Going into my second season as a sailboater and I'm really missing my fishing I did with my power boat. I sail in the western basin of Lake Erie close to West Sister Island. Is there any sailors who troll using ( sail only ) and if so, wanna share your techinque? I sail a 222 O'Day. She has a 5 HP outboard too. Thinking of getting the Raymarine ST 1000 tiller pilot too. Thanks in advance for any ideas.
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Why not?
You are going the right speed, no engine noise. Lots of sailors troll. I used a handline heavy line (50 lb) on a block of wood with a wire leader. You can buy a "Cuban Yo Yo" a round spool that the line wraps around. I just bought a trolling rod that I'm going to use next outing. It's a short rod that will have 30 lb line. I was advised to use the heaviest line for your reel, because sailboats keep sailing and do not back down well like a sportfish. Good Luck, Marc
You are going the right speed, no engine noise. Lots of sailors troll. I used a handline heavy line (50 lb) on a block of wood with a wire leader. You can buy a "Cuban Yo Yo" a round spool that the line wraps around. I just bought a trolling rod that I'm going to use next outing. It's a short rod that will have 30 lb line. I was advised to use the heaviest line for your reel, because sailboats keep sailing and do not back down well like a sportfish. Good Luck, Marc
You bet
Have trolled the Pacific Ocean, Columbia and Willamette Rivers for salmon from sailboats for years. Started out with my C27. Am provisioning Deja Vu (C30)right now for a week of sailing, cruising and Spring Chinook fishing. I try to use wind when I can but sometimes a motor is needed. The C30 M25 diesel won't troll slow enough I also use a 2hp Honda outboard mounted to a bracket I made that mounts the outboard on the stern boarding ladder. Casting off tomorrow. Jeff
Have trolled the Pacific Ocean, Columbia and Willamette Rivers for salmon from sailboats for years. Started out with my C27. Am provisioning Deja Vu (C30)right now for a week of sailing, cruising and Spring Chinook fishing. I try to use wind when I can but sometimes a motor is needed. The C30 M25 diesel won't troll slow enough I also use a 2hp Honda outboard mounted to a bracket I made that mounts the outboard on the stern boarding ladder. Casting off tomorrow. Jeff
meat machine
East coast or the lake [for the next 5 months until heading South again] I use a hand line tied to a planer, tied to a 15' leader tied to a silver Johnson spoon. never fails. fish hook on, planer surfaces, pull it in , fillet off stern, while on a/p and in 30 sec finished. I then quit, wrap up line and rig. only need one. next day same thing. nothing better than "fresh" fish. Fair winds.
East coast or the lake [for the next 5 months until heading South again] I use a hand line tied to a planer, tied to a 15' leader tied to a silver Johnson spoon. never fails. fish hook on, planer surfaces, pull it in , fillet off stern, while on a/p and in 30 sec finished. I then quit, wrap up line and rig. only need one. next day same thing. nothing better than "fresh" fish. Fair winds.
Thanks & Thank-you...
For the question: thought of it, tried it, but... For the answers: Now, I'm inspired!! Will buy a "Trolling Rod" and Reel the next time i'm in Canadian Tire. And a new spin-cast reel for my old rod should be good enough, eh!? Already have a "Fish-finder" used as a depth-sounder
I'm in the Trent Canal/Kawartha (Rice Lake) area. Lots of Bass, Pickerel/wall-eye, and BIG Muskies... So they say??? Any secrets, tricks, even knowledge to share will be reeeeely appreciated... Roger
For the question: thought of it, tried it, but... For the answers: Now, I'm inspired!! Will buy a "Trolling Rod" and Reel the next time i'm in Canadian Tire. And a new spin-cast reel for my old rod should be good enough, eh!? Already have a "Fish-finder" used as a depth-sounder
I'm in the Trent Canal/Kawartha (Rice Lake) area. Lots of Bass, Pickerel/wall-eye, and BIG Muskies... So they say??? Any secrets, tricks, even knowledge to share will be reeeeely appreciated... RogerTrolling speed
Our first boat was a '78 Hunter 25, and under main sail alone she seemed to run a perfect trolling speed. When my boys were growing up we often trolled a surgical tubing lure in various areas of the Chesapeake north of the bridge to Annapolis and often caught sizeable blue fish. Some of the power boats yelled at us as we trolled up and down the bar off Rock Hall, thinking this dumb sailboater was interfereing with their fishing. We probably caught many fish because there was no engine or prop noise and just luffed up to land the bigger fish. I'm still often the only sail boat out with the fishing fleet, but am more likely to anchor than troll now that the larger boat is a little more of a handfull to both sail and troll.
Our first boat was a '78 Hunter 25, and under main sail alone she seemed to run a perfect trolling speed. When my boys were growing up we often trolled a surgical tubing lure in various areas of the Chesapeake north of the bridge to Annapolis and often caught sizeable blue fish. Some of the power boats yelled at us as we trolled up and down the bar off Rock Hall, thinking this dumb sailboater was interfereing with their fishing. We probably caught many fish because there was no engine or prop noise and just luffed up to land the bigger fish. I'm still often the only sail boat out with the fishing fleet, but am more likely to anchor than troll now that the larger boat is a little more of a handfull to both sail and troll.
