River Trolling Question???

[Rock_Fish]

Ok, Heres the question! Trolling with plugs is usually done at one and a half to two and a half MPH !
But if you are trolling up river and the current is going say 1 MPH. Then you should troll 1/2 to 1 1/2 MPH ? taking the flow into the mix. (Example)

And if you are trolling downstream then you would have to have a boat speed of 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 MPH to compensate for the flow. Maybe faster in order to get the plug to work properly!
#1) Is this correct? #2) And which direction would you guys say would produce the best, Upstream or Downstream?
And remember which way fish face in current while looking for groceries!

BS) And Last, How fast will the boat be going when it reaches Nashville? LMAO

Thanks in advance!

[Rock_Fish]

Almost 60 views with no advise ???

[RICHYD4U]

Rocky-
I'll take a stab at, for what it is worth. Sounds like you are right on about trolling up stream and down stream. You have to figure the speed of the water flow...then add or subtract your desired trolling speed. i.e. if you are sitting stationary in the current with lines casted down stream, and the current is moving at 3 mph, then your lures are stationary, but diving as if you were trolling at 3 mph. Any additional up stream speed added by the boat will be your trolling speed....1mph, 2mph...however, your lure will dive as if it was being trolled at 4mph, 5mph. If you are going down stream with lures upstream, and the water flow is 3mph, sitting stationary, your lure will be coming at your boat at 3mph, but without any diving....if you head down stream floating, then your lures will remain the distance casted from the boat and still travel at 3mph, no diving. If you increase your boat speed by 1mph or 2mph, your lure will be traveling past stationary fish at 4mph or 5mph...but your lure will dive like it is being trolled at 1mph or 2mph..................Ah, my head hurts!

They say that fish bite more when lures are fish WITH the current not AGAINST the current...something to do with how natural bait moves with the current not against it in order to not fight the current and conserve energy. However, it is definitely easier to fish against the current...less reeling and movement needed.

And, if someone yells like a girl upstream, and the current is 3mph...you add 60mph to that and save their tells!

How has the CR fishing been lately? Wish ya the best, take care.

-Rich

[Rock_Fish]

Ah I knew I could count on you Rich! That is what made the most sense to me. But I am a newbie to trolling! But Drift fishing with a fly, Out of a Drift boat. I know you need to keep everything the same speed. To have a perfect drift. Boat, water, and fly! Then you get a more natural presentation. Just like some groceries floating down with the current. And knowing that the fish will sit facing upstream waiting and watching for their next meal. It makes more sense to me to troll downstream. Unless of course the speed is too great for them to grab it. But if a fish sees your lure and turns around to get it. And swims downstream. Then he has the help of the water already going 3 Mph. So if you are trolling at 5 Mph. He will only have to swim an additional 2.1 Mph?? Give them a steak dinner, And they will chase it ! Anyway, I will troll both ways and see what develops. But everybody that I see trolling the river, Is trolling upstream ! I guess because it is so much easier???
Have not been fishing much lately with Christmas and all. And now it looks like work is going to screw up my fishing for a while. The last few times I did fish.I was playing with my sonar more than fishing.I have got a lot to learn with that thing. But did manage to catch a few Marble eyes up around the Dam.

Have you got your new TM and got it mounted yet?

Cya,
Rocky

[RICHYD4U]

Rocky-
I gave it my best shot, lol! You are exactly right, the fish will always face upstream waiting for their meals to be delivered....requires less energy for them to do that. Fly fishing is a great example. Getting those nymphs up stream and dead-floating them down stream with as little resistance/drag as possible....that is the best nymphing technique. Trolling heading down stream seems like it would have a few more cons than pros. The definite pro is that it presents the bait more naturally, heading down stream. The cons, in order to get the bait to dive down, you would really be moving. unless you are presenting a natural bait (i.e. minnows, worms, etc.) then you could just troll with the current and present the bait very naturally. Seems like mose people troll upstream to avoid all those problems.

