Longline Trolling

Need some help here. I started longline trolling about 3 years ago and do well once the fish start to suspend in the creeks and coves in some shallower water. But where I need help is while it is still cold in February and early March when the fish are still out in the deeper water. How do I go about trying to catch these fish longline trolling? I mostly only fish Neely Henry and Weiss. I run 1 12 footer, 1 10 footer and 1 8 footer both out the front and back of the boat using mainly 1/16 jigs, but will throw in the occasional 1/32 jig. Please help me out....I want to be able to catch fish more consistently. More than anything, I LOVE to Shoot Docks!!!!! It is so addicting!

I am by no means an expert but I have a lot of experience long lining on a lot of lakes. I live on Weiss and guide a little when my job permits. I will share a little with you that might help. I was introduced to long lining by a guy named Steve Deason at Santee Cooper several years ago. He told me some things that have always helped. You need good electronics especially when fish are still deep. I try to find big balls of bait and mark the depth they are at. jig weight and boat speed is important. You might want to invest in some 1/8th oz. jigs. I keep everything from 1/8 to 1/64 in my boat. I think you are better off being to shallow than too deep at the same time if fish are holding at 15 to 20 feet you are probably not going to get deep enough with 1/16. tie two on and slow down. I try to keep speed from .8 to about 1.4 depending on water depth. If your marking fish and not catching any vary your speed util you find out how they want it. Let the fish tell you. I hope this helps. Also i use 6 or 8 pound test

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Originally Posted by footballcoach

I am by no means an expert but I have a lot of experience long lining on a lot of lakes. I live on Weiss and guide a little when my job permits. I will share a little with you that might help. I was introduced to long lining by a guy named Steve Deason at Santee Cooper several years ago. He told me some things that have always helped. You need good electronics especially when fish are still deep. I try to find big balls of bait and mark the depth they are at. jig weight and boat speed is important. You might want to invest in some 1/8th oz. jigs. I keep everything from 1/8 to 1/64 in my boat. I think you are better off being to shallow than too deep at the same time if fish are holding at 15 to 20 feet you are probably not going to get deep enough with 1/16. tie two on and slow down. I try to keep speed from .8 to about 1.4 depending on water depth. If your marking fish and not catching any vary your speed util you find out how they want it. Let the fish tell you. I hope this helps. Also i use 6 or 8 pound test

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Thanks footballcoach! I have an 898 on the console and a 571di on the bow. Anybody else have any tips that they would like to share?

I've been long lining for about 20 years learning on my own with my fishing buddy back in South Carolina. I long line from dec to march and fill my freezer every year. I now fish Logan Martin and fish it exactly like I did lake wateree in South Carolina. On both lakes I have 5 or 6 coves or flats that I fish. If I don't find them in these areas I go home or start back over where I started. Usually the cove you find them in this time of year has shad, but not always. This time of year you have to slow way down no more than .8 or 1 mph at the most. Color also seems to make more difference this time of year. I always start with most poles on black and chartreuse and change a few poles as the day goes on and if I start getting fish on a different color I'll start changing. Also don't be scared to go shallow even though it's cold. I've caught a lot of fish in very shallow water 5 feet or less. Just tie on a 1/32 jig and don't cast back as far. Bottom line troll your area shallow to deep (put two jigs on while deep) I consider 20 feet deep I don't try anything deeper change out colors on a few rods. If nothing move to another area. To me its key not to have to many areas. Become and expert on four or five areas of your lake.

What the Football coach said. If they are deep, heaver jigs or slow down, I love to long line but when it is cold and water temp is low and the fish are in the bait deep I spider rig. even then I Watch the depth finder and if I see the fish come up after the water I will change over and start long lining. The coach is also right on having a good depth finder. That is your best tool that you can spend money on. Good luck, a lot of seat time will help you as much as anything. usafret is right also the fish can move up anytime. Follow the bait, Follow the bait Follow the bait.

All info above is correct! Weiss crappie can be very finicky at times....if bait is present...very important...on electronics, I zigzag slow turns and change colors every 10 mins if I'm not getting bites. I pour my own heads I weigh them to check. Might be worth your time to find a sandy flat and troll it vary you speed and depth till your jigs bounce off bottom then there is no guessing game what depth your jigs swim at what speed...speed is the key! I set my front unit to draw out fish and it marks their depth....that helped me a lot

I love to longline as well. I find that color is important this time of year. Figure out the color they want and you'll put more in the boat. I prefer a southern pro curly tailed bait. I only use 6 lbs hi-vis line. I like double jigs when the wind is not too bad. Pay attention to how far back you're trolling and the spread of your rod tips to decrease number of tangled lines. Pay attention to wind and current direction, it will tell you in which direction the fish are oriented, sometimes they will only take it traveling one direction.

If the fish are deep go to 1/8 oz jigs and start adding split shot to your line to get deeper. Start out with a smaller one and keep going bigger till you start getting bit. Slowing yor speed will not always get you deep enough