Why troll for bass?

[Capt Sal]

The spring is the ''BEST'' time of the year to troll stretch plugs! As i have have said in many previous posts that it is not my favorite way to catch bass but a very productive way. Live lining and popping will always be my favorite. The easiest trolling we do for stripers id with stretch lures. They can be trolled on spinning rods or conventionals and no wire is needed. My go to lure is the small purple Manns stretch 25. The size of the lip determines the depth not the size of the lure. I use 60lb. yellow braid with 4' of floro carbon 40lb. for leader. The yellow braid can be marked in black for the proper distance to let out. An assorment of stretches in different colors and sizes in reccommended. You can get stretches that go from 8'- 50'. Do not use heavy mono to troll these lures it will not work! I like to troll them at 3.5-4 knots. Even the best charter captains i9n our area will troll stretches. They will save the day. Some days it is the only way you can catch them.Like i said if they will take live bunker or i can chunk them i would never even consider trollig. When trolling have respect for the boats on anchor and the other trollers.Trolling thru someones slick is not cool!

[Andreas Toy]

Hey Sal hope your well, good info this past week we have over 100 stripers.
Interestingly enough, larger fish have whole bunkers in there stomach, yet we have chunked in same spots with no takers, water temp 48-52. In my experience 55 degree is magic time for chunking.

[jerseyhunter]

Used to love trolling bunker spoons back and forth between the range b, you'd get giants, umbrella rigs worked well too but would suk when you got a rig full of shorts or more than one beauty. But that's how it was done and I couldn't complain.(not my vessel) , I also disliked drifting 8 and 10 oz's of lead for fluke next to the Ambrose tower, and I mean next to. Big fluke but to me took out the sport. Same as trolling.

[Joey Dah Fish]

This is me staying silent. But good luck to all hoping everyone has a great season

[MVP]

This is me staying silent. But good luck to all hoping everyone has a great season

Joey loves all types of fishing especially (Fluke,blackfish and tuna) but his favorite thing to do is trolling. He could care less if he catches any fish as it is so relaxing for him. He just loves it:D

[stugots]

Some days the fish only bite on the troll. You have to adapt to catch fish. To go out on any given day for any species without a plan B is why some guys catch and some guys don't. I always have the trolling rods while bass fishing and most days we use them at some point or another.

Same with Tuna. Bring the bait but always have the trolling gear as well.

I understand how some may think trolling is "cheating" but i will do whatever it takes to catch fish.

[SaltLife1980]

Trolling = Booo:D

[Capt John]

Hey Sal hope your well, good info this past week we have over 100 stripers.
Interestingly enough, larger fish have whole bunkers in there stomach, yet we have chunked in same spots with no takers, water temp 48-52. In my experience 55 degree is magic time for chunking.

Great catch Capt. Love trolling Stretches if I have to troll which, at times, is very effective and the only way to put fish in the box. Prefer bait fishing myself, but when push comes to shove you have to do what produces fish for the clients.....good job. See you on the water soon.

[Capt John]

The spring is the ''BEST'' time of the year to troll stretch plugs! As i have have said in many previous posts that it is not my favorite way to catch bass but a very productive way. Live lining and popping will always be my favorite. The easiest trolling we do for stripers id with stretch lures. They can be trolled on spinning rods or conventionals and no wire is needed. My go to lure is the small purple Manns stretch 25. The size of the lip determines the depth not the size of the lure. I use 60lb. yellow braid with 4' of floro carbon 40lb. for leader. The yellow braid can be marked in black for the proper distance to let out. An assorment of stretches in different colors and sizes in reccommended. You can get stretches that go from 8'- 50'. Do not use heavy mono to troll these lures it will not work! I like to troll them at 3.5-4 knots. Even the best charter captains i9n our area will troll stretches. They will save the day. Some days it is the only way you can catch them.Like i said if they will take live bunker or i can chunk them i would never even consider trollig. When trolling have respect for the boats on anchor and the other trollers.Trolling thru someones slick is not cool!

Good info for the readers Sal especially when trolling around anchored boats....have some common sense and respect for others out there. Stretches and the Rapala X-Rap Magnum's in bunker color are killers....

