Trolling action - what do you do?

[Sourdoughs]

I believe that at different times when trolling a fly in lakes, different speeds and actions will work. Generally speaking, how do you vary your retrieve/action when trolling a fly? When trying to find out what the fish like, what different tactics do you you use?

-Marc

[jcalderon]

i have found that changes in direction, depth, speed, and or strip length have all caused an increase in takes. For instance, if i am leisurely trolling, i like to speed up or slow down, change directions or do anything to break up the repetitiveness of motions...... A stronger, faster kick will trigger strikes, as will a turn, a quick strip ect.

[chadk]

A few tricks that have worked for me:

Slow WAY down (stop even) and let that fly nearly touch bottom, then slowly start again. Sometimes a fly rising in the water column like that will really drive them nuts.

Also, if you get a short strike, try to stop dead. I will drop the rod tip or reach back with the rod to give a little slack, to make sure the fly has stalled or, if weighted, sinks a little. This will often get them to turn around and nail it.

[scottflycst]

Quite often when trolling I'll impart specific action/movement to my fly. Food forms in lakes very rarely move at a constant speed, most are simply not capable of steady progression for very far. The fish are used to seeing this and of course each food form has specific movements characteristic to its kind. For example, leeches swim with snake-like movements in the water, mayfly nymphs swim much differently than leeches and chronomids move up through the water column with their own design. If I'm trying to replicate a particular food then fishing it with it's appropriate action/movement will likely produce better results. I've continued to learn how to fish each imitation with it's matching behaviour in hopes of fooling the fish.
Stop and go or strip and pause retrieves, rod tip twitches, flicking the fly line while trolling, slowly moving the rod tip side to side, and etc. will help mimic important food form behaviour and most of the time increase your strikes. Details such as these are fun to discover and experiment with and of course everything new we can learn from the fish and one another increases our enjoyment!
Scott

[Roper]

Where is Sparse when we need him? Yard, care to step in with the appropriate tune for stripping a streamer...:clown:

[Gorgefly]

Definitely troll in some sort of an "S" pattern if you are strictly trolling. The only problem with this is that it is tougher to hook up. Also, I like to use a combination of rod jerks and strips both as each imparts a little different action to the fly.

[Ford_Fenders]

Really there are no wrong answers IMO. These are trout we're talking about. I've seen 'em hit on all of these methods plus whatever else can be thought up. Most days, best result comes from focusing more on location & activity, less on presentation (find 'em first!).

But to stick to the subject, can't say enough about making your fly react to a miss...Also, if you get a short strike, try to stop dead....got that right. Also works to go the panic route and start stripping hard/fast...works wonders on larger, more aggressive fish.

[WT]

I prefer to troll in a "lazy W" pattern.
WT

[IveofIone]

As a couple of guys have noted straight line trolling is probably the least productive method of all that results in a hookup. I also like the "S" troll as the line sinks in one direction and rises in the other. Fish often hit hard on the outside loop as the fly raises in the water column. It is problematic because the fly line is not a straight line to the rod tip but the number of strikes compared to straight line trolling makes up for it.

I discovered this years ago on Nunally when mid day fishing on hot days dropped off to just about nothing. Using a Kimballs Emerger on a 12' leader greased down to the last foot and kicking in wide S curves resulted in numerous takes but always on the part of the S that tightened the line.

Another method I have seen a couple of guys master is letting the boat coast as the line drops and then giving a short spurt with the oars to start the fly towards the surface. I have never perfected this but have fished with guys that have and their success is uncanny. All are variations on the same theme though-alter the depth, speed and direction of the fly in a manner that seems authentic to the fish. When all else fails I like to put a Halfback on a long leader and a floating line and just get it way the hell out there. Then I visit, eat, watch the scenery or doze and sometimes the results are amazing. Two years ago I caught a 6# bow doing that and the take looked like nothing more than an 8'' fish. Knowing the depth of the water and having the appropriate sinking line will take you a long way as well. Ive

[Trout Master]

I personally have stopped trolling a fly, with a few exceptions, I only troll if I'm moving to a different area and using my oars. I finally started just slow kicking my fins (from my pontoon) and casting and count down methed, then cast again with a different count untill I find what the trouters want. I have found this extremly more productive than trolling. I fish at Nunally 80% of my fishing time. And after 15 years of fishing it I have found this methed best. Roper how are you havent seen or talk to you since Wanacutt. I owe you a trip to Nunally with a airport view and a warm place to sleep,plus no walk in access.
Jim