Damn Right ......
In the fall on the Chesapeake when the striped bass (rockfish) are schooling up; and, at any boat speed less than 3 kts., I troll. If the stripers are deep, I connect-up to a downrigger ball over the stern. In the lower Ches. I'll pick up an occasional mackeral when at hull speed. Early fall and you'll find bluefish on top ('boiling' the water) and good size stripers down 'under' the blues. I like to watch the faces of the incredulous stinkpotters when I troll by with several lines aft, and being just pulled along by a reefed staysail .... 2 lines from the stern and one to a (outrigger fashion) spinnakerpole led to a diving plane!!!! 3 knots is the magic speed!!!!
In the fall on the Chesapeake when the striped bass (rockfish) are schooling up; and, at any boat speed less than 3 kts., I troll. If the stripers are deep, I connect-up to a downrigger ball over the stern. In the lower Ches. I'll pick up an occasional mackeral when at hull speed. Early fall and you'll find bluefish on top ('boiling' the water) and good size stripers down 'under' the blues. I like to watch the faces of the incredulous stinkpotters when I troll by with several lines aft, and being just pulled along by a reefed staysail .... 2 lines from the stern and one to a (outrigger fashion) spinnakerpole led to a diving plane!!!! 3 knots is the magic speed!!!!
Great trolling in Sailboat
I've trolled in lakes and in the ocean. The conditions have to be right especially in a lake. I like the wind to be light and aft of the beam in a lake. Then just cruise down the shoreline getting close to rocks and trees where the fish hide. Ideally you are set up where you can head to deep water without tacking. A fihfinder helps you to know how deep to fish and if you are getting close enough to shore. I've caught Walleye and black bass using this method. The walleye seem to like to hang out around muddy points. The smallmouth are more likely to be found on rocky walls. In the ocean we use a Cuban reel tied to a bungee cord. I use a 6" or so Rapala type lure with a couple ounces of lead. A rubber band wrapped around the line will break when you get a strike making a noise loud enough to get your attention. I have lost a couple of riggs when something big hit the lure and I use 80# line with a steel leader. This rig seems to work best for me at 4-5 kts. I don't want to catch BIG fish. A 6-10# fish is a handfull to pull over the back of a sailboat and have flopping around the cockpit. The tuna start bleeding and can really make a mess. A bucket or bag to put the fish in immediately helps control the blood splatter.
I've trolled in lakes and in the ocean. The conditions have to be right especially in a lake. I like the wind to be light and aft of the beam in a lake. Then just cruise down the shoreline getting close to rocks and trees where the fish hide. Ideally you are set up where you can head to deep water without tacking. A fihfinder helps you to know how deep to fish and if you are getting close enough to shore. I've caught Walleye and black bass using this method. The walleye seem to like to hang out around muddy points. The smallmouth are more likely to be found on rocky walls. In the ocean we use a Cuban reel tied to a bungee cord. I use a 6" or so Rapala type lure with a couple ounces of lead. A rubber band wrapped around the line will break when you get a strike making a noise loud enough to get your attention. I have lost a couple of riggs when something big hit the lure and I use 80# line with a steel leader. This rig seems to work best for me at 4-5 kts. I don't want to catch BIG fish. A 6-10# fish is a handfull to pull over the back of a sailboat and have flopping around the cockpit. The tuna start bleeding and can really make a mess. A bucket or bag to put the fish in immediately helps control the blood splatter.
I worry about catching dolphins or seals.
I never have, are they just too smart to bite on a lure or does it not happen or should it be a concern? Right now I reel the lure in if I see a seal coming up. I remember as a kid accidently catching pelicans off the Malibu Pier. We'd have to crank them all the way up on to the pier to release them. As much as it must have hurt they never seemed to learn. While on subject of fishing does anyone have a convenient idea for keeping live bait? Frank
I never have, are they just too smart to bite on a lure or does it not happen or should it be a concern? Right now I reel the lure in if I see a seal coming up. I remember as a kid accidently catching pelicans off the Malibu Pier. We'd have to crank them all the way up on to the pier to release them. As much as it must have hurt they never seemed to learn. While on subject of fishing does anyone have a convenient idea for keeping live bait? Frank
trollin great lakes
I've seen medium sized sailboats rigged with downriggers on the northern great lakes. for those of you not familiar with the GL, trolling with downriggers is the best way to catch salmon in the summer because they stay deep, at least 50', usually more. On Lake Erie I would think walleye trolling could work. The 5 hp would get you at the preffered slow speed of less than 2 mph. planer boards could be rigged & deployed from the bow. Enjoy!
I've seen medium sized sailboats rigged with downriggers on the northern great lakes. for those of you not familiar with the GL, trolling with downriggers is the best way to catch salmon in the summer because they stay deep, at least 50', usually more. On Lake Erie I would think walleye trolling could work. The 5 hp would get you at the preffered slow speed of less than 2 mph. planer boards could be rigged & deployed from the bow. Enjoy!
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