there a certain way to rig or just let a jig/lure trail behind the boat with the drag real loose?
“Fishing is not a matter of life or death. It’s much more important than that!”
nOOb question here. I’m assuming that you’re trolling using your electric motor right?
I’m too much of a noob to have a cool signature. (sad face)
I don’t understand how you can troll with a grub or a plug
I was thinking of a spinner or a crank bait but like you fishmarshal I have never trolled
2008
Ranger Banshee Extreme
Yamaha 60
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Originally posted by FishMarshal… is there a certain way to rig or just let a jig/lure trail behind the boat with the drag real loose?
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You can use electric or gas motor. You are going just fast enough to TRY to bounce the grub along the bottom. So, you are likely to get hung up from time to time either on the bottom or in the grass. If your drag is tight you might break off or break your rod.The trolling speed is just like when you cast out and retrieve the line if you are fishing from the bank. Not too fast and you don’t want to get hung up by going too slow.
Trout are going to eat or bight at anything that they see. Crank bait, plug, grub, rattle trap… The reason you troll is just to cover more territory. Just get out there guys!
I suggest you use a cork to troll and have it at a set depth to avoid hangups.I say this because you are new and do not know the creeks.I would go up a creek first and check out the depth on your recorder.Then come back with a set depth grub rigged on a cork and slow troll that way.Trout will hit a trolled anything if hungry 2 feet off the bottom.Use the equalizer and i like the chartreuse or chicken grubs.Minnows will also work and maybe better.Once you locate fish quietly anchor and throw the DOA or what ever you have at the spot.
Stonoman
One thing that I have found helps get the grub down is this: I throw the jig out as far as I can and leave the bail open for another 30-50 yds then close it. I put the rods in the side holders then loop the line under my back cleats to get the line down near the water. My cleats are smooth and offer little to no resistance to the line passing through. I dont have a trolling motor, just idle along with the current and bump in and out of gear periodically to steer. Watch out for crab traps/lines!
SeaPro 180CC
Go slow (idle speed); let out a lot of line; stay near bank; use grubs (and 52M Mirrorlures do well trolling too).
Gotcha Covered,
Lee Strickland
Strickland Marine Insurance, Inc.
843-795-1000 / 800-446-1862
Ive trolled with very little line on the reel and been forced to keep a grub close to the boat. Ive found that if the trout are there they will still strike up to around 20’ of the boat.
I don’t doubt that. They really don’t seem to spook from the motor any. Just want to get enough out so the grub can get down in the water column a ways–preferrably near the bottom, IMO. I don’t troll often any more. Used to. Always did OK with it.
Gotcha Covered,
Lee Strickland
Strickland Marine Insurance, Inc.
843-795-1000 / 800-446-1862
Thanks for all the great responses! Just wanted to try something different for a change. I’ll let y’all know how it works out! Im not “new” btw just never trolled for trout.
“Fishing is not a matter of life or death. It’s much more important than that!”
All of the above tips plus I like to troll in an “s” pattern. Another tip. When you get one on, don’t take motor out of gear. I’ve had as many as 3 trout hooked at a time. Just keep it in gear and let the rod fight it on light drag until you get all in…
I troll 4 rods with different colors until hitting on one they like that day.
17’ Mckeecraft
115 Suzuki 4
www.RiversTurkeyCalls.net
“Thar She blows”
All I do is troll for them and have for 40 years. On high tide, close to the bank and on low tide out in the middle. I have caught more on a pink Miro Lure and the Chartreus Miro Lure the last couple of years and a green curly tail grub is my “go to” bait. On dark days pull dark baits and on light days pull light colored baits. I even bump the motor in and out of gear to go slower. As long as the water is moving (in or out) seems to produce more for us.
Rick
troll WITH the tide
it will help with keeping the grub close to/on the bottom
smoke grey grubs are the “go to” trolling baits for me
Trolling with the tide also means the fish wil be facing the direction the lure is coming from. This the the natural presentation as the fish are staged into the current waiting for it to bring the bait to them.
Iain Pelto
Edgewater 185CC “Jumpin’ Bean II”