View Full Version : Do you troll upstream or downstream?
river trolling
10-02-2006, 06:28 PM
Whats the proper way to troll a river?
RANGER
10-02-2006, 09:02 PM
Geez!!!!!! This is almost as bad as "tin VS glass"!!
It depends, and the fish will tell you what they want. We have done BOTH - up/down. We have also "slipped" down river while the motors/engines are running forward! i.e. a... s-l-o-w ... slide rearward, very slow, with the motors help - almost stationary!
Conversely, running upstream with the motor(s) running FASTER than the normal pull of the current. Sort of a Grand-Prix of trolling.
Also, slipping side to side of the river using all manner a throttle as above!
Also, we have anchored in the current and "Fan" cast!
Like I said - "depends"!
I will say that, trolling with the current and trying to get sufficient action for the lure, is really a hard bite!!!
capt hook
10-02-2006, 09:19 PM
Both up and down will take fish. Some nights, ones better than the other. Remember that going downstream that the bait will run deeper with the same amount of line out than going up. To get the action out of the crank you are going to have to go faster than the current. You will be booken. Set the drag lighter and be ready to put the motor in reverse to slow down if you need to. Not many guys troll downstream but both my 14 pounders came going down.
wimwuen unlogged
10-02-2006, 09:53 PM
I do both here on the Mississippi. In mid-spring to mid-fall, I find that trolling cranks upstream, and harnesses downstream on bottom bouncers is the most efficient method of covering water. I'll troll either presentation the opposite way if the fish aren't biting.
My reasoning for this is that the cranks seem to snag easier trolling downstream. However, sometimes that crank cruising downstream triggers a reaction bite that's second to none.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, there is no definate answer to this. I just start with the method listed above and modify from there. Let the fish tell you what they want. Oh yeah, make sure you're trolling over fish. It doesn't really matter what direction you're trolling if there aren't any Walleyes there.