Still waiting on the new MK to show up. Pretty slow shipping with all the holidays. I'm pumped to try it out! Take care man, and if you ever are fishing solo and want some company, I'll split the costs with ya. (your boat or mine). And don't worry, now that I got an 80# TM, we won't go surfing belowing the dam if we're on my boat! lol! Take care!

-Rich

[Fisherjoe]

The only river trolling I have done is on the C-land for stripes., both with and w/o guides. The guides will always troll with the current. Their reasoning is the fish will be in a current break facing into the current waiting for something to come by. I have tried both ways and going with the current has always been much more productive. Sometimes you will get a reaction strike when you surprise one from behind, but my luck, it always seems to spook the fish.

All this being said, I have not tried pulling plugs while in the river. I use live bait, bucktail jigs, or swimbaits/jig & grub combos.

Joe

[Rock_Fish]

I agree on the Pros and cons there. That is why I say "Give them a steak dinner " I have watched 24" trout ignore a perfect presentation of a small midge. Size 18-20. That would drift within 3"-4" from their nose. That smaller fish were tearing up that day. And learned that a fish will not exert more energy than they are going to get back from their meal. They need to see something that will excite them, Or piss them off ! To chase it down. Ever hear of bigger fly, Bigger fish ? The same should apply to plugs also.

And trolling with plugs in the CR can run into some $$$ Getting hung up a lot. I have lost several while trolling upstream. But plan to try some down stream trolling.
I think I will modify some plugs to be like my boat. And be able to "Jump Logs " When they need to!

I do fish "solo" a lot! Just let me know when ever you are down this way! I will be pretty busy the next few weeks. After that I should be able to fish almost any day or night. We can use my boat if you do not want to bring yours. And I am not worried about the cost !

If they ever turn these generators off again. We will have to do some FF ! We will keep in touch. I will PM you.

You are gonna love that 80 # TM ! Good Luck with that !

Later,
Rock

[Rock_Fish]

The only river trolling I have done is on the C-land for stripes., both with and w/o guides. The guides will always troll with the current. Their reasoning is the fish will be in a current break facing into the current waiting for something to come by. I have tried both ways and going with the current has always been much more productive. Sometimes you will get a reaction strike when you surprise one from behind, but my luck, it always seems to spook the fish.

All this being said, I have not tried pulling plugs while in the river. I use live bait, bucktail jigs, or swimbaits/jig & grub combos.

Joe

Yes I think they wait slightly out of the current where they have a view to " Ambush " Any unsuspecting prey that might happen by.
You probably pull those jigs about the same speed as the current don't you?

[RICHYD4U]

Rocky-
Very true, large bait produces large fish....however, I have caughten some of my largest trout on the smallest flies...#22, #24. Of course, out west you have to use flies that small due to the educated and picky trout. But, I have also caught plenty of lunker trout on big old streamer patterns and buggers. Really depends on what is going on in the water, what hatches are happening, and time of year.

I will be pretty busy the next few weeks as well, work is killing me right now! But I would definitely take you up on your offer, as long as you let me help with fuel costs and I still owe you a steak dinner for saving my tail! I would enjoy learning some tips from ya when it comes to spin fishing on the CR off the boat...I have only done it twice, and the second time...well, we didn't get to fish much...we did more surfing and yelling! lol! I would love to do some FF, but it looks like it might not happen this year. I sent ya a PM too about those CR fishing report spreadsheets, thanks.

-Rich

[Rock_Fish]

Rocky-
Very true, large bait produces large fish....however, I have caughten some of my largest trout on the smallest flies...#22, #24. Of course, out west you have to use flies that small due to the educated and picky trout. But, I have also caught plenty of lunker trout on big old streamer patterns and buggers. Really depends on what is going on in the water, what hatches are happening, and time of year.