[Papasown]

Thanks for that post, Sal. Like you, I am also most happy to throw poppers, or snag and drop, but early on trolling is the good option. I have long been avoiding dragging wire, as that isn't fun anymore. Most recently, I have purchased down riggers, and like the idea of using a stretch with the planer cut down, or bunker spoons. Better yet I like to troll small plugs, and crocks or hopkins using light tackle, which works well with the release clips on the rigger. One trick I did learn last year, was when trolling a large bunker spoon, use a 2Ft. piece of bungie cord connected to my release clip to get good movement in the spoon.
Catch 'em up, guys.........Papa

[Gerry Zagorski]

Not much of a troller myself either but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do to get some fish onboard.

Interested in hearing more about this bungee method Pappas

[Oasis]

This is me staying silent. But good luck to all hoping everyone has a great season

Trolling is not fishing:D....:p

[MVP]

Trolling is not fishing:D....:p

Based on your smiley face i know you are kidding. I personally hate trolling for anything as i like to have my rod in my hand. Getting fish to hit a a bunker spoon (piece of Metal) when there are nice juicy bunker and live bait for the taking is truly an art. I am lucky enough to get to fish with one of the best striper trollers around. Home made bunker spoons and custom old school fiberglass trolling rods. Watching those rods work there magic and seeing the old man manipulate those spoons by bending them to get them to swim a certain way is very impressive. Lent my friend use my custom trolling rods and old man customs spoons being i rarely ever use them myself. For 10 trips in a row the old man spoons outfished the most popular bunker spoon sold to tackle shops by 5 to 1. To say he was amazed is an understatement. Trolling is definetly not my thing but it is hard not to appreciate its effectiveness when in the right hands especially for bigger fish.

[bulletbob]

Trolling.. meh.. I would simply target tog or ling, sea bass, horn dogs,, whatever.

Up here in the Finger Lakes, if someone asks you to go fishing, they are asking you to go trolling.. Thats all anyone does.. A few guys around here jig for lakers and walleyes, but that might be 5%... Trolling 100 feet down for fish that are usually less than 5 pounds from a boat that must remain moving at 3 knots?.. Not much fun really. They use 8 foot "noodle rods" and a reel the size of a Daiwa 27 or 47 H.. Riggers, or "wire dipseys". Lots of very old methods as well still very common. "Pulling copper", Using a hundred or so feet of copper wound on a giant spool, pulling a spoon on a leader by hand, no rod ,right off bottom.. Guys catch a lot of lakers like that, but ugh.... Also Seth Green "meat rigs" are still widely used. You use a tuna size rod with roller guides and conventional reel with a THREE POUND sinker, heavier than many of the fish you will catch, heavy braided or wire line, and 4 or 5 leaders about 10- 15 feet long spaced 15- 20 feet apart, and using a bunch of swivels and quick snap leaders.. You cover the water column from say 25 feet to well over 100 feet. If your fish hits the bottom leader, you reel up, unsnap and stow the top 4 leaders, take your fish off and re attach all 5 of them in order as you slowly lower the neat rig back down from a moving boat... yuck..... Its an abomination, but it catches a LOT of fish.. Me? Personally,I will pass, and go fish for sunnies and perch with worm and bobber..,,
THATS why I still drive down to NJ salt water to do much of my fishing... The LAST thing I would want to do is troll for stripers. If they won't hit bait, jigs, plastics, topwaters, etc on any given day, I would leave them be until they are in the mood. bob

[Hunter 2]

Tony Maja sells the bungee system. It gives the spoon similar action on down riggers as if you were using Maja rods. Check out his web sight

http://tonymajaproducts.com/trolling-bungee-system

[Capt Sal]

Trolling.. meh.. I would simply target tog or ling, sea bass, horn dogs,, whatever.

