Trolling for fish is the perfect way to enjoy the great outdoors and fishing if you are a sportsman that just can not sit still. While many people love the relaxed and lazy feel of sitting in the boat or on the riverbank and waiting for a bite, other fisherman just have to go to the fish. If you are the latter type, then trolling may be the perfect kind of fishing for you. It enables you to actually track down the fish almost as if you were hunting them, and also gives you a chance to enjoy the feel of the wind in your face and your boat cutting through the water. Trolling can be done in rivers or lakes, but it is generally better to troll in a lake where you do not have to deal with the current.
Instructions
How to Troll for Fish
- 1 Attach the bobber to the fishing line. The bobber should allow enough line to trail underneath the water that the bait will float at least 5 or 10 feet below the surface. You can set the line for much deeper if you are in a deep lake, but you will have to make this decision based on your personal location.
2 Cast the line behind you. Allow the motor to idle while you cast. Do not cast until you are in deep water. The bobber should trail 15 to 20 feet behind the boat. If you like, you can allow it to spin out even further. Just make sure that you can still see it in the water so you will know if a fish bites.
3 Shift the motor into a low gear. Some motors actually have a gear marked "trolling." This is generally the lowest gear possible. You will move forward at a slow, steady rate. Gunning the motor will yank the lure away from an interested fish and kill live bait, so move slowly and methodically.
4 Run the boat in straight or gently curving lines around the area that you wish to fish.Keep an eye on your bobber, and also on the top of your pole, which will "jump" if a fish strikes your bait. Trolling alone takes some practice since you have to watch where you are going and also keep an eye on your poles, so until you are comfortable you may want to take some company.
5 Focus on areas where fish should be plentiful. If you have a fish finder, it will beep and in some cases even show you what depth fish are swimming. You can circle these areas and make multiple passes over high concentrations of fish. If you do not have a fish finder but are familiar with the body of water, you may want to stay in areas where you have had good luck in the past.
