Fishing for pike by trolling: selection of gear, tactics and fishing techniques

Large pike holds on at a depth, but it may be possible to find it in a large area of water not easy. Spinning fishing takes a lot of effort and does not always bring success. But there is a way of fishing in which chances of catching a trophy specimen on any medium and large body of water maximum - pike for trolling.

What is trolling

Trolling is a method of catching predators in which baits lowered into the water are towed on a moving boat. It does not require much effort from the fisherman and at the same time allows you to explore a vast area of water , finding an active predator in it. This method appeared before spinning and remains relevant to this day.

Trolling pike is the best way to catch big fish. It is in the catches of trollers in any body of water that most often end up being trophy- sized specimens. Therefore, trolling attracts many experienced fishermen who want to try their hand at fighting a serious predator.

Trolling boat

If large and powerful boats are used for sea trolling, then almost any watercraft is suitable for fishing on lakes, rivers and reservoirs . You can fish from an inflatable, wooden or metal boat. The main thing is to equip it with a motor that allows you to walk along a pond at low speeds - about 5 km/h . Also, for trolling fishing, you will need to equip the craft with rod holders .

You can use
a gasoline or electric motor. The latter are powered by a battery, do not require fuel filling, are very convenient to use and operate quietly.
Many attach great importance to the last point, believing that it is electric boat motors that provide the best catches, since they do not scare away the fish. Rod holders can be purchased at the store or made yourself. Plastic plumbing pipes are well suited for their manufacture . You can secure the holders to a wooden or metal boat that was not originally intended for trolling using self-tapping screws or bolts with nuts. In the case of an inflatable boat, they can be screwed to a can, hooked onto a rail, or glued to the sides.

Trolling gear for pike

When trolling for pike, at least two spinning rods . The more gear you use, the larger the water area you can fish, and as a result, the chances of success increase. If fishing takes place from trolling boats on a large body of water, it is possible to use more than ten spinning rods at the same time.

Rod selection

The optimal length of a rod for trolling is about 2.1 m. When fishing with shorter models, the ability to control the bait during retrieving is greatly limited, and longer spinning rods are inconvenient to use in a boat. You can use both special trolling models and regular spinning rods of suitable test.

The catchy qualities of the tackle do not play any role, but it must be informative so that you can control all the nuances of bait placement, and powerful enough to cope with fishing for any trophies that may be hooked.

For trolling , medium-fast and fast action rods are well suited . Medium-action spinning rods do not allow for a good hook, and super-fast models can easily break when hooked or during a bite.

When choosing a fishing rod according to the test, you need to take into account the type of reservoir where the fishing will take place:

up to 30 g - such rods are suitable for fishing on small rivers;
up to 60 g - for shallow rivers and lakes;
up to 100 g - for trolling pike in reservoirs.

But first of all, it is necessary to proceed from the total weight of the baits used and additional equipment elements . Thus, the weight of some silicone fish used for pike fishing, together with the load, can reach up to 200 g.

Trolling reel

The reel can be inertialess or multiplier. The most commonly used are inertia-free motors of size 3000 and larger . They are quite sufficient for catching medium and large sized pike. But multipliers, due to their durability and high power will be the best choice for hunting trophy predators in large bodies of water.

fishing line

It is better to use as the main line . In this case, the tackle will be as sensitive as possible. In addition, in trolling, which involves primarily catching large pike , it is necessary to use strong fishing lines . The monofilament of the required breaking load has a large diameter, and not every spool can accommodate a sufficient amount of such thread. A suitable line test for trolling is at least 9 kg .

Choosing wobblers for pike trolling

Wobblers are the main trolling bait, significantly exceeding the frequency of use of vibrating tails and spinners combined. Actually, the first wobblers of the modern type, which became widespread thanks to Lauri Rapala, were used for fishing on the track.

The main trolling bait is wobblers.
Wobblers for trolling must meet the following requirements:

presence of own game with uniform wiring;
maintaining the wiring depth;
Stable gaming at different speeds.

Wobblers for trolling for pike are usually characterized by a wide amplitude of vibrations and a low frequency. The sizes of pike wobblers range from 5 to 20 cm, and sometimes more (the largest model in the Rapala Countdown Magnum line is 26 cm long), but wobblers with a length of 12-14 cm are usually used.

How to choose bait for bream?

Another important, although not primary, characteristic of a wobbler is its color. Most often, models of natural colors are used - for roach, perch, crucian carp, pike, tench. But sometimes, especially in low light or in muddy water, models with bright “acid” colors work well.

Additional equipment and accessories for trolling

An echo sounder allows you to quickly study the selected water area in order to find promising points, as well as control the progress of the bait during fishing. Fishing blindly is unlikely to be productive.

any model is suitable for trolling , including simple single-beam echo sounders , but the number of pulses per second must be at least 30. In this case, the device will show a real picture of what is happening at the bottom.

A GPS navigator allows you to save the coordinates of promising points, determine the speed of the boat and track the route . It is not necessary to use it, but fishing with it will be more comfortable and effective.

Even if deep-sea wobblers are used, when fishing in areas where the bait needs to be immersed more than three meters, it is better to place lead sinkers on the fishing line. Their weight usually ranges from 15 to 35 g. Without them, lowering the bait to the desired depth can be difficult, especially for a novice troller.

There are also specialized equipment elements that are used only in trolling.

