I caught two trout trolling today as mentioned in the reports forum.
Trolling is new to me. I was running about 3mph (per the GPS) with tide on the way out, and slack tide on the way in. I had the lines pretty far out in case the motor spooked the fish passing through.
Questions:
Is that speed about right?
When you catch a trout trolling, do you turn around and make another pass trying to catch more? Or just keep moving along?
Any other tips?
Thanks in advance.
~Brad
172 Sea Hunt Triton (current)
36’ Heritage East trawler (sold)
ALWAYS troll one rod within 5-10 feet of your boats prop wash. Trout are very inquisitive and swim into the prop wash looking for injured baitfish. I usually catch more fish closer to the boat. If you catch trout in the same area then stop and cast that area. Probably some type of structure that is holding them. Getting late in the season…catch em up while ya can !
I grew up trolling for trout in the winter around Savannah, since the 1950s. Now I mostly fish S. Carolina but the technique is the same. We always have better luck on the higher portion of the tides, when it’s up into the grass. Troll close to shore, slow enough so that the jig bounces bottom pretty regular. Ignore the GPS speed, that is showing your speed over the ground, what is important is speed through the water. Just fast enough to keep your jig in contact with the bottom. In the natural scheme of things bait fish usually move in and out with the current, while predator fish position themselves facing the current, usually behind a structure forming an eddy, and wait on the bait to come to them. Hence it is usually better to troll with the current, just like a real bait would be moving, and work all the points, holes and structure. When moving with the tide you may easily be moving 3 mph without even using the engine, except to steer. We catch a lot in small creeks and you can’t have much line out, or you can’t make the turns. I don’t think they are very engine shy, we catch plenty close to the boat.
And yes, trout are school fish, where there is one there are certainly more. When I catch one then I quietly return to the spot, stake out, and work it good by casting jigs around the area. When it is exhausted, then continue to troll.
Hey i dont mean to hijack this forum but i got 1 question, do you guys all have 4 stroke or 2 stroke motors. We got a 02 merc 125 4 stroke, its pretty loud so do you think that would scare the fish off and can you troll in the prop wash like that? thanks
A small fish in hand is better than big fish in promise
This was the very tail end (last hour) of the outgoing tide. It sounds like I should try the higher half of the tide. Certainly easier to navigate the creeks with the deeper water.
Interesting about having the line closer to the boat. I’ll definitely try that too.
Two words: Trolling Motor. Once I got mine I couldn’t believe I went all that time without it. Great tool for quiet movement, if you need it. Like Cracker and Cooper said, “Trout ain’t shy”. It also reduces wear and tear on the starter, engine etc. Follow Cracker and Copper’s tips (because I know I will)
Do the obligatory low tide cruising and mark structure and oyster mounds. It will take time, but well all have to pay our dues. Good luck and keep us posted.
Yeah, a trolling motor is on my list of things for the boat. I’m thinking I’ll save up for a “nice” one though - low noise and plenty of power… oh, and an on-board charging bank for the battery. That starts to add up though, so gotta put it in the budget.
Thanks,
~Brad
172 Sea Hunt Triton (current)
36’ Heritage East trawler (sold)
Good to know ill have to try for some trout. Could i mounnt a trolling motor on a bowrider? What pound thrust would be best? I have a small one im putting on my jon boat so that wont work, thanks!
A small fish in hand is better than big fish in promise
I have the exact same boat and motor as you. Last time out I just pushed it in gear to troll, no faster. We cruised the edges of the creeks in about 8-12 feet of water with 2 rods out the back. We would get one on and then swing back around to troll through the same spot again. We stopped a few times after a hit to work the area as the others suggested.
quote:i got 1 question, do you guys all have 4 stroke or 2 stroke motors.
I have a 2 stroke Yamaha 70, and often times catch fish in the prop wash. A trolling motor is nice, but not really necessary as long as you can idle slow enough.
I know fishing in general is best when the tide is moving, but when trolling, does the tide (in/out) matter so much or the water depth? Here some creeks may be 4’ or less at low and 10-12’ at high. If the trout bit in 8-12 feet, would trolling right around high tide be just as productive?
Thanks all.
~Brad
172 Sea Hunt Triton (current)
36’ Heritage East trawler (sold)
Okay, stupid question. You guys are “bouncing” grubs on lead jig heads along the bottom. How often do you get hung up? It seems like every time I work such a rig along any bottom I am constantly getting hung up.
No question is stupid, if you don’t know the answer
Yeah, I don’t know about the others, I lose a lot of jigs. We get hung up a lot. Not any worse than casting jigs for redfish though, probably less. The better you know the creek, the less snags you will get. If you scout out the area at low tide you can see how to fish it at higher waters. Trout tend to prefer deeper water than reds, especially in the winter. Where redfish tend to feed shallow and on top of the flooded oyster mounds, the trout will usually be at the bottom edges, down in the water column where the oyster bars meets the creek bottom. We try to troll along the edges of the mounds where there aren’t as many snags. In many of the smaller creeks the trout will be in the center of the channel, between the oysters on either side. If there are no oysters then we pull close to the grass edge but if there are oyster mounds we troll on the deep side of them.
More recently I’ve been using weighted worm hooks a lot, rather than jig heads because you can rig the the bait weedless. It helps, some.
Try this.Use a cork float.Set the grub about 1 foot from the bottom of the creek you wish to work.I foot off the bottom will get you any trout in the area.You will hardly ever get hung up.Big float works best.
Regarding the distance from the boat… how to you get the grub near the bottom only fishing 10ft from the motor wash? Or should I assume multiple lines and that close line is going to be near the top of the water. I figure that a longer line is going to go deeper and closer to where the fish will be hanging out.
