...for serious pike and predator anglers!
Lure & Bait Trolling Techniques
Minimising the risk of mouth damage...
The most important things to remember when trolling for pike, be it with a set of oars, or an electric/petrol engine, is always set the clutch of your reel, be it a fixed spool or multiplier reel, to slip at a sensible fish pulling pressure - and keep to the lowest trolling speed possible - i.e. to minimise the amount of damage caused to a pike's mouth as it hits the lure and starts thrashing its head from side to side to try and rid itself of the lure. A trolling speed of 1-3mph is what I, personally, recommend - i.e. to keep mouth damage to an absolute minimum.
The most important things to remember when trolling for pike, be it with a set of oars, or an electric/petrol engine, is always set the clutch of your reel, be it a fixed spool or multiplier reel, to slip at a sensible fish pulling pressure - and keep to the lowest trolling speed possible - i.e. to minimise the amount of damage caused to a pike's mouth as it hits the lure and starts thrashing its head from side to side to try and rid itself of the lure. A trolling speed of 1-3mph is what I, personally, recommend - i.e. to keep mouth damage to an absolute minimum.
Float Trolling Lures
Float trolling diving plugs, sinking plugs, spoons, spinnerbaits, rubber baits, and so on, can be very productive at times.
Good catches depend on how hungry pike are, weather conditions and water clarity/temperature.
This is a good method for determining a lures diving/working depth, or for trolling/retrieving lures over weed beds and shallow water areas - it almost eliminates the risk of snagging up.
My best catch in one day using this method stands at 34 pike in one day.
Float trolling diving plugs, sinking plugs, spoons, spinnerbaits, rubber baits, and so on, can be very productive at times.
Good catches depend on how hungry pike are, weather conditions and water clarity/temperature.
This is a good method for determining a lures diving/working depth, or for trolling/retrieving lures over weed beds and shallow water areas - it almost eliminates the risk of snagging up.
My best catch in one day using this method stands at 34 pike in one day.
Leger Trolling Lures
Leger trolled or retrieved lures can also be very productive when the conditions are just right.
When pike are not too hungry and lay dormant on the bottom, is the best time to use this method. Lures can be made to pass within inches of dormant pike! It is a brilliant method for stimulating lethargic, not too hungry, pike!
Top-water propbaits legered trolled (or retrieved) along the bottom, as seen in the picture to the right, have been very productive for me over the years. A two ounce weight is ideal for this technique.
My best catch in one day using this method, stands at 52 pike in one day.
Leger trolled or retrieved lures can also be very productive when the conditions are just right.
When pike are not too hungry and lay dormant on the bottom, is the best time to use this method. Lures can be made to pass within inches of dormant pike! It is a brilliant method for stimulating lethargic, not too hungry, pike!
Top-water propbaits legered trolled (or retrieved) along the bottom, as seen in the picture to the right, have been very productive for me over the years. A two ounce weight is ideal for this technique.
My best catch in one day using this method, stands at 52 pike in one day.
Float Trolling Live/Dead Baits
Float trolled live and dead baits has accounted for many thousands of pike over the years.
When trolling deadbaits it pays to have a good anti-kink vane attached above the trace. My own design anti-kink vane is 100% twist-proof. Click star to view.
I use sound emitters when trolling livebaits to call pike in to my baits - come and get it! Through choice, I rarely ever livebait nowadays - but I have nothing against those that do.
CB Vibro Emitters have accounted for many good catches of pike over the years. Back in the early days of testing my Vibro Emitters, using small trout baits, I had days like you could never imagine.
Float trolled live and dead baits has accounted for many thousands of pike over the years.
When trolling deadbaits it pays to have a good anti-kink vane attached above the trace. My own design anti-kink vane is 100% twist-proof. Click star to view.
I use sound emitters when trolling livebaits to call pike in to my baits - come and get it! Through choice, I rarely ever livebait nowadays - but I have nothing against those that do.
CB Vibro Emitters have accounted for many good catches of pike over the years. Back in the early days of testing my Vibro Emitters, using small trout baits, I had days like you could never imagine.
Leger Trolling Live/Dead Baits
As far as I know, I was the first UK pike angler to bottom contour 'Leger Troll' - which is the name that I gave to the method. I started experimenting with my leger trolling method back in 1986, having had some good catches using a similat technique at Ardleigh res. Colchester. I finally decided to let a few people in on the method in '86. As word spread, people started to come up with similar techniques, like, for example, paternoster trolling. One or two anglers tried to make out that they had thought of the method first. Some very well respected anglers know different - don't they Neville!
A fish finder/depth sounder was vital to the success of my leger trolling technique. The depth sounder enabled me to keep my bait tight to the bottom at all times throughout the days trolling - in waters that varied greatly in depth! As I moved over deeper water I would simply let out more line - keeping my bait tight to the bottom. I used a simple one foot marker on my rod to gauge how much line to let out as the depth beneath my boat increased. If the depth decreased, I simply wound in one, two or three turns - or however many turns of the reel handle were needed.
As far as I know, I was the first UK pike angler to bottom contour 'Leger Troll' - which is the name that I gave to the method. I started experimenting with my leger trolling method back in 1986, having had some good catches using a similat technique at Ardleigh res. Colchester. I finally decided to let a few people in on the method in '86. As word spread, people started to come up with similar techniques, like, for example, paternoster trolling. One or two anglers tried to make out that they had thought of the method first. Some very well respected anglers know different - don't they Neville!
A fish finder/depth sounder was vital to the success of my leger trolling technique. The depth sounder enabled me to keep my bait tight to the bottom at all times throughout the days trolling - in waters that varied greatly in depth! As I moved over deeper water I would simply let out more line - keeping my bait tight to the bottom. I used a simple one foot marker on my rod to gauge how much line to let out as the depth beneath my boat increased. If the depth decreased, I simply wound in one, two or three turns - or however many turns of the reel handle were needed.
By placing my rod tip in the top of a door frame and winding one full turn of my reel handle, I knew exactly how much line was taken on board my reel with each turn of the reel handle - hence, I knew exactly how many turns of my reel handle was required as the water depth beneath my boat decreased foot by foot - i.e. as I moved into shallower water.
Try it for yourself - I guarentee you'll do the biz when mastered.
Try it for yourself - I guarentee you'll do the biz when mastered.
