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Trolling for trout

Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Freshwater Fishing
Forum Name: Freshwater Fission
Forum Description: The place to discuss all matters related to freshwater fishing!
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=66377
Printed Date: 06 Jul 2026 at 1:19am


Topic: Trolling for trout
Posted By: ThomasW
Subject: Trolling for trout
Date Posted: 25 May 2011 at 5:05pm
Keen to give trolling a try over winter, and after tips and hints on how to improve my success.  In the past I have trolled a selection of different Rapalas, Yo-Zuri and storm minnows with rare success. Most of the time they seem to be swimming correctly. Have also tried trolling Woolly bugger flies a couple of times but never had much luck in getting them to swim properly. 

I am a bit uncertain how far behind my Yak I should keep the lures?

Sometimes I paddle just in a straight line, other times I do constant zig zags. Neither have produced so far. I try and sneak in close to the willows and zig zag through areas of current for not much.

I do most of my trolling in the evenings in the lower Wairau river, with the occasional trips to lakes further inland. 


Replies:
Posted By: mike thomas
Date Posted: 30 May 2011 at 7:14am
Not sure about trolling from a kayak, but it could be that you are moving too fast? You could try a very fast sinking fly line and a wooly bugger or a grey ghost, ginger mick etc or a tassie devil lure but you want to be going no faster than a good walking pace. Then just vary the depth and colour of your fly or lure and you should get on to them.
All the best.
Mike

Posted By: chopsticks
Date Posted: 30 May 2011 at 8:50pm
Try a large black and gold Toby.
 
As Mike says, you're probably going too fast.
 
 


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CONFIDENCE: The feeling you have before fully understanding the situation.

Posted By: Sick of Sinkers
Date Posted: 31 May 2011 at 11:24am
What lakes are you trolling on Thomas

Posted By: jamesdaulton
Date Posted: 31 May 2011 at 1:38pm
I think if you describe your rod, reel and line set up you might get some more accurate information / tips.
 
River trolling is a different beast from lake trolling...
 
This is from the NZ fishing website for the Waikato river -
 
When trolling it is necessary to keep close to the banks as this is where most of the fish will be found. Trolling is most effective when moving downstream just faster than the current. It is necessary to ensure that the lure is as close to the bottom as is practical and where possible allowing it to bump along the sandy bottom.
 
and
 

When trolling, it is necessary to get the lure down to the fish and this is usually done by using a small 3 to 4 ounce ball sinker held by a swivel about 1 metre above the lure or the fly that is being trolled.

Maybe you could try adapting this tecnique to your situation.
 
I've been giving a similar set up a go lately in lakes, using a braid main line set up with a tungsten bullet weight over the braid main line (bullet weights have a nylon sleeve so wont wear the braid) followed by a soft bead, then a swivel and 3 meters of flurocarbon trace to the lure basically as much trace as you can and still net a fish - so probably a bit less on a kayack.
 
The bullet weights get the line quite deep because you have very little water resistence on the line and, when playing the fish they run on the mainline, giving a good direct fight.  The only downfall is if you don't keep enought pressure on the fish you can get a large belly on the line from the sliding weight and potential snags unless you are in deeper water.

Posted By: ThomasW
Date Posted: 31 May 2011 at 4:25pm

My rod is a lightweight graphite ugly stik (non soft tip), around 7ft in length.  Reel is a small Shimano 2500 spooled with 4lb fireline, to that I tie maybe 7-10ft of 10lb Fluorocarbon leader. 

There is quite a few snags and submerged crap in the rivers, I think if I get to close to the bottom I would be snagging on a frequent basis.

I do most of my trolling in the lower Wairau River, Opawa river and Estuary. I occasionally go up to lake Rotoiti in the Nelson lakes and been planning to scout out the lower Pelorus river.  


In general, how far behind the boat should the lure be trolled? 

Posted By: lemmy
Date Posted: 31 May 2011 at 5:38pm
If your not getting snagged your not fishing in the fish zone.
 The amount of line you need out is dictated by how much you need to get to the bottom allowing for the speed you are doing .
Maybe try to set up a basic Downrigger to get you down there.
Bounce a Tokaroa Chicken slowly across the bottom and you should be getting bites.   

Posted By: ThomasW
Date Posted: 31 May 2011 at 5:41pm
So might be trolling to high in the water... Next few times I get out I would drag along the bottom and see what happens.

Posted By: Big H
Date Posted: 03 Jun 2011 at 3:57pm
Also rig the hook so the point faces up, it will reduce snags considerably as the lure will bounce over them.


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