Cannon DIGI-TROLL 10 Owner's Manual - page 31
31
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Ten Good Trolling Tips
1)
Test your lures over the boat side be-
fore sending them down and back. Do this to make sure
the lure wiggles and wobbles properly without going
belly up or wandering off. Some lures can be adjusted,
fi ne tuned actually, to impart maximum action. For ex-
ample, a slight bend in the tail of a spoon or twist of the
hook eye in the nose of a plug can make a noticeable
difference in how the lure performs.
Also, when running two or more lures, make sure the
offerings are compatible. Lures that run out of harmony
with each other are bound to tangle and that means
wasted time to straighten out the mess. Testing them
fi rst will avoid the problem.
2)
Consider different sizes, shapes, and
colors of lures. No one has ever fi gured out with preci-
sion what makes a fi sh strike or snub a lure. There is
no doubt, that matching the forage (minnows, crayfi sh,
etc.) in color, shape, action, and size can help trigger
those strikes from hungry fi sh. On the other hand, if fi sh
such as bluegills, small mouth bass or Coho salmon are
protecting spawning beds, they may attack whatever is
threatening. So, bright colors in lures may out produce
bland colors.
3)
Vary trolling speeds. Goosing the en-
gine now and then or slowing to a crawl every so often
will change the action of the lures and may get fi sh to
strike them.
4) Vary trolling patterns and lead lengths. The amount
of line you let out often determines how deep the lure
will run and, to some extent, what degree of action it will
impart. For starters, consider running lures about ten
feet behind downrigger weights. If fl at line trolling, put
them back about fi fty feet, then experiment depending
on what the fi sh do.
Trolling patterns affect lure action too, that is why
some anglers like to wheel a lazy S course. On turns,
outside lures will speed up momentarily while inside
lures hang for a moment or two. Fish may nail lures that
change speeds. Also, zigzag patterns allow for more
water coverage, plus it keeps lures out of propeller boil,
an important consideration for browns and other wary
species.
5) Locate fi sh on a vertical plane. Place lures in areas
where fi sh might be. Skilled fi shermen call these ar-
eas the “strike zones”. They include the edges of the
week beds, structure along bottom, drop-offs, preferred
temperature of the target species, and the thermocline.
Remember
that fi sh occupy certain areas for certain reasons
(sources of food, protective cover, preferred tempera-
tures, etc.).
6)
Consider special knots and swivels. A
good ball bearing swivel will all but eliminate line twist
and will aid in getting maximum performance from a
lure. Many anglers add the tiny swivels to split rings al-
ready on the lure itself. On the other hand, a swivel may
dampen the action of a sensitive lure, such as a Rapala.
Some fi sherman tie tiny improved clinch or loop knots.
Loop knots in particular may enhance up and down and
side to side action of lures. Any good fi shing manual will
explain how to tie these and other knots.
7)
Consider releases for fl atline trolling.
A good tip is to secure a piece of downrigger cable or
heavy monofi lament to the water ski hook or handle
below the transom of most boats. To the other end of
the mono or cable, add a pinch-r-release. After letting
out your lure to the desire distance, put the rod in its
holder, then bend the tip and secure the fi shing line in
the release.
8)
Add a weed guard. Having trouble with
weeds hanging up lures? Consider tying a three-inch
piece of monofi lament a foot above the lure. Leaves,
smaller weeds and other debris may catch here momen-
tarily then fall off to the side of the lure without tangling.
Weedless lures are another smart consideration. Down-
rigger cables are effective weed catchers when trolling
for pike, muskies, or bass in weed-infested lakes.
9)
Add a stinger hook. When fi sh short
strike, slap at lures without becoming hooked, adding a
stinger hook can solve the problem. Simply tie a treble
hook to one end of a four inch piece of monofi lament
and then tie the extra hook to the last gang of hooks on
your lure. The stinger hook, which trails the lure, pro-
vides extra insurance.
10)
Keep hooks sharp. Some of the best
fi shermen sharpen all hooks after every fi sh caught.
Hooks get dull through both use and misuse, and prob-
ably more fi sh are lost to dull points than anything else.
T
rolling T
ips