Any good tips for a noob to trolling?

[tpcowfish]

Re: Any good tips for a noob to trolling?

Hey NM, Ive fished with guides in KY, and they used balloons,and yellow birds(planer boards) for stripers. May work for ya ,put egg sinker on main, tye on swivel run out a leader to hook, find depth of fish, run out that much main line, blow up balloon, tye it at desired depth, sort of like a slip bobber, run it behind boat attach planer boards, and straight off back. If fish are feeding up, no egg sinker, It has worked for me, Just a thot, good luck, Tim

 

[NMShooter]

Re: Any good tips for a noob to trolling?

Thanks for the tips!

OK.. I think I have enough gear to get me started in both trolling and divorce I have pushed the limit of patience with my wife!

I won off of ebay a couple of big jon 4' manual downriggers, weights, swivel bases, and a happy troller. I'm going to mount a downrigger board across the gunwhales of my boat this weekend, and maybe take my boat for a test run Sunday, just to see how slowly I can troll. Back trolling might be an option, except when the water gets rough. If I am not slow enough, I'll rig a 5 gal pail with a cable and attach it to my bow. (going to have a bunch of stuff to remember to do before hitting the throttle )

I've got an idea for using a board across the back both for a downrigger base, and also a brace for a rear fishing pedestal seat. I have some neat little clips that I've been saving for awhile with no idea how to use them... if this all works I think it will be pretty slick.

So now I have roughly $1000 worth of gear, and $0.25 worth of talent. Hopefully we're capable of learning. Anybody want to bet on whether my daughter or I catch the first fish?

 

[LongLine]

Re: Any good tips for a noob to trolling?

She'll catch the 1st first fish. You'll hand her the rod. (Because if you don't, she'll tell mama and then mama will kick your *****)

But don't worry...in time...she'll be saying "Here dad, you take it, it's a little one"

One more suggestion I'd like to make. Before you put anything in the water, discuss a plan with her. i.e. what to do if a fish gets on. Who grabs the rod, who clears the lines, who's driving the boat, are there other boats around, do I turn & go with the wind, do we land the fish off the back/off the side.

Good luck.

Tom B.
(LongLine)

p.s. remember - NEVER put the boat in reverse with downrigger cables down.

 

[NMShooter]

Re: Any good tips for a noob to trolling?

Oh man... I'm close to getting done rigging my boat and I'm itching to try it out... lake Heron in NM this weekend (if the weather holds). Just finished attaching a 2X6 across the stern of my boat. There was previously a 1x6 particle board holding the stern light and a supporting base for a vinyl flap covering the gas tanks and battery. That thing is now gone.

I covered the 2X6 with carpet, and bolted it down to the aluminum transom drain. Then I riveted some aluminum angle to the gunwhales...It is amazingly tight, and looks pretty good too. Makes the worn out interior of my boat look even more shabby. (Uh oh. These things sort of snowball, don't they?)

Anyway, I'll get the downrigger swivel bases mounted tonight. I'm pretty sure that they won't snap off, even with the 4' booms.

 

[NMShooter]

Re: Any good tips for a noob to trolling?

Voila! Port side base. It's mounted 2' inboard from the stern. I'll cantilever out 2' to the stern, or 3' over the gunwhales.

 

[LongLine]

Re: Any good tips for a noob to trolling?

Looking good.

Tom B.
(LongLine)

 

[scottyt22]

Re: Any good tips for a noob to trolling?

I fish Lake Michigan trolling, we run 2 lines in the back with lead line - reals have "lead line" - the more line you let out the deeper the lure goes, and we run 2 to either side with planer boards, don't use lead line on those. I have a nice ski boat so did not want all the hardware associated with downriggers.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Any good tips for a noob to trolling?

Very nice install - clean boats are happy boats!