Up here in the Finger Lakes, if someone asks you to go fishing, they are asking you to go trolling.. Thats all anyone does.. A few guys around here jig for lakers and walleyes, but that might be 5%... Trolling 100 feet down for fish that are usually less than 5 pounds from a boat that must remain moving at 3 knots?.. Not much fun really. They use 8 foot "noodle rods" and a reel the size of a Daiwa 27 or 47 H.. Riggers, or "wire dipseys". Lots of very old methods as well still very common. "Pulling copper", Using a hundred or so feet of copper wound on a giant spool, pulling a spoon on a leader by hand, no rod ,right off bottom.. Guys catch a lot of lakers like that, but ugh.... Also Seth Green "meat rigs" are still widely used. You use a tuna size rod with roller guides and conventional reel with a THREE POUND sinker, heavier than many of the fish you will catch, heavy braided or wire line, and 4 or 5 leaders about 10- 15 feet long spaced 15- 20 feet apart, and using a bunch of swivels and quick snap leaders.. You cover the water column from say 25 feet to well over 100 feet. If your fish hits the bottom leader, you reel up, unsnap and stow the top 4 leaders, take your fish off and re attach all 5 of them in order as you slowly lower the neat rig back down from a moving boat... yuck..... Its an abomination, but it catches a LOT of fish.. Me? Personally,I will pass, and go fish for sunnies and perch with worm and bobber..,,
THATS why I still drive down to NJ salt water to do much of my fishing... The LAST thing I would want to do is troll for stripers. If they won't hit bait, jigs, plastics, topwaters, etc on any given day, I would leave them be until they are in the mood. bob
There would be many times you would go home with nothing if you don't troll. There are no ling or sea bass in Raritan Bay and no one is going to make tha run.

[Capt Sal]

I am in Florida and we catching big kings on stretches. I also catch grouper in the keys on stretches.:)

[Charlie B]

To each his own but I like to troll. On my boat with me running it I find it fun and interesting. Watching the chart plotter, fish finder,boat traffic, and rod tips keeps me occupied and happy. I don't use very complicated rigs or pull a big spread so I don't have many hassles. Just one or two rods with a stretch 25 or an umbrella rig pretty simple but it works. Most of the time at least...Charlie

[bulletbob]

There would be many times you would go home with nothing if you don't troll. There are no ling or sea bass in Raritan Bay and no one is going to make tha run.

I realize that... However, I would still find something else to if the only way to catch is to troll... I have done it plenty, and for me personally, its not what I like to do, especially when you have to keep the boat moving, and the fish fights like a log with a bit of a wiggle, and skitters on its side to the moving boat.. Its ok in shallow water where you can stop the boat and enjoy the fight of the fish.. meh,, Its just not for me.. I DO however acknowledge that its certainly the most effective technique in many circumstances... bob

[Duffman]

To each his own but I like to troll. On my boat with me running it I find it fun and interesting. Watching the chart plotter, fish finder,boat traffic, and rod tips keeps me occupied and happy. I don't use very complicated rigs or pull a big spread so I don't have many hassles. Just one or two rods with a stretch 25 or an umbrella rig pretty simple but it works. Most of the time at least...Charlie

Yeah Man. Thought I was the only one, but I love trolling.

[Papasown]

Hey Gerry, I just got back and saw your interest in the bungee cord with downrigger, and I see that Hunter2 provided the layout for Tony Maja's bungee system. I was talking to Tony Maja at the Somerset Show about 2 or 3 years ago, and he told me he was working with bungee cords and trying to find the best length to use. I thought that to be a great Idea, and set up bungee cords with release clips at different lengths for my own testing. I tried 2Ft. and 3Ft. ( I see Tony's system is with a 3Ft-3In. bungee), with fixed clip on one end to attach to the weight ball, and a release clip on the other end, same as mine.
Perhaps the bungee I use is lighter in weight/strength, or provides more bounce, I really don't know. It is a thin bungee.
After testing while under way on the surface, I feel the 2Ft for me provides nice swing of the spoon, and even a little forward and back bounce. The action is very nice, and gets slammed by bass and blues on the downrigger.
I'm gonna splash after I get a couple more 55degree days to finish up my get ready projects............can't wait. Catch 'em up, guys..........Papa

[Walleyed]

My name is Jim and I'm a troller.

I was taught to troll as young boy on the waters of Lake Michigan and they told me it was an ok thing to do. Trolling has caused me tremendous grief throughout my life. Not only have I lost thousands of dollars of lures and terminal tackle to rocks, sunken trees and other snags, I have been the constant target for the ridicule of other, real fisherman. They told me, use the bait boy, stop dragging line and straining water. Put away those trolling ways and you'll grow up to be a fine fisherman.

After many years and much sorrow, I have hit rock bottom (and lost another umbrella rig) and finally acknowledged the error of my ways. It has been 5 months since I last trolled and, God willing, I won't troll today. However, the temptation is great. I see the bunker spoons flashing at me, the Stretch 25's asking for new hooks, my line counter reels begging to be put out to sing the song of drag pulling clicker.

