Re: First Time Trolling
What you need depends on what you want to catch. For trout or salmon, I like a baitcasting real. Mackinaw (lake trout) you might need 500 ft or more if you don't have a downrigger. I catch them a lot at 150 to 200+ feet. I just don't usually want to go deeper that maybe 250. With leaded line and 3 oz weights I figure I'm down less than 100 feet for every 200 feet out, there is a formula on most of the leaded line, at least what I get. Jigging works good for them too. Rainbow and some other trout, and kokanee salmon I usually get with around 50 to 100 feet out. A fish finder can tell you how deep to go, and be aware how deep the lake is. Your lure, bait, etc also depends on what you want to catch. 1 1/2 mph is usually a good speed to troll, but you will have to adjust , for the whims of the fish. A downrigger takes you pretty much straight down to the depth you want. It isn't quite 90 deg. but maybe 85.
I also like trolling a dry fly. Whatever bugs are on the lake (mosquitoes usually work good they're everywhere) with a casting float and 100 to 200 feet of monofilamant line oh say 15 lbs test, with about 5 feet of 2 to 5 lbs leader, also monofilament going from the float to the fly. They make a light grease or oil you can rub on them lightly to keep them dry, although I forget what that's called. You can also change flies every so often, like after every fish, and they will dry back out after awhile. Just see if the fly floats on top to see if you need to change. My father-in-law was an avid fly fisherman, and it used to really upset him the way I fly fished. Especially when I caught more.
