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Location: Solomons, Maryland / Now just visiting Marathon
Posts: 4,683
If the area is busy with other ppl trolling, do as they do.
I despise it when 20 boats are doing a E-W troll and some nimrod comes up the middle on a north troll.
Really screws up the pattern.
If I will not interfere with anyone, I'll sometimes troll along a ridge (N-S).
If the area is busy with other ppl trolling, do as they do.
I despise it when 20 boats are doing a E-W troll and some nimrod comes up the middle on a north troll.
Really screws up the pattern.
If I will not interfere with anyone, I'll sometimes troll along a ridge (N-S).
Steve that is very good advice. I've even been told if everyone is anchored I need to anchor too, drift when they're drifiting, etc. There's plenty of ocean to do my own thing if it's that important.
So based on your post if I presume the ridges are running north-south it's common to do a zig zag pattern running east-west. Is the thought process to tease fish above the ledge as well as those below it, albeit intermittently? That's what I was thinking I was doing when I zigzagged a ridge.
The reason for the zig-zag troll is to stall baits on the inside turn and speed up on the outside turn. This tells you what the fish want. No other reason but sometimes when a fish is following a bait and you switch up it is an instant strike. But mostly my first answer is correct. I do this all the time on Lake Erie when trolling for walleye and have for all other fish as well. Works perfect always remember to listen to the fish. They will tell you what they want.
__________________ 2007 Lowe FM 185
2007 Mercury Verado 150
Motorguide Wireless
Lowrance LMS 111 HD
Mercury Temptest Plus prop
Lots of different issues to consider. In a boat without a flybridge or tower I tend to zigzag more because you can't always see the fish in your wake and the change in lure speeds/depths through the turn can pull a strike. When the sea is up a bit you are sometimes better off trolling along the swell rather than into it or with it behind you as your lures will run more consistently without the speed changes associated with running across the swell. If you are working a specific area, a zigzag or wide figure 8 pattern may be best, but depends a bit on the swell angle etc
tommy that was another early-on nugget someone told me...but I'd forgotten it. The simple explanation makes so much sense. Thanks for the reminder.
Quote:
Originally Posted by davidkuhlmann
The reason for the zig-zag troll is to stall baits on the inside turn and speed up on the outside turn....sometimes when a fish is following a bait and you switch up it is an instant strike
David I took the liberty of combining two points you made that I've been thinking about. Fred Archer has made some great points about what a school looks like, ie., what's a natural presentation. I don't usually see baitschools running in pin straight lines for great distances. Maybe it was coincidence but when I was zigzagging we got strikes. When I was trolling a straight line, we didn't get anything.
Quote:
Originally Posted by aliboy
...the change in lure speeds/depths through the turn can pull a strike... [and]...you are sometimes better off trolling along the swell rather than into it or with it behind you as your lures will run more consistently
And NZ weighs in, nailing the lid on the benefits of direction change as it relates to the lures. Great point about the trolling parallel to the swell. It makes pure common sense when I see it written.
I know there's a lot to be gained by experience, but if I can learn, and plan, and visualize ahead of time - it will make my somewhat limited time on the water more efficient, productive, and enjoyable. Thanks guys.
Location: Solomons, Maryland / Now just visiting Marathon
Posts: 4,683
We zig-zag to cover all the varied depths and bottom.
We will have about 12-30 boats all along a three mile stretch about one mile wide doing the pattern.
Some spreads on each boat are up to 400 feet across using planer boards.
Makes for some long arching turns when reversing course.
Doesn't make much difference with feathers, but swimming minnows act differently at different speeds and depths on the turns.
ZZ over an are where you mark fish also keeps the lures over the fish longer than going straight through.
Bull' I know the term "feathers" can mean actual feathers, or it can mean the entire class of lures with feathers, plastic, or hair. Which do you mean? Thanks.
To me a feather is a squid like lure, that stays near the surface or on. Plastic, rubber, or real feathers. Constant speed and distance are key to correct performance.
Swim baits have noses to make them dive and wiggle like a bait fish. These work better than feathers and live bait on a ZZ.
Location: Solomons, Maryland / Now just visiting Marathon
Posts: 4,683
No surface runners, all at varied depths using weight from 2 oz to 20 oz.
Right now using spoons.
When the Stripers come back will be switching to 4", 6" & 9" chartreuse shad bodies.
I use the 4" or 6" on umbrella rigs and the 9" in the middle.
The reason for the zig-zag troll is to stall baits on the inside turn and speed up on the outside turn. This tells you what the fish want. No other reason but sometimes when a fish is following a bait and you switch up it is an instant strike. But mostly my first answer is correct. I do this all the time on Lake Erie when trolling for walleye and have for all other fish as well. Works perfect always remember to listen to the fish. They will tell you what they want.
Exactly!!!! I fish mainly for kokeanee ,and this is a very good way for them to tell me what they want. I zig-zag alot ,but only when I can , I never go against the flow of what other boaters are doing. If evey one is fishing pararell with the shore line, I do the same. As mentioned it only taked one jackass going against the flow ,to screw it up for everyone.
Shouldn't you guys ask the OP what he is trolling for before responding. Offshore, inshore, striper, bluefish, tuna, mahi, drum, kings, flounder, marlin, wahoo, weedines, ripline, cold/hot side...you get my drift....or troll.
I forgot to mention a few things about the zig zag pattern that I use. This can be done in large packs of boats too. Basically all I am doing is stalling the baits on one side and they will pick up on the other it is a fast more of a tacking manuever. Zig to the left say for even as little as 50 or 100 feet then zag to the right and do the same thing back and forth. We do this with inline planner boards using anything from deep diving cranks that dive up to 28' or inline weights up to 4oz pulling either spoons or inline crawler harnesses. Or we could be pulling dipsey divers or jet divers as well but mostly I pull the inline planers and cranks up to 4 rods per side of the boat. I run my planers out to 100' each side of the boat. Every planer is out 25' from the closest one to the boat and it is at 25' as well.
It doesn't take much of a course change to trigger the fish with this pattern and I have done this on saltwater species as well it is just that now I troll walleye more than anything else mostly due to where I live.
__________________ 2007 Lowe FM 185
2007 Mercury Verado 150
Motorguide Wireless
Lowrance LMS 111 HD
Mercury Temptest Plus prop
Shouldn't you guys ask the OP what he is trolling for before responding. Offshore, inshore, striper, bluefish, tuna, mahi, drum, kings, flounder, marlin, wahoo, weedines, ripline, cold/hot side...you get my drift....or troll.
There's irony here...
The guys seem to know by now given the questions I've been asking recently about trolling that I'm trying to build a general knowledge base. However, your point is well-taken and if you or anyone want to offer specific advice....I fish out of Naples, southwest Florida. Trolling is typically going to result in kingfish or bonito. Maybe some 'cuda, maybe some cobia, deeper maaaaybe some grouper. But I'm close enough to the Keys and to southeast Florida that I'm happy to learn about what works there, too.
Trolling straight vs zigzag...does it matter? 
