How many rods for trolling

[michaelsen]

I have one rod holder on each side and troll with the rods sticking out to the side on a 90 degrees angel from the boat. I don't know if I should stop there or get 1 or 2 more on the back pointing almost straight back.<br /><br />My boat has a 8'6" beam and I will mostly go slow trolling.<br /><br />How many feet should I keep between the lines?<br /><br />Also, the holders on the side is the plastic Attwood holders. Are they strong enough to take a strike from a big kingfish?<br /><br />Regards<br />Mike

 

[rolmops]

Re: How many rods for trolling

Hello.<br />If you are trolling with 4 rods you need down riggers. The secret to multiple rod trolling is in running the ones that go straight back on down riggers each at a different depth and a different length of line.Both these lines are shorter than the ones going out from the sides. These should have long line(copper or steel) on them and be at some 150 feet behind the boat.<br />When one of the rods gets a hit, it is very important to reel in your other lines fast or you will spend your time trying to unknot the lines.<br />Good luck.

 

[rc581]

Re: How many rods for trolling

yes u should use downriggers, but u can run the port and starboard poles out on dipsy divers, and the 2 off the transom on downriggers. but... i would be very careful of fouling your lines.. use good swivels to eliminate line twist, and watch how sharp u turn. unless u have lots of experience trolling, i would stay with 2 poles till u are more familier with it. good luck and good fishing.......bob

 

[rc581]

Re: How many rods for trolling

sorry, i forgot to answer u on the atwoods... yes they are strong enough. caught many kings in the 20+ range and they work just fine.....again, good luck....bob

 

[michaelsen]

Re: How many rods for trolling

Thanks for the replies.<br />Regarding the king fish... What do you use if you run out of live bait?<br /><br />Do you bring frozen bait or do you prefer spoons or plastic bait or something else?<br /><br />Regards<br />Mike

 

[rolmops]

Re: How many rods for trolling

Hello.<br />We use "old car parts".These are big very reflective shiners without hooks that we drag on the main line about 10 to 15 feet ahead of the lures.The idea is to create the turbulence and the reflections of a school of bait fish with the "weak one" lagging behind.

 

[Fly Rod]

Re: How many rods for trolling

Some times I use four rods for trolling when charter fishing. I basically use them when blue fishing. when fishing for stripers I only use two rods off the stern. Also I don't use down riggers, I use deep diving rapalas which go down 10-20 feet depending on trolling speed and how much line is out.<br />My boat is 7'2" across the stern. I run two lines off the corners on the transom about 50'-60' Two rods on the gunales like you do at 90 degrees using 1-1/2" plastic pipe as rod holders inside my stationary rod holders. These two lines are trolled approximateley 80' behind the boat. With this spread you generally do not get your lines tangled.

 

[rolmops]

Re: How many rods for trolling

Say Flyrod,<br />Do you know if anybody ever used an umbrella rig for lakers or salmon?

 

[Fly Rod]

Re: How many rods for trolling

rolmops<br />Only on rainy days or bright hot sunny days because I never wear a hat !!!! What else would you use an umbrella for ????<br /><br />When three of us would go salmon or lake trout fishing in a 16' Lund we had no problem fishing 3 lines, one off the stearn and two off the sides regardless if they were leadcore intermediate or monno lines. We couldn't afford down riggers in those days.<br />I guess today people would have to give up fishing if all the kismos failed. Always caught fish with out down riggers and fish finders.<br />The key to catching fish with a fish finder is always steer to port

that's the direction that the fish travel on one of them devices.​

 

[aban_gabby]

Re: How many rods for trolling

picking this up a bit late but anyway here goes. We generally fish 6 lines off our boats here. Some of the big charter boats fish a lot more lines than that.<br /><br />The trick is to get a V formation and set your lures so that no lure will be crossing another next to it on the turn. We also normally use out-riggers which spread the two back lines. This would create the same effect as different depths. You also need to watch your turning which should be set to the movement of the lures and wind action. A lighter skirt should be set to be blown to the outside and not inside. With a well set pattern of lures or baits you can minimize your tangles if you keep careful watch on your spread.<br />Personally I find the biggest problem comes from wind action.

 

[michaelsen]

Re: How many rods for trolling

A lot of good information here.<br /><br />I really would like to know: what do you prefer for kings when live bait isn't available, dead bait or or some fake stuff?

 

[rolmops]

Re: How many rods for trolling

Hello again.<br />I always bring both and have them in the water at the same time until the first few strikes tell me what today's special is.<br />Cut bait is my personal favourite,but it is less than ideal if you practise catch and release.(hook in the throat, not in the lip)<br />Often times the lures seem to work better when there is at least some cut bait floating around so in addition to turbulence and sight, smell is also used as an atractant.<br />The best way to find out is to go out with a guide who knows his stuff at least once and pick his brains.