Thread: Vertical Slow Trolling 101

here is your picture to go with it:


Sorry FM, i had to do it....lol

Very informative post. But I still need some help. Could someone post a picture of their fishing rod and line with the jig setup? That would really help.

nice rig jlaughlin.

Originally Posted by exit 84

nice rig jlaughlin.

I caint afford a rig like that, that boat would belong to the man that started this thread. Fishin_Magician. But I do agree with you, its a nice rig.

JL 72,
You are taking Crappie Fishing to a higher level there man. Nice rig!

Glad yall thought it had a little helpful info in there. Figured if I typed it up in the PM might as well share it.

Originally Posted by skiptomylu

The one thing I ask after this read is what or how do you use your rods off the back (mainly in shallow water I am curious about)? I have always just long line trolling with the troll motor in the spring and fall. Deep water it would not matter that the rods in back point back, but shallow I could see where spooking the fish may be trouble.

Well the guys that are with me seem to think that the back is cursed. They never seem to catch as many as the front... Granted we have two guys working the front it would have an advantage... heh they always fighitng over that second seat on the bow. I do tend to hover over key areas with the trolling motor and that would put the rods off the back out of the strike zone... *insert excuse* :D

And to be honest I think a large percentage of fish we catch using this tactic come from the two 12' poles straight off the front on either side of my trolling motor. Maybe its because those baits always hit fresh unfished water or water that boat has not drifted over. I am not sure to be honest but try a couple straight off the front on long poles and you will most likely notice they produce more then the others.

As far as the rods off the back we like to have them pointed straight off the stern just fanned out enough to keep lines from tangling. This is again because they tend to bounce less in the waves then rods angled out to the sides. Allot of wave action can ruin the vertical trolling method so anything to stop the tips from bouncing is a good thing. But if it is calm they might be better positioned off the sides. This would be better to reach water that has not had the shadow of the boat drift over.

Originally Posted by jlaughlin72

here is your picture to go with it:

Heh Tanks Johnny for the visual aid. That is actually a picture from my long line trolling setup but it is very similar. When I long line I have 2 vertical poles off the bow with "slow trolling" rigs on them with heavy weights. That way while I long line I can still vertical fish some various baits. As for all the other rods in the pick aside from the 2 straight off the front that is my long line setup. But only difference would be all would be pointed off the bow and stern fanned out with the rods at an angle that is parallel to the surface. Tips about foot from the water.

Does help to have a picture of the rod holders and seating arrangement. I usually post an illustrated novel thanks for not letting me fall down on my job Johnny.

~Fishin' Magician~

No problem Markham, i have been waiting for you to steal your boat back from me......lol, a couple of people thought it was my boat but I couldn't take the credit for such a rig.

GREAT INFO - Thanks for the help