But no, I will shuck clams, throw poppers and chunk bunker...it's better this way.

[NoLimit]

Because it catches more fish?

[Gerry Zagorski]

Thanks Tony and Papa for the bungee explanation. Makes sense as I guess it mimics the give of a specialized bunker spoon pole imparting the action you want on the spoons. Learn something new every day...

[Capt Sal]

Yeah Man. Thought I was the only one, but I love trolling.

Some days it is just a simple relaxing way to fish. No muss no fuss if you get my drift lol

[bassnblues]

Trolling stretches is ok if that's what works. I'd rather call it a day and take the skunk than troll wire.

[Capt Sal]

Trolling stretches is ok if that's what works. I'd rather call it a day and take the skunk than troll wire.

If you have the proper rods and reels trolling wire is simple. Spooning with wire is simple. it is also productive and and a good way to land large fish. First you need the proper rods . I like a 9' seeker with a 4-0 penn. Me and a million other guys that is lol. In Raritan Bay 100' of wire with no drail is all you need. I use 12' of 60 lb. mono from the wire to the spoon. Out rodders are a must!They keep them spread and low to the water. I have a hughe selection from Tony Maja spoons to Montauk to Julians. I like white but they all work. There is a great feeling of satisfaction when you master this. When i was young i was lucky to fish on the Janet C with Capt. Coles and i also learned from capt Otto Reut. Hope i spelled his name right. Try it you might like it.

[bassnblues]

I had a pair of rods custom rods from the tackle box. I just don't like the heavy tackle and hassles of wire (tangles etc...). To each his own but it's just not for me.

[Gerry Zagorski]

A few things you need to watch out for if you're new to trolling Stretches. These Lures can be dangerous if you're not careful.

- When you're reeling them back in take your time and slow down when you get them in close to the boat. If they happen to break water and loose resistance when you have a good bend in your pole, they can come right back at you like they were fired out of a sling shot. Always keep your pole tip pointed down and off to the side of the boat instead of high sticking pointed straight on to the lure.

- Watch when you are unhooking fish.. If the fish starts thrashing around while you're removing the hook, you could wind up with a treble hook in your finger or hand. Always best to make sure the fish is quieted down and use long pliers to get the hook out. For the same reason a lot of guys switch out the treble hooks with single hooks. Makes it easier to get the hooks out of the fish and lessens the risk of hooking yourself.

Happy trolling.

[Capt Sal]

A few things you need to watch out for if you're new to trolling Stretches. These Lures can be dangerous if you're not careful.

- When you're reeling them back in take your time and slow down when you get them in close to the boat. If they happen to break water and loose resistance when you have a good bend in your pole, they can come right back at you like they were fired out of a sling shot. Always keep your pole tip pointed down and off to the side of the boat instead of high sticking pointed straight on to the lure.

- Watch when you are unhooking fish.. If the fish starts thrashing around while you're removing the hook, you could wind up with a treble hook in your finger or hand. Always best to make sure the fish is quieted down and use long pliers to get the hook out. For the same reason a lot of guys switch out the treble hooks with single hooks. Makes it easier to get the hooks out of the fish and lessens the risk of hooking yourself.

Happy trolling.

Jerry, When i was chartering i had a rule. Everyone should have sun glasses! I use to keep a few extra pairs on board. It can save your eye sight. It can get hectic also when jigging.You hit it 100%,when you reel a stretch up to the boat they can fly out of the water right at you.Safety first always.

[Papasown]

Thanks for the tips, Gerry. I also have had the stretch plug rocket out of the water, but I tend to hold it out over the side, so I have been lucky, so far. Over the last year or two I have been changing out the trebles for siwash hooks. They are single hooks with long point, and work very well on Bass and blues. These are typical of the hooks on Maja Spoons.
Also, another point I like about the downrigger, is that you can adjust the depth of your spoon/plug very easily, and even keep an eye on the weight ball while trolling by watching your depth finder. All good stufff. Be well, Papa

[MrAC1980]

I've been out plenty of times when the live lining bite died with the boat traffic and the only way to put more meat on the deck was to put the spread out. I do umbrella's or spools out the outrodders and one or two plugs down the middle. I tend to run slower because of the umbrella's and spoons, but the plugs do sometimes get hit being up higher. Trick is to watch your machine and figure out what depth the bait is at and go from there.

