trolling

trolling, method of fishing in which a lure or a bait is pulled behind a boat at varying speeds and depths according to the nature, habitat, and size of the fish being sought. Trolling is practiced in freshwater and salt water for commercial as well as recreational purposes. It permits the fisherman to cover a wide area, making it the method of choice among sport anglers pursuing such highly mobile species as walleye and muskellunge (muskie). Trolling for sport is usually done at relatively low speeds using strong rods equipped with stout lines and heavy reels. The fisherman sits facing the stern, sometimes in a specially equipped fighting chair. Troll lines are also used by trawler fishermen for commercial catches, principally salmon and tuna.

Boat, gear, and devices

Trolling is practiced with all kinds of craft, ranging from kayaks and canoes to specialized powerboats. Powerboats that carry varied tackle and big-game gear are usually used at sea but may also be used on inland waters, where legal. Specialized trolling motors are often fitted to kayaks and canoes for quiet fishing at consistent low speeds. The speed of the vessel is controlled to match the speed of the target fish. Large vessels may have provisions for refrigerating the catch.

While both small and large trollers or trolling vessels have trolling lines and reels, large vessels have additional deck and fish detection equipment. Outriggers, for instance, are long poles attached to the sides of large trollers and are used to spread out multiple fishing lines away from the boat’s spray. Boats may also have downriggers that position the baited hook at a specific depth in the water column using lead weights. Other devices may include planer boards, which spread fishing lines down and away from the vessel; trolling paravanes, which sink the baited hook or lure to desired depths; and spreader bars, which have an array of lures or baited hooks dragged by a single line to mimic a school of fish and attract larger fish. Some vessels may also use multibeam sonar and GPS to find fish, as well as advanced fish aggregating devices to attract and gather them.

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Commonly caught species

A wide range of pelagic fishes—species that occur in the upper and middle layers of the water column in the ocean—are targets of trolling. These include offshore species such as mackerel, mahimahi, marlin, sailfish, and tuna and nearshore species including barracuda, kingfish, and wahoo. Such freshwater species as bass and crappie, as well as salmon, walleye, and muskie, are also caught by trolling.