Trolling — an effective way to locate fish

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Trolling — an effective way to locate fish

MICHAEL ACOSTA

As a licensed professional fishing guide, Michael Acosta shows you how to find them. A Granbury resident of more than 35 years, he has been fishing all of his life, and has been a licensed guide since 1998.

As the water warms and the fish get more active, trolling live or artificial baits can help you locate active fish.  You can cover a lot of water in a short period of time.  This is also extremely effective when the bite is slow and you have to search for those few fish that will bite.

Many anglers all over the country use trolling techniques to catch fish.  Many different species can be caught in this fashion.  In fact, it can be so effective it is generally against the rules in black bass tournaments.  I never really totally understood why it is not allowed, but it has something to do with covering more water than the other guy who is casting and chunking baits.  Trolling is typically allowed in striped bass tourneys.

The types of artificial baits that are normally trolled include jigs, crankbaits, and spinners.  Sand bass and striped bass are the most popular fish caught trolling on our area lakes. 

The simplest form of trolling and most widely used is to drag your bait behind the boat and go as slow as the big motor will allow.  The fish will essentially catch themselves when they hit the bait. 

When using crankbaits, try a variety of baits that dive to different depths.  Some of the largest lipped crankbaits will get you down near 20 feet.  Standard lipless crank baits such as the popular rattletrap will go between 2 to 4 feet.  For colors that work on our area lakes, I prefer chartreuse-colored baits with an orange belly especially in murky water and/or overcast days.  On clear days, I prefer a chrome, white, bone, or blue/chrome, or black back/chrome combinations.  Bomber Long A’s, Fat Free shad, rattle traps, shad raps and redfins are some consistent producing baits.

The line size you use will also affect how deep your baits will dive.  The lighter the line, the farther the dive.  Boat speed can be crucial.  When using your big motor, you may be moving your bait too fast depending on the season.  Other fishermen in specialized boats control their speed accurately.  Most of us here just go as slow as we can.  Early in the year, I will troll on occasion with my trolling motor to slow down the presentation.  Other boats utilize kicker motors to get those slow trolling speeds, which is very effective and is desired if you can afford it.

Downrigging, as you all know, is an effective way to get your baits to the desired depths.  This is generally a summer pattern but will work at other times of the year.  I have used a downrigger in the winter with my trolling motor to cover more water when the fish are scattered.  You can use virtually all types of artificial baits on the downrigger.  If you don’t have a downrigger, they sell several types of diving rigs that I call “pink ladies” that will get your bait down to a certain depth, depending on how it’s connected and how much line you let out.  These devices are inexpensive and do work.  They work well with jigs and swimming soft plastics, but are not recommended for use with crank baits.

You can also troll live bait, but not with the big motor.  This is more like a controlled drift with a trolling motor.  Just let out enough line while moving to ensure you have the bait at the desired depth.  You may have to use a heavy weight to keep the bait in the strike zone.

HOOD COUNTY FISHING REPORT

Water temperatures are rebounding around the 60-degree mark.  Some parts of the lake are reporting a golden algae bloom based on the evidence of dead or dying fish.  Fishing is slow in these areas.  Other parts of the lake are not experiencing the bloom (the lower end, and in the river near Tin Top).  Fishing for sand bass is good in the river near Tin Top on road runners and live minnows.  Best striped bass action is on the lower ends on soft plastics and live shad.  Largemouth bass continue to be caught near major creek entrances and near laydowns in the river.  Catfish continue to be good on cut bait on several areas of the lake.  Best crappie action continues near deeper structure.   

OTHER AREAS

Comanche Creek reservoir continues to boast on great catches of largemouth bass and limits of channel catfish.  I do not have a tilapia report for Comanche Creek. 

Lake Whitney striped bass continue to be good on trolled Alabama rigs and live shad.  Best action is from McCown Valley north.  Largemouth bass are good on crankbaits and soft plastics fished near main lake points and near The Bluffs.    

michael.acosta@att.net | 254-396-4855