I will be pretty busy the next few weeks as well, work is killing me right now! But I would definitely take you up on your offer, as long as you let me help with fuel costs and I still owe you a steak dinner for saving my tail! I would enjoy learning some tips from ya when it comes to spin fishing on the CR off the boat...I have only done it twice, and the second time...well, we didn't get to fish much...we did more surfing and yelling! lol! I would love to do some FF, but it looks like it might not happen this year. I sent ya a PM too about those CR fishing report spreadsheets, thanks.

-Rich

Hey Rich,
My largest Trout on the FR was also taken on a # 20 Midge pattern. A large German Brown That was 21". On 5X tippet. I am the founding member of the Caney Fork 20/20 Club. That is a 20"or better fish caught on a # 20 fly or smaller. I am still the only member! A lonely club. (Description For the ones who do not know what that is....) It would be like catching a 30 # Striper on a #10 hook with 6-8# test line. But that was a very very rare occasion. Probably will never happen again in my lifetime. All the planets have to be inline, And the fishin Gods have to be on Board!!!

Man, LMAO ! I know very little about the spinning rod game. It will be like the blind leading the blind ! No **** !!! But we will give it a whirl !!! LMAO!

I would rather catch one fish on the FR, Than 10 on a spinning rod !!! When my wife out fishes me with he spinning rod. And I am using a FR. I tell her that 1 on a FR equals 10 on a spinning rod !

[RICHYD4U]

Hey Rich,
My largest Trout on the FR was also taken on a # 20 Midge pattern. A large German Brown That was 21". On 5X tippet. I am the founding member of the Caney Fork 20/20 Club. That is a 20"or better fish caught on a # 20 fly or smaller. I am still the only member! A lonely club. (Description For the ones who do not know what that is....) It would be like catching a 30 # Striper on a #10 hook with 6-8# test line. But that was a very very rare occasion. Probably will never happen again in my lifetime. All the planets have to be inline, And the fishin Gods have to be on Board!!!

Man, LMAO ! I know very little about the spinning rod game. It will be like the blind leading the blind ! No **** !!! But we will give it a whirl !!! LMAO!

I would rather catch one fish on the FR, Than 10 on a spinning rod !!! When my wife out fishes me with he spinning rod. And I am using a FR. I tell her that 1 on a FR equals 10 on a spinning rod !

I don't know about the "Caney Fork" club, but I was joining the 20/20 club about a dozen times a day during the CR spawn a few years ago, it was amazing! I would say my largest trout to smallest fly ratio would have to be the 27" brown I caught on a #22 brassie on 6X tippet on the Green River, WY......the Green River 27/22 Club? lol! I totally agree with you on the FF ratio to spin ratio....one on the FR=at least 10 on the spin. Although, I usually can outfish any spin tackle fisherman with my FR if the conditions are right (that's right Ken, you know it! lol).

We will have to get out and do some FFin if the CR ever gets fishable. It will really be a challenge now since the CR is hurting so bad....I would say 1 fish now=10fish a couple years ago. But we will give 'em hell! Take Care!

-Rich

[Rock_Fish]

I don't know about the "Caney Fork" club, but I was joining the 20/20 club about a dozen times a day during the CR spawn a few years ago, it was amazing! I would say my largest trout to smallest fly ratio would have to be the 27" brown I caught on a #22 brassie on 6X tippet on the Green River, WY......the Green River 27/22 Club? lol! I totally agree with you on the FF ratio to spin ratio....one on the FR=at least 10 on the spin. Although, I usually can outfish any spin tackle fisherman with my FR if the conditions are right (that's right Ken, you know it! lol).

We will have to get out and do some FFin if the CR ever gets fishable. It will really be a challenge now since the CR is hurting so bad....I would say 1 fish now=10fish a couple years ago. But we will give 'em hell! Take Care!

-Rich

Damm,
Now that is why I came to the CR ! Hearing stories like that ! And you are right about the conditions having to be right for FF. But when they are, Man is it
well, Like you said "Amazing" ! This was my first fall to be here to fish those conditions! And it just did not happen.
I hope I live long enough to see those kind of fishing conditions return! I might just have to take a trip to AK,Wy,CO someday.

The Tug is the Drug !!!