*THE HULL TRUTH is the world's largest FREE network for the discussion of Boating & Fishing. Whether you're researching a new boat, or are a seasoned Captain, you'll find The Hull Truth Boating & Fishing Message Forum contains a wealth of information from Boaters and Sportfishermen around the world.
Welcome to the updated THT!
If you are having trouble signing in, please email feedback@thehulltruth.com with your username and we will help you. We thank you for your patience as we help you access the new site!
Random Quote: yea who belives in fortune cookie belives in everything
David there's no doubt in my mind that changing direction more accurately represents what fish routinely see than running mile after mile in a straight line. I can visualize with your description how the baits are looking to the targets. It makes so much sense.
I like to zig-zag across contour lines. My AP does a great job doing the zig-zag pattern...
Hey that's good to know. That's what I did my all of one time out.
Let me ask you then, do you set your AP on a bearing and adjust it as necessary based on the contour location changes? That's what I did, although I chose a bearing that would cover as much of the upcoming contour without me having to change the bearing.
My AP won't allow me to zigzag while following a plotted track or I'd to that. But if I were not zigzaging then running a track along a contour or long ridge would be easy.
I can set mine to follow a depth/contour but I opt to point the boat on the correct heading and use the zig-zag feature on my AP24. I can adjust how fast the pattern is as well as the degree of Zig-Zag.....Mark
I can set mine to follow a depth/contour but I opt to point the boat on the correct heading and use the zig-zag feature on my AP24. I can adjust how fast the pattern is as well as the degree of Zig-Zag...Normally the tighter the contour lines the straighter the path. the wider the contours the the more zig-zag I use.....Mark
Wow! The Raymarine s1000 isn't that sweet. I can follow a bearing with a zigzag pattern but only have small, medium, or large as choices. What you're doing certainly makes sense. Thanks, Mark.
Knowing the range of speed your lures will tolerate is very helpful when you want to find out which lure speed is preferred by fish on a given day. It is no accident that many fish are caught when boaters speed up or slow down and when they make turns. On a turn, the lure on the outside of the turn speeds up and the lure on the inside slows down, unless the turn is very long and gradual. These changes in lure behavior often trigger strikes and may indicate that your speed was previously incorrect for the lure to be successful or that you needed a change in speed to trigger a strike from a curious fish. Making frequent alterations in speed, either by decreasing or advancing the throttle or by turning, is a valuable tactic—but you’ll need to know whether your lures will work properly at the different speeds.
David there's no doubt in my mind that changing direction more accurately represents what fish routinely see than running mile after mile in a straight line. I can visualize with your description how the baits are looking to the targets. It makes so much sense.
Yes and because of doing this I tend to catch more fish because it triggers more bites.
__________________ 2007 Lowe FM 185
2007 Mercury Verado 150
Motorguide Wireless
Lowrance LMS 111 HD
Mercury Temptest Plus prop
Yes and because of doing this I tend to catch more fish because it triggers more bites.
I believe it. I experienced it, or at least I can say when I was zigzaging I had strikes, when not I didn't. Maybe it was coincidence as I said before.
David I just reread the comments you and propnut57 made about using the zigzag to tell you what the fish want. I didn't understand that at first, and then it occurred to me, I think. Are you two saying if I find the inside lures are getting hit on the turn, the fish might want me to slow down, and if the outside lures are getting hit the fish might want me to speed up?
I suppose it could be that fish strike when bait schools change direction because there's a better feeding opportunity. Based on your observations guys, there's more confusion and bait-bunching in the school because of the direction changes.
Location: Solomons, Maryland / Now just visiting Marathon
Posts: 4,683
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pro251wa
Are you two saying if I find the inside lures are getting hit on the turn, the fish might want me to slow down, and if the outside lures are getting hit the fish might want me to speed up?
Knowing the range of speed your lures will tolerate is very helpful when you want to find out which lure speed is preferred by fish on a given day. It is no accident that many fish are caught when boaters speed up or slow down and when they make turns. On a turn, the lure on the outside of the turn speeds up and the lure on the inside slows down, unless the turn is very long and gradual. These changes in lure behavior often trigger strikes and may indicate that your speed was previously incorrect for the lure to be successful or that you needed a change in speed to trigger a strike from a curious fish. Making frequent alterations in speed, either by decreasing or advancing the throttle or by turning, is a valuable tactic—but you’ll need to know whether your lures will work properly at the different speeds.
Sounds like something being said around here!
what you quoted here is very true about the lure selection and if it can handle the speeds being run. For instance some baits can't be run say over 3mph then don't expect them to be trolled at 5mph. Nor would you troll a bait that won't perform at slower speeds when you are speed trolling. Speed is a very important part of trolling and finding out what the fish want. However it is worthless if your baits can't run at the speed in which you are pulling them.
