Variation in trolling downrigger techniques
Change up your trolling techniques and lead lengths. The quantity of line you let out often dictates how deep the lure runs and, to a degree, how much motion it imparts. Consider casting lures approximately ten feet behind your best downrigger weights to begin. Put them back around fifty feet if flat line trolling, then experiment depending on what the fish do.
Trolling patterns have an impact on lure action, which is why some fishermen like to wheel a lazy S course. Outside trolling lures will accelerate briefly during turns, while inside trolling lures will pause for a few seconds. Trolling lures that alter speeds may be nailed by fish. Also, zigzag patterns cover more water and keep lures out of the propeller boil, which is critical for browns and other wary species.
Test your trolling downriggers
Before sending your trolling lures down and back with your best downrigger, test them over the boat side. This will ensure that the lure wiggles and wobbles properly without falling over or straying away. Some lures can be tweaked, even fine-tuned, to get the most out of them. A little bend in the tail of a trolling spoon or a twist of the hook eye in the nose of a plug, for example, can dramatically alter the lure’s performance.
When using two or more lures, double-check that the offerings are compatible. Lures that are out of tune with each other will tangle, resulting in wasted effort trying to sort out the mess. It will be easier to avoid the problem if you test them first.
Try different trolling downrigger lures
Different sizes, forms, and colors of trolling lures should all be considered. No one has ever pinpointed what causes a fish to strike or reject a lure on trolling downriggers. There’s little doubt that matching the color, shape, motion, and size of the forage (minnows, crayfish, etc.) will assist entice hungry fish to strike. Fish such as bluegills, smallmouth bass, and Coho salmon, on the other hand, may attack whatever is endangering spawning beds. As a result, bright colors in trolling lures may outperform dull ones.
Vary your trolling downrigger speeds
Occasionally goosing the engine or slowing to a crawl may vary the movement of the trolling lures and may entice fish to strike them.
Use trolling downriggers in “strike zones”
When you are using trolling downriggers you should look for fish on a vertical plane. Place trolling lures in likely-to-be-fishing regions. These places are known as “strike zones” by experienced fishermen. The thermocline, the borders of the week beds, the structure along the bottom, drop-offs, the target species’ preferred temperature, and the thermocline are among them. Keep in mind that fish congregate in specific regions for a variety of reasons.
Try special knots and swivels for trolling downriggers
A good ball bearing swivel can almost eliminate line twist and help you get the most out of your trolling bait. Many fishermen attach the teeny-tiny swivels to the split rings on the trolling lure. A swivel, on the other hand, may reduce the motion of a sensitive lure like a Rapala. Some anglers use enhanced clinch or loop knots that are quite small. Loop knots, in instance, can help trolling lures go up and down and side to side. These and other knots can be learned from any excellent fishing guidebook.
Figure out the best trolling downrigger release
When flatlining, think about the optimal downrigger releases. A helpful advice is to connect a length of good downrigger cable or thick monofilament below the transom of most boats to the water ski hook or handle. Add a pinch-r-release to the opposite end of the mono or cable. Put the rod in its holder after letting out your lure to the desired distance, then bend the tip and fasten the fishing line in the downrigger release.
Use weed guard with your trolling downrigger
Add a weed guard to your downrigger trolling setup. Have weeds been clinging to your trolling lures? A foot above the trolling lure, tie a three-inch strand of monofilament. Leaves, tiny weeds, and other debris may tangle here for a little while before falling off to the side of the lure. Another good option is to use weedless lures. When trolling for pike, muskies, or bass on weed-infested lakes, the best downrigger cables are great weed collectors.
Using a stinger hook with trolling downrigger
When fish slap at lures but do not get caught, a stinger hook can be used to fix the problem. Simply connect a treble hook to one end of a four-inch piece of monofilament, then tie the additional hook to the trolling lure’s last gang of hooks. The stinger hook, which follows the trolling bait, adds an added layer of protection.
Sharpen the hooks of your trolling downrigger bait
After each catch, some of the top fishermen sharpen all the hooks. Hooks become dull as a result of both usage and misuse, and dull points are likely to lose more fish than anything else.
