Thread: Please Help a Newbie Troller Out!

We started years ago with hand cut bamboo poles and homemade pole holders.

using six poles would require some rod holders, search the board and you will find numerous options available, consider what kind of boat you have, permanent mount or temporary, etc., Rods?, I don't spend much on rods (just me) maybe $50 for the rod and reel, others spend 2x what i do, and if you can, go for it. wally world has a decent selection to start out for inexpensive rods, look for 6' or longer, spend a bit more on the reel imo, both should handle 4lb up to 8lb line, I use 4lb 99% of the time. I usually drag bottom (that's seems to be where the fish stay on my home lake), then go to the lake. You may decide you need/want a gps/chart/FF/DF, a FF/DF will help find the fish and keep you on them, the gps will help you remember where they were last time, but may not be there the next time(lol). Sure others will chime in.

There is a wealth of knowledge on this subject over in the Mississippi forum.

Cabelas Whuppin sticks are around $20/each. Have a ten year warranty, and are 12' in length. They work great. Look over at Grizzly Jig for some baitcasters around $18-$21 each. If you buy the baitcasters (they are zebco I think) you probably won't ever have to replace them. I have had mine for 6 years of hard use, and wouldn't of ever replaced them until I decided to go with linecounter reels (even those were only $26/each). The jury is still out on them, as I haven't used them yet!

get two hi-tek rodholders (4poles each) 12ft. rods ever how many you want, with spinning reels cheap ones will work fine put some 12lb hi-vis line on them with some jigs or minnows and start fishin, as you learn more you can all was upgrade.grizzly jig company has all the stuff you need and their as cheap as anybody. i have a cabin at lake washington at southern star camp ground . if your down their stop by i will be glad to help you all i can. from the middle of feb on i will be their most of the time.

Go with the Hi-teks for sure...Here is the link Page Title
I like 14, 16 and 18 ft rods to get the bait out in front and away from the trolling motor and possible "shadowing" from the hull......Makes a noticeable difference at times! The B&M ProStaff trolling rods are hard to beat for an all-around general purpose rod....you can use many techniques with them. Ultralight spinning reels are easy to find on closeout from both Cabela's and BPS. 6 lb line is pretty much standard for trolling around here....in clear water the heavier line can cut down on the bites. That's really all the basic stuff you need Rocky. The rest is in the details of rigging the rods and technique. If you want to come over here anytime and look at a couple of boats I have rigged up just let me know. I also have four different brands of trolling rods in different lengths and different riggings you can check out. Later, Steve

thanks for all the replies. I think I have a general idea of what to do now.

Hey Rocky - came into the thread late but all the advice you just read is gold. I troll all the time. My buddy Crappieking101 has tek on the back and I love to use them. I use Driftmaster on my boat. They are easy to remove. Now what ever rod you use get it a Grizzly Jig. They have a show at the end of this month and a great rod price. Now I slow troll and use a crappie stick now called crappie pole. I fish in shallow oxbows and lake and unlike others I use a cheap fly type reel (uncle buck). Now my crank set up is BM trolling rods and line counter reels. take Meats advice and try to meet up with him down there. He will put you on them.
BillyE
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