Salmon Trolling Basics - by the Phantom Fisherman

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by The Phantom Fisherman

In the early 80's and before, trolling was more common than it is now. There are many variations on the theme, but trolling comes in three basic forms, diving plane, cannonball and downrigger.

The idea behind trolling is that early in the season the schools are few and far between, and trolling covers larger areas and increases chances of finding the schools and hooking up. Trolling, however, does present a few challenges. Trolling rigs are more complicated and expensive than mooching. Trolling requires a heavier, larger, more expensive reel and a stiffer rod. Trolling usually involves using a sinker release, so every time a fish is on the hook, your sinker is laid to rest forever.

Another challenge with trolling is boat speed. Average trolling speed varies from two to four knots/hour. Speed is crucial to keeping the trolling tackle at the proper depth. Too fast and you're too shallow, too slow and you're too deep. Another influencing factor is the type of trolling rig being used. If different types of trolling rigs are used on the same boat, the depth from rod to rod can be unpredictable, resulting in tangles. The plan is for all anglers on the boat to have the same rigs and weight, to stay at the right depth.

Trolling not only costs the anglers more, it snags boat operators in the pocketbook as well, in the form of increased fuel costs and wear and tear. The more it costs the boat operators to go out, the more it winds up costing you and I to go out.

Hooking into a nice, fat, salmon with the light mooching gear is incredible. It is true that trolling yields better results in the early season, so when the mooching starts up, I really get anxious to go.

Salmon Trolling Basics Part 2

Ahoy Anglers! The Phantom Fisherman is back, so let us continue with the steps for putting a Salmon in the box by trolling. Let's review steps 1-4, then move on.

Connect cannonball to sinker release and place in weight tray.

Get a prepared bait from the deck hands' bait tray.

Attach baited hook to terminal snap and drop over side.

Tighten drag just enough to keep sinker from pulling off the line, but loose enough for hooked fish to pull off line.

Holding the weight in one hand, use the other hand to hold the rod just in front of the reel.

Lift the rod so that it gently lifts the sinker from your hand.

Point the rod tip down and let out enough line so that the sinker is at the water's surface.

Before counting off pulls, make sure the leader has not wrapped around the sinker release/cannonball sinker.

When letting out the line, keep the rod tip near the side of the boat.

Now, pull out the numbr of pulls designatd for your position by the skipper or deckhand. (1 pull=1 foot).

Place your rod in the rod holder and secure with the clip of the safety leash that's attached to the reel.

Now, the wait begins. Speaking of waits...we have to wait a little longer for the wind to subside. When that happens, the Phantom says there are some PHAT Salmon waiting for a dinner invitation to your place.

Theory:

Trolling is indicated when fish are spread out or when fish are biting active bait. Party boat trolling can be very effective, if done properly, because it will present itself to the Salmon as a school of bait fish getting away. This illusion of a school of bait fish is accomplished by varying the distance and depth of the individual baits of each angler starting on the bow at a depth decided by the skipper and increasing by 2-3 pulls per fishing position until you get to the stern (1 pull equals 1 foot.) EXAMPLE: Bow: 20 pulls increasing 2-3 pulls per fishing position to 40-50 pulls for stern positions - assuming 10 anglers on each side of the boat. This will also reduce the frequency of meeting up with your fishing neighbors to untangle leaders. If you are uncertain of the proper number of pulls, ask your friendly deck hand, who can tell just by looking because lines should be parallel to each other.

Mooching Basics ( The Phantom Fisherman Knows All )

Charter boat anglers first started mooching in the mid 1980's. Before that time, Salmon fishing meant Salmon trolling. With the advent of mooching, the season would open with most boats trolling. When the bait started to arrive in force, usually sometime in May, the conversion to mooching would begin. And so it went for a few years; start off the season trolling, finish the season mooching. Gradually, trolling has decreased, and is being replaced by mooching earlier and earlier in the season. Not that trolling isn't fun or effective. It is. My opinion is that most ocean salmon anglers in NorCal just like the mooching experience a lot more.

These days, mooching is the most common method used on Northern California charter boats. Mooching is a form of drift fishing with non-live bait, usually anchovies or herring. A 5/0 barbless circle hook is required starting this year, 3/0 and 4/0 hooks are no longer allowed according to new DFG regulations. Remember, only BARBLESS hooks can be used for salmon fishing! Plan on arriving at your boat's marina early, and visit their tackle shop. They will be able to sell you the proper type of hook. When the Salmon fishing is hot, mooching is a great way to hook into a nice fat Chinook using lighter tackle.