Fishing Techniques: The Beginner's Guide To Trolling

The Basics of Trolling

Trolling involves dropping a lure behind a vessel and waiting for fish to bite at your bait as it passes by. Trolling can be a fun way to spend a day on the water because you just sit back, relax, and wait for the scream of the reels to signify a bite. One of the great things about trolling is that it can be done from a variety of vessels, including boats, kayaks, and even SUPs.

Whether you're fishing from a small boat or a large one, trolling can be an effective way to catch saltwater fish. When trolling from a boat, you'll want to use heavier tackle than you would when trolling from a kayak or SUP. This is because boats can cover more ground and thus, require heavier tackle to handle the increased speed and distance.

As far as equipment goes, you'll need a few basic items to get started with trolling. These include a fishing rod, a reel, line, lures, and weights. If you're trolling from a boat, you'll also need a downrigger or outrigger. Downriggers are devices that are used to lower your lure into the water. Outriggers, on the other hand, are devices that are used to keep your line from getting tangled.

When it comes to depth, saltwater fish can be found at a variety of depths. However, most saltwater fish are found in waters that are 50 feet or less. When trolling, you'll want to target these depths. To do this, you can use a variety of lures, including diving plugs, spoons, and strip baits. If you're not sure what lure to use, ask your local tackle shop for their recommendations.

Choosing a Lure

When trolling, you will want to use a variety of different lures. This will allow you to target a variety of species. Some of the most popular lures for trolling include crankbaits, spoons, and swimbaits. You can also use live bait such as baitfish, squid, and cut bait.

When choosing a lure, it is important to consider the depth of the water you will be trolling in. For example, if you are trolling in shallow water, you will want to use a lure that stays close to the surface. If you are trolling in deep water, you will want to use a lure that sinks down to the depths where the fish are swimming.

It is also important to consider the speed of your trolling motor when choosing a lure. Lures that are designed for slow trolling speeds will not work well at high speeds. Conversely, lures designed for fast trolling speeds will not work well at slow speeds. So, be sure to match the speed of your trolling motor to the type of lure you are using.

Targeting Techniques

Some of the most popular trolling techniques include slow trolling, fast trolling, and downrigger fishing.

Slow trolling is a great way to catch saltwater fish. This trolling technique involves dragging a lure behind the boat at a slow speed. Fish cannot help but be tempted by the lazy pull of the bait. On the other hand, trolling at faster speeds covers more area in the seas. Downrigger fishing is another great way to catch saltwater fish. This trolling technique involves using a downrigger to lower the lure down into the depths of the water. All these trolling techniques are often used to target large species such as tuna, marlin, and wahoo.