After a stressful week of intense work and pressure, you might be thinking of taking a break and perhaps taking a trip away from the busy city to explore. If you’re considering going on an adventure at sea, you may want to try troll fishing.
But first, you should understand what trolling, fishing is and how it’s different from the traditional fishing methods you might know of.
Trolling fishing, or troll fishing, is a challenging fishing technique used to catch a variety of fish, such as mackerel, tuna, trout, mahi-mahi, and marlin. Unlike the usual fishing methods, troll fishing is done on a moving boat. Since the boat is moving along the water, you have the chance to cover a wider area to find fish.
However, trolling is definitely not easy, especially when it comes to choosing the perfect location and the right depth. This is also the reason many people don’t have high chances of success when it comes to trolling. But as with other fishing techniques, it’s best to rely on knowledge of the activity rather than luck.
If you want to succeed in trolling fishing, you might want to read this in-depth guide. This article will discuss equipment selection and several tips that will be able to help you.
Is It Legal To Troll?
The answer to the above question depends on where you plan to troll. Some places may not allow it, particularly regarding the use of boats. However, if it’s allowed, you may be required to use a specific motor to troll. In that case, you might want to clarify any issues or details with the relevant authorities in the area before you get your boat into the water.
Assuming you have the right boat for trolling and the local authorities have approved your case, you still need to adhere to the rules regarding the equipment permitted to be used in the activity. Also, you need to clarify the kinds of fish you are allowed to catch.
These rules are meant to promote healthy marine life in the area and ensure that endangered species are given protection. Also, they are meant to keep all fishermen safe from possible harm.
What Fishing Gear Will You Need?
If you’re planning to go troll fishing, it’s important to know the necessary gear and equipment you should bring. Coming unprepared will only lead to a disastrous fishing experience. That being said, here are the important tools and equipment you might need on your trolling fishing adventure:
- Fishing Boat And Motor
You can’t plan to troll without considering the boat you’ll be using. Boats are the most expensive and important thing you need for the activity. When it comes to trolling, your boat should be powerful and have strong rod holders. This way, you won’t have to worry about losing your rods.
If you’re planning on doing offshore trolling, you will need a bigger boat with a reliable and strong engine. This is not meant for freshwater trolling, as you will probably end up scaring the fish in the area with your boat’s loud operating system. Rather, for freshwater trolling, you should use trolling motors, which are smaller and much less noisy than the big ones. These engines work best in lagoons, lakes, and other bodies of water that don’t have powerful currents.
- Fishing Rod
Usually, trolling boats can fit six to seven rods. The trolling rod you should use will depend on what kind of fish you’re planning to catch and where you are planning to troll. If you’re planning to go for inshore or freshwater troll fishing, you will need a rod with optimal stiffness. This is important not only for pulling big fish but also for fighting back the resistance created when pulling through the water.
When trolling for big fishes, fisherfolks usually use strong and durable rods that are around seven feet long. Also, it’s important to note that a rod will surely bend when a large fish is hooked onto it. In that case, you might want to use a specialized rod that has a guide with rollers. The guide will help minimize the friction created when you’re fighting to lure large fish in.
- Trolling Reel
When choosing a trolling reel, it would be best to use a baitcasting reel for maximum control. However, if you can’t find one in your local fisherman’s shop, you can also settle with using a reel for freshwater fishing.
Many anglers may use bait running reels, which are similar to baitcasting reels. Most of these reels are complex and advanced. Some of them have features that allow you to measure the line you have already deployed.
Bait runners are not strictly required, but they can help get the job done more easily, especially when you’re trolling for large predators like tuna and salmon. However, if you’re not aiming for big fish, you can use your regular baitcasting reel instead of a bait runner.
- Outriggers
These are not just ordinary poles attached to the sides of your boat. Outriggers are also known as line holders, and they prevent the lines from getting tangled with each other by helping to spread them out evenly. In addition, outriggers allow you to place your bait in areas without any bubbles created by your boat’s engine. This is helpful since no fish would dare go near the engine.
Furthermore, the outrigger will release a line from its clip once a fish takes the bait, and that will be your cue to reel the fish in.
- Downriggers
Similar to outriggers, downriggers are used to help you spread out your bait. However, they’re not just limited to spreading; they also lower the bait deep underwater with the help of a heavy weight. In addition, its lines are connected to a clip that instantly releases once a fish bites, which allows you to know when to reel the fish in, similar to how outriggers work.
Downriggers may be quite costly, but they will help you get the job done more easily.
- Fishing Lines
As with the other equipment mentioned above, the trolling line you should use depends on your situation. If you’re going for inshore trolling, you can use what you have; you don’t need to buy expensive specialized lines. However, you need to make sure that your lines are long and strong, depending on the fish you’re hoping to catch.
When it comes to offshore trolling, many anglers prefer to use the almost invisible monofilament fishing lines, especially if they’re planning to troll at fast speeds. The good thing about these lines is that they can absorb intense shock thanks to their reliable stretch capacity, which is extremely helpful when trying to catch large predators.
You might also want to try using braided lines. Braided lines are stronger than monofilaments and have a much smaller diameter, allowing you to cast your bait at a farther distance. Also, it’s heavier than monofilaments, making it perfect for bait that needs to be cast at greater depths.
What Is The Perfect Bait For Troll Fishing?
The best bait depends on the fish you’re trying to catch. What’s best for one type of fish may not be best for other types. The good news is, you have tons of options to choose from. When trolling inshore, you can use bait like crankbaits or soft plastic to catch freshwater fish such as walleye, trout, and salmon.
On the other hand, skirted bait is perfect for bigger predators, especially when trolling offshore. You may use dead or living lures like baitfish, but you can also use artificial lures paired with pieces of fresh bait to attract the fish. The combination of fresh and artificial bait is an excellent technique because the variety of colors can attract most fish. However, such lures may be too expensive to be used so often.
What Species Of Fish Can You Get While Trolling?
As mentioned earlier, troll fishing is an excellent way to catch different kinds of fish at the same time. The kinds of fish you can get will depend on where you troll, whether inshore or offshore.
That being said, these are the kinds of fish you might catch during inshore or freshwater trolling:
- Salmon
- Trout
- Bass
- Walleye
On the other hand, these are the fish that offshore or saltwater trolling may offer:
- Tuna
- Snapper
- Mahi-mahi
- King mackerel
- Barracuda
- Sailfish
- Blue marlin
As you can see, if you want to catch large fish or a wider variety of fish, offshore or saltwater trolling would be your best option. However, it’s more expensive and more dangerous than freshwater trolling, so you would have to be more careful and more attentive to your surroundings.
Final Word
Now you know the essentials of troll fishing. Trolling is undoubtedly one of the best ways to catch different kinds of fish in both saltwater and freshwater regions. It’s more dangerous than other fishing methods, but once you know how to do it, you’ll surely get addicted to it.
The best way to succeed in trolling is to know the essential tools and equipment and how they are meant to be used. While freshwater and saltwater trolling use the same fishing principle, the two may vary based on the tools used for them. That being said, it would be best to know the right pieces of equipment to use so you can avoid problems and successfully catch a good number of fish.
