Not a fan of trolling.   Not even when I move to a new spot.  I don’t like moving that slow. 
 

having said that.  I know a guy that is 90% troller.  He is dang effective.  

If you think trolling is dragging a lure behind the boat in a straight line and constant speed you are missing a lot of fish.

You want to vary the lures speed and direction by maneuvering the boat in a lazy S pattern covering different depth zones and changing the lures direction and speed. 
There is a lot more to trolling than dragging a lure point A to point B.

Tom

I’ve only done it accidentally, dragging something as the wind carried me while digging out a backlash. Ashamed to admit I’ve caught a few fish this way.

I thought about trolling a couple of times but never did it. Lots of people troll for trout here and most of them complain about catching 10 or more “trash fish, 3-4# spotted bass per trip. 

1 hour ago, WRB-2.0 said:

If you think trolling is dragging a lure behind the boat in a straight line and constant speed you are missing a lot of fish.

You want to vary the lures speed and direction by maneuvering the boat in a lazy S pattern covering different depth zones and changing the lures direction and speed. 
There is a lot more to trolling than dragging a lure point A to point B.

Tom

 

So true, Tom, which is why a canoe is the perfect trolling platform as there's built-in zig and zag and constant speed changes. 

1 hour ago, WRB-2.0 said:

If you think trolling is dragging a lure behind the boat in a straight line and constant speed you are missing a lot of fish.

You want to vary the lures speed and direction by maneuvering the boat in a lazy S pattern covering different depth zones and changing the lures direction and speed. 
There is a lot more to trolling than dragging a lure point A to point B.

Tom

Perfect example of trolling planer boards for striper. “S” curve directions let the baits rise and fall, changing speed and direction imitating natural movement. Deadly tactics!

Based upon trip reports, I think I'm one of the more consistent anglers at Bass Resource. Now, there might be a dozen or two of you who are landing 25-to-30-pound bags every month or so and landing 60 bass instead of my occasional 20-pound bags and 30-bass mornings. If you're not one of those quietly consistent anglers, well, trolling is a big part of my success.

 

You guys know I don't use electronics, but as Tom (@WRB-2.0) observed, I'm not trolling willy-nilly. I remember where I've caught pert near every four-plus-pounder in my fishing life and I troll over those spots. I also know the depths of the ponds I fish from studying the state depth maps and looking over the side of my canoe on clear water days. So, I troll to explore where bass might be...that morning.

 

Passing over water without probing it seems a wasted opportunity to me. With no sonar, FFS, or GPS, I'm mapping by trolling. 

 

Maybe if my boat had magic boxes and my boat was as fast as a car, I wouldn't see the opportunity in trolling, but let me tell ya, when I've got my rod locked under my legs and the tip snaps back, that's exciting fishing. And when I have to drop the paddle and grab the rod without losing tension, that's challenging fishing. 

This is a very interesting, and informative discussion that you started @ButchA. Well done. As someone who's getting ready to get into kayak fishing there's a lot to learn here. Thank you all for adding your insight, and tidbits of information. Just one more example of why BassResource is so great.

 

Any other tips?

😂

24 minutes ago, Fishlegs said:

Any other tips?

 

Check the bank as you troll. The gradient of the bank is likely the gradient of the bottom beneath you. 

 

Also, trolling means I don't have to watch my lure and line (I can feel a strike.), so my head is on a swivel while trolling. 

My second biggest bass (12 lbs 4 oz) was caught trolling, and isn't my only DD caught trolling.

 

My tale of a buddy and I landing DD's five days in a row in February?

 

Trolling.

 

Targeted trolling, but still trolling.

 

We caught several 5-10 lbs bass trolling too. Using this particular technique during that era, we only caught one that weighed less than five pounds. Some were just in random open areas, but much of the time we targeted main lake points at specific depths. When you feel it digging on the bottom, get ready with a net. . . . or a lure retriever.

 

These days, I rarely troll. Occasionally, since I got the Ultrex Quest, I will drag a deep diving crank over a point or two on the way to another nearby spot. Points I have been grinding across throwing the same crank I drag with the trolling motor, and the trolled crank can get bit when the others aren't. But, it's not something I am likely to do other than that.

I troll, I have found it a excellent way to catch some really big bass on a very pressured lake that wouldn't otherwise get caught. Also good for finding those wolf packs chasing open water shad schools in the late summer into fall. To those who say it takes no skill. I say hooey. It's the only way to get a DD22 down to 22' is on 30lb braid.  If your doing it right it is just as hard and just as rewarding as running down the bank casting to targets.

FM

Having a smaller aluminum boat with OB that can troll at very slow speed is helpful, very maneuverable plus you can back troll as long as the waves don’t go over the transom. 
Trolling long under water points are prime areas. Approach the point parallel to the shoreline at the depth the lure runs. As the structure starts to get shallower make a 90 degree turn heading out towards deeper water will continue to so the lure is bumping the bottom or close to it. As you pass the deep end of the point make a wide slow loop circle  heading back towards the shoreline parallel to the opposite side of the point, make a 90 degree turn following the shoreline.  This is when smaller boats are a big advantage, the loop circle targets bass suspended off the end of the point that may have been spooked by your initial approach.

Tom

56 minutes ago, WRB-2.0 said:

Having a smaller aluminum boat with OB that can troll at very slow speed is helpful, very maneuverable plus you can back troll as long as the waves don’t go over the transom. 
Trolling long under water points are prime areas. Approach the point parallel to the shoreline at the depth the lure runs. As the structure starts to get shallower make a 90 degree turn heading out towards deeper water will continue to so the lure is bumping the bottom or close to it. As you pass the deep end of the point make a wide slow loop circle  heading back towards the shoreline parallel to the opposite side of the point, make a 90 degree turn following the shoreline.  This is when smaller boats are a big advantage, the loop circle targets bass suspended off the end of the point that may have been spooked by your initial approach.

Tom

 

^This is gold.^ It's also well-explained.

Most any thread about trolling for bass really does need to include

at least some mention of Buck Perry's system.

Although dated a bit, what, some 50 years later,

still lays out the nuts & bolts.

A-Jay

 

On 7/10/2025 at 1:01 PM, WRB-2.0 said:

tournament anglers are not allowed to troll

Actually they're allowed to troll now, they're just not allowed to have lures in the water while they do it. They just drive around not fishing looking for fish

 

FFS=ELECTRONIC TROLLING

I almost never troll, and when I do, it’s never for bass. Yet, bass account for at least 3/4 of the fish I end up catching.

On 7/10/2025 at 4:20 PM, Big Hands said:

When you feel it digging on the bottom, get ready with a net. . . . or a lure retriever.

"It" what? Were these all caught on the same lure?

1 hour ago, Banned User said:

Actually they're allowed to troll now, they're just not allowed to have lures in the water while they do it. They just drive around not fishing looking for fish

 

FFS=ELECTRONIC TROLLING

 

1 hour ago, Banned User said:

"It" what? Were these all caught on the same lure?

That isn’t trolling it’s called surveying bass fishing.

Tomc

15 hours ago, Banned User said:

"It" what? Were these all caught on the same lure?

 

Message sent.

Yeah, I troll 😎
 

Love it, Team9!

FM