Trolling rod and knot set up.

[FSH 210 Sport]

I use Shimano Talora trolling rods, I have the 9’ in medium and 8’6” in medium heavy rods. These rods have Shimano Tekota 600 LC (line counter) reels with 500 yds of 40# braid, and I use a 30# florocarbon leader. These reels have buttery smooth drags with a max drag of 24#, and a 6.3:1 retrieve rate. At the beginning of each year I pull off about 150’ of braid to get down to “new” line, I also have covers on my reels when not in use the keep the sun off of the line.

To attach the braid to the leader I use an Alberto knot. This can also be used with mono line as well. Wetting the lines helps it to cinch down a bit easier.

I use this doubled San Diego jam knot to attach my swivels, hooks, divers. I learned this knot in it’s singular form as a super improved clinch in coach Cullum’s fishing and hunting safety class in high school.

 

[CastawayRK]

So I’m interested what such long rods for trolling. I do not use downriggers is that part of it? I use long rods to improve casting distance but when trolling it’s nothing longer than 6’. Seems like longer rod just gives fish more leverage. When I have been offshore on charters the rods have been shorter. Not questioning your judgement oh wise one just curious.
Cheers

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

So I’m interested what such long rods for trolling. I do not use downriggers is that part of it? I use long rods to improve casting distance but when trolling it’s nothing longer than 6’. Seems like longer rod just gives fish more leverage. When I have been offshore on charters the rods have been shorter. Not questioning your judgement oh wise one just curious.
Cheers

The longer rods get the lines away from the boat, and for the down riggers, it allows more rod flex so when the line comes out of the clip the rod whips upwards. I also have rod riggers that hold the poles pointing perpendicular to the boat, so the 9’ rod gets the bait out away from the boat.

The 8’6” rods are a much faster taper and typically those two go in the transom zero degree holders.

On a regular day I will have a down rigger on each side, or a rod rigger on each side, 9’ rod, if some one is with me then I might have a third down rigger dropping straight down in the middle of the stern, 8’6” rod. Then I might add a long line with a 9’ pole in the center of the transom in a zero degree rod holder.

If we are fishing “top water” so to speak, and someone is with me, I’ll have a 9’ rod on each side in the rigger, then in the stern I’ll have two 8’ 6” ‘s either in the zero degree holders in each corner or maybe in the 30* holders farthest aft, then I’ll mayyyybe run a 9’ in the center way back, but that is risking a big tangle.

Usually I have an unused rod that will have a different bait on it that I use to swap with the other rods if the bite is slow. Every time I pass over a bunch of fish if nothing happens I will swap out a rod with another bait. If I’m by myself I might have three rods set up with different baits to rotate at any given time.

I’d like to pickup another down rigger so we can have one on each side in the stern. To keep the lines separated the stern down riggers would be deepest and closest and the sides would be shallower and farther back..