[Be Jofus G]

iagree iagree iagree

[Preston]

Ive mentions an interesting technique. I believe the same method is described by Enos Bradner in his book Northwest Angling as "mooching" a nymph (borrowing the name from a deadly salmon fishing technique that, unfortunately, seems to have fallen out of fashion in in this day of downriggers). It can be particularly effective when fishing a Callibaetis nymph, simulating, as it does, the rising and falling "dance" of the emerging nymph. Trolling the fly has a long history in the northwest and many traditional flies like the Carey Special and the Doc Spratley were created just for that method.

I don't troll much anymore, being much more interested in fishing emergers and dries. But it does allow one to cover lots of water when fish are not showing and, at times, can be very effective. I do troll when moving from one location to another and find a Carey Special (or, more specifically, a Sixpack) on an intermediate-sink line can sometimes save the day. Holding the rod in my left hand, I usually keep up a steady twitch with my right, varying both the speed of float tube and twitch.

[nz trout bum]

There is tradition in trolling but it really is "fishing with a fly" not "fly fishing". Having gotten that off my chest, I do troll when moving from spot to spot if I am in the Watermaster. The method I use is to hold the line in a finger or two in my hand on one oar while I row. The sudden (or slow) change in movement is often rewarded. Now, if it just felt like I was fly fishing....W

[Sourdoughs]

There is tradition in trolling but it really is "fishing with a fly" not "fly fishing". Having gotten that off my chest, I do troll when moving from spot to spot if I am in the Watermaster. The method I use is to hold the line in a finger or two in my hand on one oar while I row. The sudden (or slow) change in movement is often rewarded. Now, if it just felt like I was fly fishing....W

Not to get off topic (or we could start a new topic), what is it about moving a fly through the water by kicking or paddling that makes it "not fly fishing". What do you (and others can chime in - it's free afterall) consider the essence of fly fishing? Casting? Using a fly? Using a fly and fly line and rod? Just curious.

[nz trout bum]

The neat thing is that if you troll flies it means that you have put away the spinning rod and the bait. That is the first step and a huge one. I do believe however that this is just a step and should be put aside as quickly as possible if you are going to become an accomplished stillwater fly fisherman.

I guess that I just have never met many (any?) trollers who can cast well, observe hatches carefully, know anything much about entomology, imitate naturals with their flies, tie well, are able to adjust for conditions (fish shallow, not spook pods of fish, sight fish to feeing trout etc.) or generally do much more than a guy with a good collection of colorado spinners, rapelas and ford fender and worms.

I know that this is harsh and many people who become excellent stillwater fly fisherman start by trolling. Trolling is a good way to cover water, locate fish and observe a new body of water. But even then, if you just take the time to look at the floatsome on the windward shore for insects or casings, watch the lake for activity, watch where and how birds are moving and look at the topography of the surrounding shoreline you can discover much about a new lake before you even leave the beach.

I guess i just think that fly fishing from an anchored boat (tube, pontoon, whatever) is what stillwater fishing is about. Feeling the grab at the end of a strip or watching the end of your line move and lifting your rod to a leaping rainbow is just so much more personal.

Good things about trolling are that you get more exercise, it is easier to drink a beer or have lunch (if you are in some kind of kick boat), you can chat with friends, take your girlfirend and your dog with you in the boat and see a lot of shoreline. All good things. But sorry guys...it just isn't fly fishing.

[klintd]

Interesting post.

Seems like you have identified two distinct categories of fishing, one is a beer drinking state of ignorance and the other an finely tuned symphony of skills. The only part I dont like is that one is fly fising and the other "just isn't fly fishing."

I wonder fly fishers are though of as arrogant bastards?

[Wayne Jordan]

I guess that I just have never met many (any?) trollers who can cast well, observe hatches carefully, know anything much about entomology, imitate naturals with their flies, tie well, are able to adjust for conditions (fish shallow, not spook pods of fish, sight fish to feeing trout etc.)


Name the lake buddy, I'll meet you there and prove you wrong...