Also if you are wanting to catch a species say Wahoo for example then you probably want to troll much faster for them than you would for say dolphin? Not sure I really don't remember the speeds we use to troll them at but I do know that Wahoo will hit very fast moving baits and smash them.
With walleye we troll much slower and speed can be as important as in tenths of a mph. Example is pulling crawler harnesses with single colorado blades .08-1.0mph is common. Double willow leaf blades up to 3.5mph is common Yes it is that critical in walleye fishing maybe not so with some species but still you need to figure out what they want and how they want it presented. In any species you fish for time of year, weather patterns, forage, currents and water temps all play a part in how or where you setup to fish for them.
But this is where the zig zag pattern with trolling can be deadly in helping determine speed but more than that it is great at triggering stikes anytime.
__________________ 2007 Lowe FM 185
2007 Mercury Verado 150
Motorguide Wireless
Lowrance LMS 111 HD
Mercury Temptest Plus prop
Well that's just awesome. Removing some of the randomness is really cool.
I've since purchased a number of lures in addition to the ones I have already. I'll get out again next weekend both days with the sole purpose of putting this information in play. A bonus will be catching fish.
Heck I didn't know anything last time out trolling and caught three. Man the screaming reel is sweet.
Hey guys this is a related question but no need to start a thread for it. I want to pull a spreader bar from the aft cleat. Most, if not all, of the time I see and read heavy duty mono as the lead connection to the boat. What about using a nylon braided line like we tow tubes with? No chance of breakage. Easy to see. If the spreader has a middle swivel make a heavy mono loop and run the line through it.
THey tell me they usually don't want what is on my hook
Hey!!! Have you been listening in on my fishing? Halfscoop that's so funny man. Exactly the way I feel when bottom-fishing. Although, what David said works for me usually when I'm bottom-fishing. I usually put out 3-4 rods with shrimp, cut squid, and cut sardine. Whatever gets the most bites gets the most use.
Location: Solomons, Maryland / Now just visiting Marathon
Posts: 4,683
No need to drag an umbrella with rope, just run some 80# mono out there.
You want the feesh to see the rig, not the rope.
When using different lures on left and right, watch your turns, some lures/weight combos catch up to the turn slower and may cross lines.
Just keep an eyeball on it in the turn.
No need to drag an umbrella with rope, just run some 80# mono out there.
You want the feesh to see the rig, not the rope.
When using different lures on left and right, watch your turns, some lures/weight combos catch up to the turn slower and may cross lines.
Just keep an eyeball on it in the turn.
Got it. You're right. Video I've seen looking up as boats go over pulling spreads it's a good possibility a rope would be visible and look unnatural. Thanks man.
And the heads up on lures I wouldn't have thought of until after my first big tangled mess.....maybe! Great stuff. I really appreciate you guys schooling me. I'll make plenty of mistakes anyway so the more things I can think through ahead of time the better. :thumbsup;
This is nothing more than some excerpts from searching for zigzag trolling, changing direction and trolling, and turns and trolling. I'm posting it to show that while these concepts were new to me, they are tried and true...and to show that the advice given on this thread has been rock solid.
A fishing website:
Trolling speeds should vary for different species. Spanish mackerel, Atlantic bonito, false albacore, skipjack tuna, and smaller school king mackerel are fast, aggressive feeders and move very quickly. Obviously, a faster trolling speed is desirable for these fish. A speed of 4 to 6 miles per hour or even greater is generally most productive. Don’t be afraid to experiment and vary your speed until the right combination is found. In the case of bluefish, a slightly slower speed is usually most effective. If you are in an area where you expect fish, repeatedly turning the boat will often add to your catch. The direction change of the lures appears to trigger the feeding instincts of the game fish.
An online offshore forum:
I make wide turns and tight turns to speed and slow things down. This usualy gives me a reference of what they are after. I like the fish to show me their mood.
An online inshore website:
Another effective method is to maintain the trolling speed while steering the boat in a slow "S" movement over submerged islands or around weed beds. The turning boat will pull the lure at varying speeds (and therefore at varying depths) in an erratic motion that proves irresistible to many predator species.
A Canadian fishing camp/lodge:
The key to catching a lake trout while trolling is to "trigger-a-strike". A zigzag trolling pattern with the boat and variations in speed will trigger a lake trout to strike at your lure. With a straight trolling course, the lake trout tend not to strike at your lure. The angler must produce changes in direction and speed of the lure while lake trout fishing to "trigger-a-strike".
Yeah When theres not a million boats out.. We troll in circles.,wide turns and zig zags,and with the current or swell. Its good for covering more ground and letting the lures drop down. Tuna and bills like a variation of moves, Just think what a bait ball does, Its a big circle.. BUT you cannot mimic that exactly of course. Just be careful when your pulling spreader bars you dont get them crossed up! You will learn the techniques of big game trolling over time, over MANY years.
photob
ucket.com 
Boating photo of the day? boatingpotd.com 
Hey it is called fishing not catching . 
