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www.cannondownriggers.com
Ten Good Trolling Tips
1)
Test your lures over the boat side be-
fore sending them down and back. Do this to make sure
the lure wiggles and wobbles properly without going
belly up or wandering off. Some lures can be adjusted,
fi ne tuned actually, to impart maximum action. For ex-
ample, a slight bend in the tail of a spoon or twist of the
hook eye in the nose of a plug can make a noticeable
difference in how the lure performs.
Also, when running two or more lures, make sure the
offerings are compatible. Lures that run out of harmony
with each other are bound to tangle and that means
wasted time to straighten out the mess. Testing them
fi rst will avoid the problem.
2)
Consider different sizes, shapes, and
colors of lures. No one has ever fi gured out with preci-
sion what makes a fi sh strike or snub a lure. There is
no doubt, that matching the forage (minnows, crayfi sh,
etc.) in color, shape, action, and size can help trigger
those strikes from hungry fi sh. On the other hand, if fi sh
such as bluegills, small mouth bass or Coho salmon are
protecting spawning beds, they may attack whatever is
threatening. So, bright colors in lures may out produce
bland colors.
3)
Vary trolling speeds. Goosing the en-
gine now and then or slowing to a crawl every so often
will change the action of the lures and may get fi sh to
strike them.
4) Vary trolling patterns and lead lengths. The amount
of line you let out often determines how deep the lure
will run and, to some extent, what degree of action it will
impart. For starters, consider running lures about ten
feet behind downrigger weights. If fl at line trolling, put
them back about fi fty feet, then experiment depending
on what the fi sh do.
Trolling patterns affect lure action too, that is why
some anglers like to wheel a lazy S course. On turns,
outside lures will speed up momentarily while inside
lures hang for a moment or two. Fish may nail lures that
change speeds. Also, zigzag patterns allow for more
water coverage, plus it keeps lures out of propeller boil,
an important consideration for browns and other wary
species.
5) Locate fi sh on a vertical plane. Place lures in areas
where fi sh might be. Skilled fi shermen call these areas
the “strike zones”. They include the edges of the week
beds, structure along bottom, drop-offs, preferred tem-
perature of the target species, and the thermocline.
Remember
that
fi sh occupy certain areas for certain
reasons (sources of food, protective cover, preferred
temperatures, etc.).
6) Consider special knots and swivels. A good ball
bearing swivel will all but eliminate line twist and will
aid in getting maximum performance from a lure. Many
anglers add the tiny swivels to split rings already on the
lure itself. On the other hand, a swivel may dampen the
action of a sensitive lure, such as a Rapala. Some fi sh-
erman tie tiny improved clinch or loop knots. Loop knots
in particular may enhance up and down and side to side
action of lures. Any good fi shing manual will explain how
to tie these and other knots.
7) Consider releases for fl atline trolling. A good tip is to
secure a piece of downrigger cable or heavy monofi la-
ment to the water ski hook or handle below the transom
of most boats. To the other end of the mono or cable,
add a pinch-r-release. After letting out your lure to the
desire distance, put the rod in its holder, then bend the
tip and secure the fi shing line in the release.
8) Add a weed guard. Having trouble with weeds
hanging up lures? Consider tying a three-inch piece of
monofi lament a foot above the lure. Leaves, smaller
weeds and other debris may catch here momentarily
then fall off to the side of the lure without tangling.
Weedless lures are another smart consideration. Down-
rigger cables are effective weed catchers when trolling
for pike, muskies, or bass in weed-infested lakes.
9) Add a stinger hook. When fi sh short strike, slap at
lures without becoming hooked, adding a stinger hook
can solve the problem. Simply tie a treble hook to one
end of a four inch piece of monofi lament and then tie the
extra hook to the last gang of hooks on your lure. The
stinger hook, which trails the lure, provides extra insur-
ance.
10) Keep hooks sharp. Some of the best fi shermen
sharpen all hooks after every fi sh caught. Hooks get dull
through both use and misuse, and probably more fi sh
are lost to dull points than anything else.
T
rolling T
ips
AnglingOutpost.com
1-888-356-5022
AnglingOutpost.com
1-888-356-5022
