Trolling for fish

[AndreEmmenegger]

I would like to to start fishing off of the back while I sail. I have trolled on center console boats before, and boating a fish, especially a bigger fish can be a problem.

Does anyone have stories of techniques that they use out there while fishing?

What species and length have you caught and brought on board?

Thanks

Andre

[James V]

There has been some post on this before.

Make sure that you sharpen the hook.

Try different color squid and keep it on top of the water. Mornings or evenings are best. If that does not work then put a few feet below.

A smaller hook with get smaller fish. Make sure that you make a bell that will ring when you have a fish.

[cuisto]

FISH

FISH

Lake Huron Chinook Salmon 26lb 2oz

I have downriggers mounted on the back of my 26x, I use a teiscoping handle net with an oversized mouth 24" works well for me.

[Hamin' X]

Here are a couple of threads found using the search function above: Search

Topic 1803

Topic 4423

Rich

[waternwaves]

Big net!!!!!

Bigger handle!!

huge cutting board and cooler.

Comet to clean up.

[Chinook]

Big difference between trolling for warm water fish in the Southeast, and the trout and salmon of northwest. 6 knot or so trolling speed for the warm varieties, at or near the surface. I didn't try it while crossing the Gulf Stream because I didn't want to mess around with a big fish while crossing to Bahamas. Northwest trolling involves slow speeds, around 1.5 to 2 knots, and a downrigger is essential. A small trolling motor mounted on stern is helpful. Especially fun fishing under sail in light air, although things can get horsed up in a hurry. I've caught silver salmon in Alaska and rainbow trout in BC up to 10 pounds with this setup. Biggest problem I've had is dealing with the fish once it's netted. I've taken to whacking the fish to kill it while it's still in the net and hanging over the side. Then I reel the dinghy in, remove the hook, pull fish out of the net and flip it into the dinghy. I don't like getting slime and blood all over the cockpit. Lot easier to clean up the dinghy afterward. This method probably wouldn't work with warm water fishing.

[Theo]

I definitely recommend trolling under sail. Gets a litle hectic when you get a bite but all the more fun and excitement. To boat a fish get a long handled net or gaff. We have our Mac 26X set up with a live bait bag we can hang off the starboard side and a bait pump mounted on the back. Works great!!




YUMMY

Theo

[Tahoe Jack]

Hey you northwest folks.....what is the smallest downrigger outfit that is effective. What brand/model? Hoping to avoid the huge versions. Planning on a San Juan-Gulf Island trip in July. Jack

[Chinook]

I got the smallest size Scotty downrigger (don't recall the model #). It's a hand crank version, and carries 200 feet of cable. I installed the mounting plate on the starbard side, just forward of the stern railing. I had to install one of those screw in access plates in the side of the cockpit, just below the plate, so I could gain access for through bolting, with fender washers for backing strength. I use a 10 lb lead ball, and set the rod in a Perko rod holder, mounted to the stern rail stanchion. It's tight back there, with just enough room to operate the cable crank handle, but it works fine.

[Tahoe Jack]

Thanks Chinook....we have a local shop that carries the Scotty stuff. We have a pair of their rod holders on the mid-ship stanchion railings. Any chance you could post a pic...or mod or whatever?
Downriggers on Tahoe often go way deep...400' or more....so they use the big electric models. On Lake Powell I could have got some action with the 200' rig...guessing they trail back some when on slow troll....(during some seasons Lake Powell could require 400' as well...thats what my depth finder showed for bottom.) Since fishing is only part of the fun, I think I will pass up the giant models. Jack

[Chinook]

Hi Tahoe Jack,

I'd be glad to share a picture of my setup. Unfortunately, I don't have the hang of posting pics on this site. I'd suggest you send me a private e'mail here, with your e'mail address. I can then attach some digital pics to an e'mail.

Regarding the midship stanchion position for rod holder, that might work well for jigging, but I fear that in trolling you'd run the risk of fouling line in rudders and/or prop. Stern position would be best for trolling.

As far as depths go, with my 200 foot cable and 10 lb weight all the way down, I get a pretty good angle going, even at 1 to 2 knots (maybe approaching 40 degrees or so). A heavier ball might help, but would be all the more work to crank back up. That angle eats into your actual fishing depth quite a bit. When in Alaska, I saw big schools of fish on the depth sounder at 200 feet or so, and knew I couldn't reach them. I fished at max depth with no luck. Then I talked with a local fishing resort owner and learned that they were catching their silvers at 30 to 40 feet. I wasn't seeing fish there, but probably because the sounder signal was pretty narrow at that depth, since I mainly set it for use as a depth sounder and not a fish finder. I think it would be pretty difficult to set up with a downrigger capable of letting you fish at 200 feet or deeper. Local knowledge is probably more reliable than blips on the sounder.

[John McDonough]

I started sailing in 1975. I have no interest in catching fish, but I have many fisherman friends and brothers. They have trolled many times off the back of my sailboats. They have never caught a fish. Lake Erie is know for its walleye. My brother has crossed Erie many times with me and usually has some lure hooked to a downrigger. No luck They have caught fish while at anchor or while I was just stopped out in the lake.

[NiceAft]

Chinook,

Go to the search function and type in photobucket.

Go down the resulting list until you find a listing on posting picture, or some other related subject. This may help you.

Because of this site I started using photobucket.com


Ray

[kmclemore]

Chinook, I'll make it easy.. here's some links for learning to post pictures easily:

http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=6928

http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=6383

http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=5972

http://macgregorsailors.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=2194

[Chinook]

Ok guys. I decided to give this photo posting a try. Two initial pics show the drop down kicker mount, with 3.5 hp Nissan (sharp eyes will note I scanned the slide reversed - can't expect too much the first time) pushing boat along at about 2 knots with about 40 feet of cable out on the 10 lb ball. Rather sharp angle even at this slow speed. Second photo shows downrigger trolling results (actually caught while sail trolling). Rainbow almost as heavy as the downrigger ball. Location of both photos on lake in Tweedsmuir Provincial Park, BC, a great lake, very remote, where you have to portage your boat across an isthmus, using their handcar rail portage system.