Trolling is one of the most dynamic and effective ways to capture a predator in large waters. The essence of the method is the slow movement of the craft, where the bait attached to the gear mimics an injured or fleeing fish, provoking an attack. Unlike classical spinning, where the angler is actively working as a rod, here the main work is done by a properly tuned motor and a competent arrangement of gear on the sides.
The effectiveness of trolling depends on the technical equipment and understanding of the behavior of the fish in a particular season. sonar It allows you not only to search for fish, but also to see the predator's reaction to a passing wobler or a glitter. Many novice anglers make the mistake of thinking that it's enough to just swim and wait for a cool one, but professionals constantly adjust the speed and depth of the wiring.
Modern technology has made this type of recreation accessible to a wide range of amateurs, but requires a serious approach to preparation. PVC or metal boat, reliable motor and high-quality set of gear - is the foundation of success.
Choosing a boat and motor for trolling
The basic element in organizing trolling fishing is the choice of the right boat. metal boat flat-bottomed, providing stability in the turbulence and the ability to install powerful equipment, but for hard-to-reach bays and overgrown areas, often preferred PVCIt is easier to transport and more maneuverable in narrow places.
The motor must have enough thrust to drive confidently against the current and wind, but it must have very slow driving modes. Electric motors are often used as auxiliary for a silent approach, but the main gasoline engine is necessary for rapid movement between points. It is critical that the transom can withstand the weight of the motor and the load from downriggers or outriggers.
When choosing a configuration, consider the number of people in the crew and the amount of equipment required. An overloaded boat loses its driving qualities and becomes dangerous, so the calculation of the carrying capacity should be carried out with a margin. Security Requires life jackets for each passenger and anchors of appropriate weight.
⚠️ Warning: Never exceed the maximum passenger capacity specified in the boat's passport, even if it seems that there is enough space. On the water, an extra 50 kg of weight can become critical in a sharp gust of wind or wave.
Set of tackles and equipment
Trolling equipment is very different from a spinning kit, and rods must be powerful enough to withstand the resistance of large predators, but have a sensitive structure for the registration of bites, the optimal length of the form is from 2.1 to 2.4 meters, which allows you to conveniently manage several fishing rods at the same time without confusing them.
The multiplier coils are better, as they provide better traction and control of the depth of the line release, and a wicker cord with a tear load of at least 15-20 kg is wound on the spool, to which a leash is attached through the vertebrae. downrigger It allows you to lower the bait to a strictly defined depth, regardless of the speed of the boat.
- 🎣 Engagements: 20 to 60 grams test, fast or medium-fast formation.
- 🧵 Leska: wicker cord with a diameter of 0.16-0.22 mm with a bright color for visual inspection.
- 🔗 Furniture: high-quality vertebrae and fasteners that withstand the jerks of a pike or pike.
We should not forget about navigation equipment. GPS-navigator Not only is it necessary to stay out of your way, but it's also important to remember catchy routes, and a sonar with DownVision or SideVision will give you a detailed picture of the bottom, allowing you to bait directly over the eyebrows and dumps.
Use color markers or shrinkage at the ends of rods of different colors - this will help visually control the position of each gear with a full "dissolution" of the fan.
Posting tactics and selection of baits
The success of trolling lies in the correct presentation of the bait. The speed of the boat usually varies from 2 to 5 km / h, but for different types of fish and types of wobblers, it can differ. For example, the pike often prefers slower wiring, while the pike can attack at a higher pace.
Choice wobbler It depends on the depth of the fishing area and the transparency of the water. For deep-sea areas, they use models with a high depth, often equipped with an additional spatula or load. In murky water, bright, contrasting colors with active play are effective, and in transparent water, natural, natural shades are effective.
| Type of bait | Depth of wiring (m) | Target fish | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cranks (Crank) | 1.5 - 4.0 | Pike, Perch. | Active play, noise |
| Minnow (Minnow) | 0.5 - 2.0 | Pike, Jerech. | Realistic snarling game |
| Deep divers | 6.0 - 10.0+ | Sudak, Somishche | A large spatula, require a powerful rod |
| Splashes. | Anything. | Trout, salmon. | Used with downrigger |
It's important to experiment with gearing, and often it's a pattern where the baits that are near the boat go at a lower depth and the baits that are farther away go deeper, and this allows you to tap all the water horizons simultaneously and quickly identify where the active predator is.