[bunker dunker]

hated it!!!!

[Chrisper4694]

the problem i have with trolling is this:

when fish are busting the surface or you see guys slamming them on sub surface lures and instead of casting at them or jigging guys will troll through them....drives me nuts.

unfortunately there are def days where trolling is the very best way to find and catch fish though.

[makosnax]

The only worse than trolling is trolling on a boat that won't throw it in neutral so you can enjoy the fight. Sometimes you have to do it though.

[MrAC1980]

Funny thing is if you follow all of the bass reports right now, seems trolling is the only way they are putting fish in the boat. Few guys had luck on plastics, but word is that bite died out recently.

[bulletbob]

I have a question about trolling stripers maybe someone can answer.. I don't see much about using downriggers or dipsey divers in salt water fishing.. Any reason for that?? Up here thats all that is used for trolling big pacific salmon in Lake Ontario. I realize stripers aren't as deep as salmon generally, but if you are marking scattered pods of stripers at oh I dunno maybe 25 feet down over 30 or 35, downriggers would get you in the zone very easily. accurately and quickly.. Maybe some saltwater guys do use downriggers but I don't hear much about it. Same with dipseys..
I don't like either, but there is NO doubt, that those methods work, and sometimes thats all that works... bob

[Capt Sal]

Funny thing is if you follow all of the bass reports right now, seems trolling is the only way they are putting fish in the boat. Few guys had luck on plastics, but word is that bite died out recently.

Exactly! Some of the best striper specialists are trolling. They have customers that want to go home with fish. Most customers would rather chunk or live line. Fact is so would the capts. and mates with out a doubt. This is why you have to be diversified! So if you charter and bring six anglers out what do you need on your charter boat? Six conventional rods for chunking or live lining or clamming for that matter. Six spinning rods to cast soft plastics and jigs, with a couple spares in case one breaks. The next thing is some expensive trolling rods. We will need,bunker spoons, stretch lures and umbrella rigs. We will have to have a couple spare 4-0 reels spooled with wire in case one gets back lashed and explodes Lol We have to go see Percy and buy two bunker cast nets. You have to have two in case you loose one on the bottom.If you don't have a big sport fisherman that you can lock up all this equipment in you have to put it all on the boat every day. At the end of the day it all has to come off the boat and repeat this in the dark early the next morning.Then you get a call from a customer and they would like to go striper fishing first and then make a 15 mile move and go ling or sea bass fishing all for the same price lol You have to love it to be a charter boat capt. and be a little insane also::rolleyes:

[Papasown]

Hi BulletBob, The principles of dwnrigger fishing is basically the same in salt water as in fresh water. I have fished salt water my entire life, and have gone through some techniques that are not as interesting to me any more, particularly dragging wire. After many years, it has become more like work than fun. I would much rather snag and drop bunker, but put the bunker on a large circle hook with a fish finder rig and 2oz. sinker to keep it down. The release of larger fish is less damaging with the circle hook. I don't care to keep the big cows as their flavor is different, and the meat is so muscled up, more so than smaller striped bass.
I got into downriggers so I could drag small plugs and spoons using light tackle, and enjoying the fight more. I also cut down the lip on stretch plugs, and enjoy draging them on the downrigger. When your fish finder marks fish or bait at a particular depth, you can immediately set to the depth, watch you rigger ball in the water colum, and even anticipate the hookup. These methods come from frshwater fishermen like yourself, Bob, but the salt water species go for it as well. There is a ton of info out there in all the fishing magazines, and media. Just adapt a little to the salt.
Being a fresh water fisherman, You probably are familiar with "Spoon Plugging made famous by Buck Perry. I also Spoon Plug in the Manasquan River, and back bay locations, and have had impressive catches. For those of you that have not read Buck Perry's book on SpoonPlugging, there is a wealth of info he put out that applies to all inland fisheries, salt and fresh. He was an amazing man that designed his own spoons that have a distinctive shape and porpose. OK, Who's gonna Google Buck Perry first, I would venture to guess it will be Gerry Zagorski, but I would suspect he knows about the SpoonPlugging Nation. LOL Be well, and catch 'em up......Papa