Trolling for spanish mackeral ?

Post by **JimR** » March 29th, 2004, 12:38 pm

After reading CSMarines report I may have to try trolling next time out ( especially when the trout are not cooperating ). I have never trolled before. Anyone got any tips on lures, rigging, speed, distance behind the boat ? I have one or two small clarks spoons and a couple mackeral trees I bought last year but have never used them. Any advice would be appreciated.

Post by GC » March 29th, 2004, 2:32 pm

It is easy and FUN!

I've trolled just about every lure in my box with success for Macks. Chart w/ a red tail or white with a red tail. Salt water assassin's seem to work the best for me. Have used grubs and shrimp with jig head also. Speed doesn't seem to matter. From my expreience, if the fish are there, anywhere around 5 knots is good (have had them hit going 12 knots). Slower when it's cool and faster when it's hot. If you use soft baits and loose a lot of tails (short strikes)...slow down and let'em catch up!
I use an 18" wire leader. Pre-made by eagle claw. Black if possible.
Spoons are good too, rigged the same way. Something around 3"-4" in length. Either way, I usually troll at least two lines +- 150 feet behind the boat. If you've got partners, let each one cast out at different distances while your moving and get ready for some major tangles when you hook multiples!
You'll catch nice trout while trolling the soft plastics at slower speeds, never had one hit a spoon though. When we catch a trout, we stop and start drifting. If the bite slows troll some more!

Post by **JimR** » March 29th, 2004, 2:42 pm

Thanks GC. I gotta try it. Trout fishing was real slow for me this past weekend. Week before it was great. Guess thats why we call it fishin' instead of catchin'

Post by GC » March 29th, 2004, 2:54 pm

No Problem.

It really is easy. But, like you said nothing works every time! It is a good way to cover water while looking for a new spot.
One other tip...make sure the drag is set on the loose side. Macks and Blues hit trolled jigs like a freight train.

Post by **Cranfield** » March 29th, 2004, 4:19 pm

Do you add weight to your lures to put them deeper, or just fish them on the surface ?

Post by GC » March 29th, 2004, 4:39 pm

On the soft plastics I generally use a 1/4 oz jig head, pink or chart and that's it. Generally that will run about 1 to 2 feet deep trolled at 3-5 knots. So, if your in skinny water you'll want speed up a bit.
I've never tried adding weights to get the lure deeper? Sure it would work too though!

One other thing...while trolling I'll have the rod at about a 45 or less and I'll pull the rod up real fast (make the lure break the surface) and let it go back down to give the lure some change in speed and a little action.

The more lures behind the boat the better...looks like a school of bait following in the wake. They just can't resist it.

Post by **Tom Keels** » March 29th, 2004, 4:51 pm

Also, if you have room to do so, troll a big lipped plug like a yo-zuri, bomber, redfin etc. Troll a lure big enough that you feel "iffy" about trolling it for spanish. It might not catch as many, but it will more often than not catch the biggest fish in the school.

Post by **CSMarine** » March 29th, 2004, 5:13 pm

I fished with this rig last Sat., Penn 310gti with 30lb Ande Back Country line. I had a South Bend size 1/0 Mackeral Rig ($1.50 at Wal-Mart) with a #2 Gold Clark Spoon as terminal lure. Had another rigged the same but used a 1/2 white Marabu Jig with a plastic 6" green curly tail grub as terminal lure. The jig caught more Spanish than the spoon.
Also ran a Bill Norman little N. 7-11ft.