The Secret of the Lazy Predator
If the fish is sluggish, try to make a sharp but short-term acceleration of the boat for 2-3 seconds, and then again to slow down. A sharp change in the speed of the bait often provokes an attack even by a passive perch or pike, which ignores the uniformly floating Wobler.
Set up sonar and search for fish
The modern sonar is not just a depth measuring instrument, but a complex analytical center. For trolling, it is critical to adjust the sensitivity and frequency of radiation correctly so that you can see not only the bottom, but also individual schools of fish, as well as thermoclines. thermoclin It is a layer of water with a sharp temperature difference, where fish often concentrate.
When you're driving, you need to monitor the structure of the bottom, and the sharp dumps, the snags and the underwater bumps are the predator's parking lots, and the angler's job is to get the bait as close to the bottom as possible, without snatching it, using real-time sonar data.
Many sonar models allow you to save tracks and mark catch points, and by analyzing this data after fishing, you can find patterns and then go straight to the right places, and using deep maps in conjunction with GPS makes it much easier to navigate through an unfamiliar body of water.
⚠️ Warning: Don't blindly trust the automatic sounder settings. Depending on the density of the water and the presence of algae, manual adjustment (Gain) may be the only way to see the real picture of what is happening under the boat.
Safety and rules of conduct in the water
Fishing on a motorboat is fraught with risks, so safety is a must. Before each exit, check the technical condition of the engine, the integrity of the cylinders (for PVC) and the availability of fuel. Weather conditions should be favorable: strong winds and high waves can make being on the water dangerous.
Everyone on board should be provided with a life jacket, and it's not just a formality: In the event of an unforeseen situation, such as tipping over or falling overboard, the vest will save lives, and there should always be a first aid kit, an anchor with sufficient line and means of communication.
- ⚓ Anchorage: Always anchor with your nose to the current or wind so that the boat does not turn to the wave.
- 🔋 Fuel: Take a fuel reserve at the rate of +30% to the planned route in case of unforeseen circumstances.
- 📱 Communication: Charge your phones and power bank, and keep your local emergency numbers.
Knowledge of navigation signs and rules of the road on waterways is mandatory for every owner of a motorboat, and neglecting these rules can lead to collision with other boats or getting out into the fairway, which is especially dangerous at night or in fog.
☑️ Checking before getting on the water
Common mistakes and advice from professionals
Even experienced anglers sometimes make mistakes that negate all efforts. One of the most common is the use of too rough tackles. A predator, especially in clear water, can see a thick line and refuse to attack. The other extreme is too thin leashes that the pike cuts off instantly.
Many beginners ignore the importance of upstream. When trolling against the current, the bait is more natural, and the boat moves slower relative to the water at the same engine speeds, which allows better control. Driving downstream often requires constant maneuvers and gas discharges, which confuses the wiring rhythm.
Professionals recommend keeping a fisherman's diary, writing down the weather, pressure, moon phase and, most importantly, what baits and how fast they bite, and the accumulated statistics help you develop your own strategy for a particular body of water.
The secret to trolling is constant experimentation. If there's no cool in the places you've been tested, change the speed, the depth, or the type of bait, but don't stop drifting. Movement and search are the keys to success.
In conclusion, trolling is not just a way to fish, it's a philosophy of learning about the water, it requires technical literacy, patience and constant training, and the right equipment and understanding of the biological rhythms of fish make fishing predictable and fun.
Which motor is better for trolling: two-stroke or four-stroke?
For trolling, four-stroke engines are preferred because of lower fuel consumption, quiet operation and no need to mix oil with gasoline. However, two-stroke engines are lighter and cheaper, which can be important for small boats, the main thing is the availability of electronic throttle control for fine-tuning low speeds.
Do you need a downrigger for a novice trollingist?
In the initial stages, you can do without a downrigger, using wobblears with a large depth and releasing the fishing line to the desired length, but for serious fishing at depths of more than 6-8 meters, a downrigger is necessary for accurate control of the wiring horizon.
How to avoid overhang of tackles when using several rods?
Use outriggers to keep the line apart, and it's also important to follow the order of lowering the gear: the long ones go first, the ones closest to the boat come last, and the short tackles need to be rewinded when you turn the boat.
Can you catch trolling on small rivers?
Yes, but with limitations. Small rivers use short stretch lines (10-20 meters) and 1-2 rods, the main difficulty is maneuvering among drifts and sharp turns, which requires excellent knowledge of the terrain and constant monitoring of the sonar.