Hi Fisher Friends!
I know I haven’t written in a while, and I apologize! This past spring has been my last semester at university and I’ve been a very studious student making sure I can walk the stage! Actually, I walked the stage just last week! so excited! Anyways, all that studying got in the way of fishing but I am back and I’m really excited for some fishing adventures this summer that I can’t wait to share with you.
I haven’t had a lot of time to get out on the ocean yet (stay tuned I have a fishing trip planned this weekend) but I have got out on the lake’s a couple times lately. So I figured that today, I would talk about trolling for trout on the lake.
Being totally honest with you, this was my first time trolling on the lake. I have always trolled for salmon in the ocean, but this was way different. And the fact that I have manual downriggers on my boat now while my dad always had electric was a real learning curve in itself.
For lake trolling there is a couple pieces of gear that I found worked but depending on how I fished them also found some weren’t great for a beginner lake troller.
You’ll need your typical gear; rod & reel (normal spinning rod worked for me with 10lb line but a trolling reel would probably be best), the lures you’d like to troll, a weight for your downrigger, and a flasher. If you don’t have a downrigger you could use slip weights, but I would recommend stronger line if you go that route.
When trying to troll I tried Gibbs Willow Leaf Troll. The guy at the store recommended it to me, and so I gave it a try. It is supposed to be able to dive down without a downrigger but being new to the whole lake trolling while trying to steer a boat needless to say it was a struggle, and I couldn’t get it to go down. BUT…with a downrigger I loved it!
Here’s how to set it all up (if using a downrigger). On your main line, attach the willow leaf troll, then with about 20 inches of leader (the guy at the store recommended this to me too), attach your lure. I used Gibbs croc for one side and an old spoon I found at home on the other side, the croc won FYI! Now attach the weight to your downrigger, or you can use a slip weight on your line if you don’t have downriggers, and
let the line out. I like to have the boat moving forward slowly when I let out my line then adjust the depth once both rods are out if I have 2 going.
That’s it! I know it doesn’t sound like a lot and it really isn’t but I did learn that patience and practice really make the difference when learning how to let out lines for downriggers and trying to reel them in on the lake in a small boat. Although I didn’t catch “The big one” I did catch a couple 4 inch babies which at least allowed for some much needed practice for the manual downriggers.
Have any cool lake trolling tips or questions about fishing? Leave me a comment below
Happy Fishing!
Kristina