[nz trout bum]

I knew I was stirring a hornets nest but couldn't resist. Please note that I said "many" and it only referred to people I have met. Wayne shounds like the exception. Having said that, PM me if you would like and lets go fishing. Maybe you can teach me something. W

[Wayne Jordan]

Trolling is just another technique, like chironomid fishing or fishing emergers on a sinking line that catches fish. I feel that limiting yourself to one technique limits your catch rate. When I go fishing I go to catch as many fish as I can, which is exactly why in certain instances I'll troll. Plus, when trolling you also have to consider water depth (in relation to where the fish are holding), what the fish are feeding on (not always insects), what line to use, flies, and trolling speed will all have an effect on your success rate.
And last, but certainly not least; leave the girlfriend at home and have cold beer to quench your thirst after pulling up a bruiser from the depths.
http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/gallery/data/18330/thumbs/DSC02726_1_.JPG (http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=20107)

[Sourdoughs]

...
And last, but certainly not least; leave the girlfriend at home and have cold beer to quench your thirst after pulling up a bruiser from the depths.
http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/gallery/data/18330/thumbs/DSC02726_1_.JPG (http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=20107)

:rofl:

Amen! Nice fatty, BTW.

[IveofIone]

NZ, it is apparent that you are a new guy and haven't fished with many guys on this board. But do go out with a few of them and anchor up and start stripping. By all means. But prepare to have your ass handed to you. And this BS that many of us can't read water, observe insects, tie flys, are entomology challenged, can't cast or fish shallow water and are so clumsy that we scare more fish than we catch-where did that come from?

At this point it is not clear whether you are the latest in a recent wave of young guns that come on here and try to make a name for themselves by insulting everyone or if you are simply a misinformed dweeb that has done nothing more serious than smoke his own beard or sip his own bathwater.

Time will tell I guess. Ive

[Zane Wyll]

The neat thing is that if you troll flies it means that you have put away the spinning rod and the bait. That is the first step and a huge one. I do believe however that this is just a step and should be put aside as quickly as possible if you are going to become an accomplished stillwater fly fisherman.

I guess that I just have never met many (any?) trollers who can cast well, observe hatches carefully, know anything much about entomology, imitate naturals with their flies, tie well, are able to adjust for conditions (fish shallow, not spook pods of fish, sight fish to feeing trout etc.) or generally do much more than a guy with a good collection of colorado spinners, rapelas and ford fender and worms.

I know that this is harsh and many people who become excellent stillwater fly fisherman start by trolling. Trolling is a good way to cover water, locate fish and observe a new body of water. But even then, if you just take the time to look at the floatsome on the windward shore for insects or casings, watch the lake for activity, watch where and how birds are moving and look at the topography of the surrounding shoreline you can discover much about a new lake before you even leave the beach.

I guess i just think that fly fishing from an anchored boat (tube, pontoon, whatever) is what stillwater fishing is about. Feeling the grab at the end of a strip or watching the end of your line move and lifting your rod to a leaping rainbow is just so much more personal.

Good things about trolling are that you get more exercise, it is easier to drink a beer or have lunch (if you are in some kind of kick boat), you can chat with friends, take your girlfirend and your dog with you in the boat and see a lot of shoreline. All good things. But sorry guys...it just isn't fly fishing.

Maybe you should read your post before you post it. Im glad you enjoy the sport and lifestyle of a Flyfisherman. I Think you should also let others enjoy it also without your personal judgments of their styles and or fishing choices. Such broad statements and one way opinions have no place here. Who died and mad you God of Fly Fishing.:beathead:

[Tony Mull]

trolling, properly done takes just as much attention and thought as any other method (and it's just that, a method). Sure it can be done mindlessly, but so can sink and strip, fishing chronies, naked or with a float, or casting dries. It's all in being present. That said, I've caught an awful lot of fish while not paying attention, but it's gotta help. I'm at least competent at every flyfishing method I've found. They are all tools.

