Please Help a Newbie Troller Out!

Hey guys, I have been a member here for about 2 years. 2 years ago, I got into crappie fishing about this time of year, and heard about the great fishing in lakes like Washington. So I hopped in the boat and went over there only to realize that I was woefully under equipped. This really kinda depressed me to the point that I quit fishing for Crappie unless they were spawning.

Now, I have a little bit of money set aside to equip my boat to troll. So help me out. I'd like to be able to start with about 6 rods.

Which rods, rod holders, reels, line, etc do I need? I'm sure some of you can help me avoid the common newbie mistakes. I have the jigs and such and have the general idea of how to do it. Just not the setup.

Thanks in advance for your help,

Vetrock

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
><)))*>

Def some good info above!!! If you can catch the Pinnacle 12foot rods when Grizzly jig has them that is a steal!!! Good decent pole!!

Check with Grizzly Jig Co. on their Silstar Limit rods. They come in 8', 10', and 12' and are relatively cheap and do a great job. Also, Academy sports has the Shimano reels for $10 each and I suggest hi vis line in 4# or 6# test so you can watch the lines to keep from tangling so much. Not knowing your set up with your boat, I dont know if different lengths of rods makes that much difference, but a narrow boat like mine makes all the difference. You want your rods spaced out as much as possible, and leave room to expand with more holders and rods if your laws allow it. I fish 10 rods longlining and there are plenty others out there that fishes WAY MORE rods than I do.;):)

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Originally Posted by MEATGETTER

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.

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There you go! That's all you need to know. You can't go wrong with hi-tek, super nice folks to deal with.:D

Like everyone else had said the Hi-Tek are great.

I've got a bunch of telescoping 16' rods with reels that I'd give you if you could pick them up. Got 10 or 12 of them.

I sure like my driftmaster rod holders. I have both 10' and 12' rods, different brands, Walley Marshall signature series and B&M. Mostly fish minnows on them but keep a 6' ultra lite with a jig on it always ready. Have not mastered using over 4 long poles and my ultra lite. When by yourself, you have all these poles out, then get a big LMB or White Bass or Chain Pickeral, they can really make a mess of your lines in a hurry. A couple things I did not see mentioned: Useing marking bouys to mark creek channel edges for making consecutive trolling passes once you locate fish, a quality long handled dip net, for those larger fish as you will most likely be using light lines. One thing I will adding to my set up this year are some type of holder for holding the rods upright while motoring from one area to another. Driftmaster makes one to go with their conventional rod holder, I have also seen some made from PVC. If anyone wants to post pictures of theirs I would like to see them.

Thanks again for the replies. I had some rewards points saved up from BPS and Cabelas. I bought a few 14 ft BnM rods, line, spincast reels, Driftmaster rod holder, and some odds and ends. Looking forward to getting it set up and going out to have some fun.

Vetrock,
BPS has an inexpensive trolling pole that comes in 10', 12' & 13' models for about $20.00. They also stock a Shimano spinning reel that I use for less than $ 15.00. So $35.00 x 6 = $ 210.00 and you are ready. I spool Mr. Crappie 10# camo line and it works quite well. As for pole holders, I have made my own out of black iron pipe or my latest ones I made from 1" square aluminum tubing. I bought the wire bank fishing pole holders and cut them off about 5" and threaded them to use lock nuts. It's a simple T bar with the pole holders across the top. Driftmaster makes a very nice setup that I would like to have in the future and it holds 4 poles.

Hey rockmike, Where do you stays? I might be interested in those poles. I have a son just getting started to crappie fish.

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Originally Posted by Vetrock

Thanks again for the replies. I had some rewards points saved up from BPS and Cabelas. I bought a few 14 ft BnM rods, line, spincast reels, Driftmaster rod holder, and some odds and ends. Looking forward to getting it set up and going out to have some fun.

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If you don't like the 14ft BnM's I will trade you my 12ft BnM's. I have 10, 12 BnM's and I would like to see if it helps to get away from the boat a little more when I'm trolling. My wife said I needed another fishing pole like she needed another husband:confused:

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Originally Posted by arkdrakehunter

If you don't like the 14ft BnM's I will trade you my 12ft BnM's. I have 10, 12 BnM's and I would like to see if it helps to get away from the boat a little more when I'm trolling. My wife said I needed another fishing pole like she needed another husband:confused:

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LOL, deal.

ok! I got the driftmaster installed and the reels have hi-vis line. Now I have a question as to how you guys like to rig them. I think this is what most have recommended: Attach a No-knot Fas snap to the end of the line, Attach your jig here, as well as a swivel with a 12" leader down to a 1 or 2 oz weight depending on how windy it is. I could also tie another jig about 18" above the first jig.