Sinkers are lead weights made in the shape of a plate. They are attached to the fishing line just above the bait and, during retrieval, lower it to the desired depth.
Bouncers are usually made in the form of tubes with lead weights at the ends. While the boat is moving, they ensure that the bait moves at the required distance from the bottom. When installing this element of equipment, a ring is attached to the end of the main line, to which a bouncer and a leash with bait are mounted; the length of the leash determines the working depth of the wobbler.
Downriggers include a spinning rod holder, a reel with line, a rod with a roller, and a heavy weight. The sinker is attached to the main line using a special vice, and then lowered into the water. It ensures that the bait follows the specified horizon. When biting, the line jumps out of the vice, after which you can start fishing.
Outriggers allow you to spread the baits to the sides to avoid tangling the rigs against each other and to fish a large area of water.
Paravans are triangular-shaped elements of trolling equipment that allow you to lower the bait to the desired depth and move them horizontally to the side.

Lures

Most often used for trolling fishing:

wobblers;
oscillating spoons;
silicone baits.

Also suitable for this kind of fishing are spinners and rigs with dead fish , but they are used infrequently.

are rightfully considered the best bait . Each model has a certain immersion depth , making fishing as convenient and effective . You can also use spoons and silicone baits to work in the desired horizon where the fish are, but this is much more difficult to do.

The 10 best wobblers for trolling for pike are:

Halco Sorcerer;
Salmo Hornet;
Bomber Deep Long A;
Rapala Shad Rap;
Rapala Deep Tail Dancer;
Rapala Clackin' Rap;
Nils Master Haka Deep Diving;
Yo-Zuri Hardcore;
Yo-Zuri 3D Crank;
Strike Pro Flap Jack.

Oscillating spoons, when presented correctly, can catch wobblers, but lowering them to the desired depth can be difficult. To do this, you need to use additional equipment elements, such as sinkers, sinkers and downriggers . In the lines of different manufacturers there are special models designed for trolling; you can also use regular spinning lures.

Silicone baits mounted on a jig head are also used for trolling pike . Models that have an active game of their own are suitable for this. There is no need to waste time when choosing them - the best results can be achieved by fishing with baits at least 15 cm long.

Pike fishing spots

Currently, in Russia, a variety of methods are used to catch pike, allowing the lure to be cast from a moving boat. Trolling is considered the most popular and popular method in this case, not without reason.

Fishermen from Scandinavian countries have succeeded in catching pike by trolling. There, such fish are caught mainly using this method, in numerous bays, fjords and channels.

A lot of large pike are also found in desalinated areas of the Baltic Sea (coastal waters of Finland and Sweden). As the season begins, the coastline along Finnish and Swedish settlements is literally overflowing with boats and boats equipped with trolling gear.

On the territory of the Russian Federation, the Gorky and Rybinsk reservoirs, Lakes Ladoga and Onega and most reservoirs of Karelia are considered the most preferable for pike fishing.

Choosing a place for trolling is not difficult: you need to find an unsnagged reservoir with a depth of at least 2 meters. Reservoirs that are too deep are practically unsuitable for catching pike by trolling, so the depth should not exceed 7 meters.

Trolling on the river. Part 1 (Educational film)

Features of trolling fishing depending on conditions

If when fishing for pike in a relatively small body of water, two or even one rod is enough, then for fishing in large reservoirs it is better to use at least 5-10 gear . This will allow you to fish a wider area of water, as well as use several types of bait at the same time, as a result of which the chances of fishing success will increase.

When fishing at decent depths, the use of additional equipment, such as sinkers and sinkers , is mandatory. If fishing takes place in a shallow reservoir, it is enough to use wobblers with a suitable depth. You need to keep in mind that when fishing against the current, they will sink more, in order to choose models suitable for fishing in such conditions.

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Fishing technique

If fishing takes place in an unfamiliar body of water, you need to start by surveying the water area. It is necessary to study the depth differences and find promising points :

eyebrows;
pits;
underwater hills - navels;
snags.

After this, you can immerse the baits in the water, release the fishing line and launch the boat along the chosen route. While moving, it is necessary to control the depth using an echo sounder and promptly change the depth of bait release. Better results can be achieved if they follow the bottom horizon . To lift the rigs from the bottom, you need to wind the line onto the reel, and to lower them, you need to release the cord.

If a bite occurs on one of the rods, you need to stop the boat and make a hook . After this, you should unwind the rest of the gear to avoid tangling the equipment, and start fishing.

Trolling to many , but in fact even a novice fisherman can figure it out. It is not necessary to use expensive boats, gear and equipment for trolling, so it is accessible to everyone . By fishing this way, you can achieve excellent results in the hunt for pike. Therefore, trolling to appreciate its benefits.

Additional equipment: navigator, echo sounder

As additional equipment, it is worth noting such, sometimes irreplaceable devices as an echo sounder and a navigator.

The echo sounder allows you to guide the bait along the edge with an accuracy of 1 meter, and not to leave the correct route, as well as timely detect uneven terrain and avoid getting stuck and tangled gear.

An equally necessary device is a GPS navigator, which is capable of determining the coordinates of the boat on a zoomable map.

It is also useful in that you can mark and save in memory the points (coordinates) where you had bites. Thus, in the future you will no longer be looking for promising edges and depths all day long, but will simply swim along your already proven points. Thanks to this device, you can record your location and continue the route from or to the starting point.

3 ways to improve your fish bite!

Over 15 years of active fishing, I have found many ways to improve the bite, and here are the most effective:

1. Bite activator . This pheromone additive attracts fish most strongly in cold and warm water. The Fish Hungry bite activator has proven itself to be excellent - Read more…

2. Tackle with increased sensitivity . You should first familiarize yourself with the features of using a particular type.

3. Pheromone baits . They attract the attention of fish, stimulate hunger and cause a schooling reflex, which allows you to collect a lot of fish in one place.

You can get the rest of the secrets of successful fishing for free by reading my other materials on the site.