What I'm really detecting here, NZ, is that the troller is you. :hmmm:

[Daryle Holmstrom]

:confused:where did this thread go

[Tony Mull]

you're right daryl.
other than size and color of fly, when trolling you can alter depth, speed and motion of your offering. the old s pattern is so good because it changes depth and speed without the rower having to do a thing but move in an s. course this effect can be toyed with by changing rowing speed while moving in an s also. motion can be imparted by giving a strip or two, twitching the line, or any other nervous habit you can imagine. start and stop is a good technique too. I can't count the number of fish that have hit just on the first couple of pulls on the oars. slow trolling combined with line imparted action is a very effective flyfishing method.
that said, it is very, very difficult to present a trolled fly at anything near a natural speed, and to be truthful, I have never felt that the biggest, smartest fish in a lake are the ones I'm getting while trolling.
Still, I'll stick with what is working on any given day, and if I'm hooking up every time I troll over an area I'm likely to just keep trolling. If I'm anchored and hooking up every few casts I'm not gonna pull anchor and start trolling either.

[Old Man]

I was going to add something here but I just realized that I hate to fish lakes. I'd rather just shoot myself in the foot than sit in a float tube and pull a fly around a lake.

With fins you can get quite tired if you are on a big lake. I know as I have been out of control now and then.

Jim

[chadk]

I like to do anchoring and cast\stripping, chironomid\bobber, and dry fly fishing. And I also like to do various trolling methods, (especially when just searching) - skating\waking dries\emergers, wind drifting, deep water dredging, etc.

But there is another method I like which does not involve an anchor and does not involve trolling. I like to either use a very slow trolling motor, or fins, and cruise the shoreline casting to structure or rises. I'll do this with dries if they are keyed in on the surface, or with streamers\buggers all other times. Works great for hunting browns, bass, crappie, brookies, and other species that like to hide in structure and ambush their prey.

[Gary Thompson]

The true still water fly fisher is the one standing on the bow of his boat casting to the shore line or to risers with the wife rowing or running the electric motor while trolling her fly.
Cover lots of water plus the looks ya get from the guys setting with their butts in the water is priceless.

(me)Oh, honey I got another one, (her)ya me too!!!
(me)I'm getting tire, lets stop for a beer (her) you take a break I'll keep trolling

[zeelander]

Really there are no wrong answers IMO. These are trout we're talking about. I've seen 'em hit on all of these methods plus whatever else can be thought up. Most days, best result comes from focusing more on location & activity, less on presentation (find 'em first!).

But to stick to the subject, can't say enough about making your fly react to a miss......got that right. Also works to go the panic route and start stripping hard/fast...works wonders on larger, more aggressive fish.

Right on the money!:thumb: Getting fish to commit after they already gave it a shot is hard but both stopping and panicked fly techniques have worked well for me. Depends on the fishes mood.. got to throw 'em a mixed bag and find what works and go from there IMO.

Z

[CovingtonFly]

A great fly to troll on the westside is The Olive Willy. If I'm in my little boat with the electric motor I'll throw an Olive Willy on the end of an intermediate line and cruise around on the lowest speed. Usually just tracing the bank, as opposed to out in the middle of the lake. I troll in an "S" pattern and every now and again I'll bump it up to the 2nd highest gear and back down and then sometimes turn the electric motor on and off for a start and stop effect.

I usually troll with my legs kicked up and my rod in one hand with my my pointer finger holding the line tight against the cork of the handle. When I get a short take I turn off the electric motor (ussually spilling my coffee, beer) and make two quick strips and 9.7 times out of ten I get hooked up.
This is particularly satisfying because the hook up comes when I'm stripping and thus feels more like fly fishing than simply fishing with a fly.

I haven't been here in awhile and I'm glad to see they've added a stillwater section.

[ak_powder_monkey]

Trolling is fly fishing as long as there is a fly involved and your weight is 18 inches above the fly... The State of Alaska Says So! :lol:

Seriously Though trolling with a fly rod and fly line and fly is just as much fly fishing as standing in one place and swinging a fly on a 500 grain sink tip. I mean when I'm out trolling in the Naknek river for kings and everyone looks at me funny because instead of wiggle warts I have a fly rod with 600 grains on the line I sure feel like I'm fly fishing...