Correct?

i take a swivel tye lineto it i use 20lb mono. make a short loop knot about 2inlong about 12in from barrel swivel put first hook or jig on loop now move down about 14-16in and put weight i use 1/2oz move down about 14-16in and tye another hook or jig that is your rig tye barrel swivel to your main line i have 12lb on my poles. this is the set up i use you can also put a jig on one and a minnow hook on the other.hope this gives you a idea.

Thanks Meatgetter. You can tell I am a rookie.

hey, did you get your catalog ????

Yep, just looked at it. I get the impression that if the color combo I want isn't there, that you could probably make it.

i bet we can.

Hey man started last year. Had bass boat but just tired of fishing for trash fish. I found a old table with allum leg on it took it off the table and turned it upside down and bolted to boat. Took off the adustable screw in leg and found bolt that would fit. Got on line and found how th make rod holders out of 4in pvc pipe. Cut the other leg off with chop saw and drilled holes and mounted that to top of leg with screww. Each holder holds four poles and will say caught a lot of crappie with them. Very cheap.

ok, i rigged up the 14 ft poles and i put a 2 oz weight on one of them. Man, did it torque that rod. I put 1 oz weights on the rest. Should I change the 2 oz rod?

That sounds like a lot of weight Rocky. I only use that much if I am pushing crankbaits in front and using a fairly stiff rod. Otherwise, I use a 3/16 oz worm weight and three #5 split shot for weight when trolling jigs....that's all. The split shots stop the slider about 18 inches above the jig (like a mini-downrigger). 6# line will help keep the drag down as you troll.

I have resisted being involved in this thread because telling you how to troll is like encouraging you to learn to smoke. You will get addicted to searching out particular Bandits in the Summer. You will spend $20 to $30 everytime you see a color that might work; because you don't buy just one. It gets bad. I had to quit snuff just to be able to afford it. Fishing without snuff is turrrrrible.
You have already got the advice on how to get started. I don't think enough was said about a long handeled net like Fishbasket said.
Good luck
DP

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Originally Posted by luvpt

That sounds like a lot of weight Rocky. I only use that much if I am pushing crankbaits in front and using a fairly stiff rod. Otherwise, I use a 3/16 oz worm weight and three #5 split shot for weight when trolling jigs....that's all. The split shots stop the slider about 18 inches above the jig (like a mini-downrigger). 6# line will help keep the drag down as you troll.

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Thanks for replying. I took my setup out to Lake Monticello for a couple of hours today, just to get the hang of it. I had a hard time determining what was a bite and what wasn't. I got a few bites on a black / chartruese jig, and some on a silver jig, but didn't catch anything. I am gonna switch to lighter weight just like you posted and see if I can determine a bite better.
Another question - I plan to fish an oxbow soon that is gonna have a fair amount of stuff to get hung up in. Is it best to just avoid a lot of structure all together? Or is that enough weight to get you unhung most of the time?

Yea, bites on LM right now are very very light....use your most sensitive rods and watch those rod tips for the slightest change in position (up or down) and be ready to set the hook before he spits it back out. I would probably stay away from a lot of structure while spider rigging until I had a bit more experience because it has the potential of being very frustrating .... then be sure to rig weedless. Both the Charlie Brewer Sliders and the BPS Snagless Super Squirts work very well in heavy cover. I only head for the stump fields when I absolutely can't catch them anywhere else. I like that open water!! BTW, I'm getting reports that one or two of the river lakes are starting to turn on a bit and I'm trying to make time to get over there. Most of my fishing has been in LM lately and it has been a hit or miss proposition....not a sure thing like the past few years. Two Saturdays ago I caught six striped bass for every crappie!

Well, I went to Eagle Lake today. Got hung up a lot. But I did catch my 1st three fish trolling. A 4lb Grinnel, a 1.5lb mudcat, and a 5 inch crappie. And you're dang right, I'm gonna clean'em.

Thanks luvpt for the hands on instruction the other day. I switched all my poles over to the lighter line and tied the knot you showed me, instead of using the noknots. I've ordered 4, 14'' Capps and Coleman trolling rods. My wife is gonna have a fit when she sees the UPS truck pull up, again. You didn't miss anything this morning, the Mississippi River and the wind is on a rampage for the next few day.