Captain Pete's Trolling Tips to Consider When Preparing for Your Fishing Trip

By: palex

August 24, 2022

  • Do your homework and check social media: Facebook posts and fish reports on websites
  • Follow other captains on Facebook that report out of the area you will be fishing.
  • Know what the weather-wind has done leading up to your trip and anticipate what the water has done and where the fish may be in relationship to this. Check live Buoy reports and current Sat chart Pics'.
    • What direction did the wind blow? How long? What have we learned from the past?
    • Check surface temperature charts at the link below:
      • http://www.coastwatch.msu.edu/twoontarios.html
  • Have you fishing gear ready to go!
    • Rods retired, new leaders, fresh bait, flasher fly rigs prepared, back up rigs ready, etc.
  • Pay attention to where the charter boats head off to in the morning.
  • Make sure the bait stores have bait.
  • Establish contacts at each port you intend to fish by making fishing friends. Join fishing groups.
  • Have a plan B established, don't rot in one spot all day.
  • Invest in a Fish Hawk. This tool provides invaluable information.
  • When in doubt, troll out!

On the water Clues and Tips to Consider When Leaving the Pier Heads:

  • Understand what light conditions you will be setting up in and have those offerings prepared. EX-early AM, have your whites, crush glows and glow ladders ready (Hi Vis offerings)
  • Change offerings with changing sky or light conditions.
  • Look for birds working bait.
  • Use your fish finders to scan as you look for your starting point. Bait is key 90% of the time.
  • Pay attention to your surface temp gauge as you head out and monitor it as you drive.
  • Look for surface clues: breaks, scum lines, watercolor changes, debris, duckweed, and surface rip/currents.
  • Know where the temperature is to start-drop probe rigger and establish the Kill Zone: pick your range and deploy in that established zone.
    • EX: It's 42 degrees down 100 ft. and 65 degrees down 50 ft. (Kill Zone is 50-100 down in the water column)
  • The depth you are fishing down, helps establish what lures and junk lines you will be deploying.
  • Are your leaders good? Bait heads tuned. Hooks sharp?
  • Pay attention as the day goes: water moves, and fish have tails. And you have a motor and propeller.
  • Remember fish are usually looking for food in the morning and night, give them something to key in on. Stealth tactics are not as effective to start. Let the fish find you, then a day as day goes.
  • Pay attention to which direction you get bit and repeat as often as possible.
  • As Captain Pete says; "Don't Rod in Dead Water".