Trolling Light Tackle

Light tackle, exactly what does that mean? To some it means that it literally weighs less than the normal tackle that they’re used to. To others it is the use of spinning gear which ordinarily holds lighter test line than their trolling gear. It can also mean that it is tackle used to land fish on the lightest test line matched with the action and style rods. This tackle can be set up using spinning reels matched with a light casting rod, a conventional reel matched with a light action bait casting rod, or a conventional reel used on a light action trolling rod. Most trolling rods that you find in the tackle shops in the saltwater section are not rated to go down much below using 15 pound test line. You can find casting rods and bait casting rods that can handle a lot lighter line. One thing you should not really do is troll your spinning gear. The design of the spin casting reel and the way the spinning rod is made makes not conducive to be used as trolling tackle. It is designed to use only to cast with.

In the area I fish, the eastern sections of Cape Cod Bay, the opportunities to cast on fish are sometimes limited. Many of the better areas for casting are in the shallow water areas and are only usable during the flood tide. During the low water periods there is not enough water in these area for even a shallow draft boat. I find that even during the flood tide when you can work these shallow water areas that the fish, the striped bass and bluefish we mainly target, don’t stay in an area for long. This makes it harder to stay on the fish. However, if you’re set up to troll you can work the area more efficiently. If this situation occurs in my area it must happen in other areas of the east coast or for that matter the whole world. Using this light tackle trolling gear will let you work a larger area while you look for schooling fish.
Most everyone who fished for any length of time knows that spinning reels on a casting rod is not really designed to troll. It can be done but it’s hard to know just how much line you have out and that is important. However, bait casting tackle can be modified to troll with or you can customize various
types of rod blanks to give you the rod action you are specifically looking for. For example, in the picture above is a new angler using a two part eight weight fly rod blank with 9 guides and then the tip. The reel is a 5 LTD Shamano with 16 pound test line and a regular reel seat and butt. This set up has landed striped bass up to 40 pounds. It may take awhile but the gear can handle a fish like that with ease.

This last season I picked up a set of Rogue bait casting rods. I am extremely happy with them. I put gimbals on the butts and I troll with them. I have two 6 footers with 20 pound test line on Penn 320 TDLs. I set them up with 250 feet of line and then 50 pound test dacron backing. This lets me know exactly how much line I have out. In my outriggers I have two 7 foot Rogue bait casting rods with the same reels with 300 feet of 30 pound test line and then backing. The line isn’t exactly the lightest I can use but the action of the bait casting Rogue rods give my customers the sense of light gear. You have to learn to walk before you starting running. The setups I use work well for our area. You may want to set up your gear differently. Every part of the world has different methods that work well for that specific area.

When you match the line test you want to try to the right rod action you want with the proper reel, there aren’t too many fish you can’t land, given you have the patience.

Captain Hap Farrell
E-mail - stunmai@copper.net

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