[Porter]

I have trolled many different ways...the most success I have had is when moving away from shore, such as Pass Lake...cast towards shore and start trolling away from the shoreline (or rock islands...especially a particular eastern wa lake)

It's all fun ....I just hate kicking my float tube against some of those strong winds on certain eastern wa lakes...like Lenice bawling:

[P-FITZ98]

I grew up trolling flys.Still do it.Only difference is I traded the old Penn 209 with leadcore for a 8wt with whatever wt line it takes to get to the fish.I like to give it a jerky-retreive,which allways seems to work.On a short strike,put it in their face.We call that the "dinner-bell retreive".We landed over 50 fish a few weeks ago at Rufus doing this in a warm,enclosed heated boat.Took a break every-so-often to have a beer.Someday, maybe Ill graduate to full "flyfisherman" status, but untill then,Ill keep tying,learning,and knocking the piss out of fish.:beer2:

[Daryle Holmstrom]

I troll once in a while with a fly on a slow sink line.

[Daryle Holmstrom]

I grew up trolling flys.Still do it.Only difference is I traded the old Penn 209 with leadcore for a 8wt with whatever wt line it takes to get to the fish.I like to give it a jerky-retreive,which allways seems to work.On a short strike,put it in their face.We call that the "dinner-bell retreive".We landed over 50 fish a few weeks ago at Rufus doing this in a warm,enclosed heated boat.Took a break every-so-often to have a beer.Someday, maybe Ill graduate to full "flyfisherman" status, but untill then,Ill keep tying,learning,and knocking the piss out of fish.:beer2:
.
I need heater for the pass lake boat , since I'm disabled I could use it and invite many a person but I won't.

Fished Pass for many years and if I used the Pass I'd probably get stoned from the road. LOL

Daryle

[Go Fish]

When I troll flies I use (what we call) the twitch, to give a different action to the fly. This is simply moving the fly line an inch or more (depending on what fly I am are using) while trolling. The erratic movement seems to make the bug more realistic which gets more fish to take it. Of course you also need to be at the right depth, the right speed, with the right bug.

[Keith Hixson]

In deep lakes on hot summer days the fish go deep, especially the big ones. Trolling allows me to go deep. It becomes an extremely effective method of catching fish. I like to troll very deep and slow with damsel fly nymphs and dragon fly nymphs or streamers. Twitching the fly or giving it a slight jerk ever so often will increase the amount of hits. You'll be surprised how many really big fish live in those deep lakes.
Now those who don't troll but just cast often don't catch the really big fish because they often don't go deep enough.

[Originally Posted by nz trout bum
I guess that I just have never met many (any?) trollers who can cast well, observe hatches carefully, know anything much about entomology, imitate naturals with their flies, tie well, are able to adjust for conditions (fish shallow, not spook pods of fish, sight fish to feeing trout etc.)]

The reply posted by nz trout bum is the reason why fly fishermen get such a bad reputation. I have been fly fishing for over 30 years. I troll and I can cast very well. I learned on streams but I also enjoy fishing lakes. Deep lakes like Rufus Woods require different techniques than smaller and shallower lakes. I suppose that trolling with a fly is to me a different method of fishing with a fly, hence fly fishing. I hope that NZ trout bum will learn that to insult folks and their methods of fly fishing is snobbery at its core and really has no place in the world of fly fishing.

Keith

[panderson3]

i just can't resist chiming in on this one. and by the way i am new to this, so here goes. i have to agree with nz trout bum. when i was anew flyfisherman and i didn't have the skills of fishing a hatch or retrieving a fly in a way that would interest the fish, i would troll. then i really learned how to fish still water by casting and retrieving (which is really flyfishing) then i started to catch more and much larger fish. my observation is that the majority of the fish i see caught by trolling are the smaller less selective and less causious fish. yes, there are always exceptions, but i can't help what i see. sorry if this sounds arrogant or if you feel put down, and yes, you can troll that fly if you want.

[Jim Wallace]

and yes, you can troll that fly if you want.

Gee, thanks, mon. Thats big of you. Now I feel a whole lot better about myself.:beathead:

[Gary Thompson]

I don't get it?
To fly fish or not to fly fish was not the ?
How to troll a fly, was that not the ?
Trolling a fly w/fly rod and line is fly fishing. If a guy is trolling really deep it's hard to pick up and cast to risers but who cares when your catching fish on the troll.
Speaking of trolls or lurkers.
Here's a ? for ya. How do ya catch a troll?
Great fishing report!!!!
The bite is on at X lake, using X fly. Then drive by the X lake on Saturday AM and have a good laugh at all the tooners freezing there ass's off w/no fish to show for it.