Trolling Tips for the Beginner
So you made the plunge…a new boat that will get you out on the lake and the boat may be ideal for smaller inland lakes or it may be suited for the bigger waters like the Great Lakes. Either way you will need the proper gear to assist you in targeting every lakes underwater ghosts.
The simplest form of trolling includes various crankbaits with a certain amount of line let out, allowing your bait to get down to a desired depth. If this is in fact your case, do some research with local tackle shops in your area. Get to know the employee/owner of the local shop and purchase baits from them. This supports the local economy and allows you to get to know the area. The tackle shop owners want you to succeed! In Erieau, each morning prior to my charters, all the area Charter Captains meet at the Erieau Marina tackle shop to discuss strategies and stock up on baits as required.
One of the most productive line of baits we use to target all forms of fish on Lake Erie is that Rapala Taildancer. These crank baits dive to various depths, again depending on how much line you let out of your reel. These crankbaits perform best when trolled around 2 MPH. Their extradited wobble makes their display irresistible for all species of fish. There will be a depth chart on the end of your new Rapala box giving you an idea how deep your bait will travel and there are also numerous dive charts available online. Great tip is to print and laminate one of these dive charts as keeping this chart in a storage compartment of your boat or handy in your tackle box will always allow a quick reference when out on the lake.
It is important to realize that some of the deeper diving crankbaits will require rod holders on your boat as they create a large amount of pull when traveling through the water. Prior to letting your new crank bait out behind you boat, always be sure to check your hooks…old rusty dull hooks could be the difference of you landing the fish of a lifetime or watching him swim away with only your frustrations to show. VMC hooks are an industry leader in strength, durability and sharpness.
I typically spend the winter months going over all the hooks on my baits, changing out any rusty or damaged hooks because for a Charter Captain, inadequate equipment is not an option! When changing out hooks on any of your baits be sure to match the size of the original hooks. A different size hook can change the action of the bait causing the bait to not preform efficiently. The VMC line of hooks and terminal tackle gives my business an edge when putting fish in the box on a daily basis.
For more tips, be sure to attend one of many seminars that take place on the Fish TV stage at the Toronto Sportsman Show. In the meantime, tight lines from your Captain Jeremie Brooks, www.trophytakerfishing.com
-By Jeremie Brooks