Page 4 - Crappie NOW | September 2016

Open Water Power Trolling

O f o l l o w i n g w o r k s b e s t f o r m e .
pen water fishing can be Driftmaster rod holders are strong
difficult. When fish are tight to and allow easy access to poles. I
structure, slow presentations can run them on a rack designed to fit
be used to target specific spots. my boat and be very strong. The
H o w e v e r, w h e n f i s h a r e s u s p e n d e d p o l e s a r e Wa l l y M a r s h a l l Tr o l l - Te c h
up and scattered it’s a different 16-footers. Each pole is strong, has
story. Trolling methods offer ways a great backbone and the tip holds
to present more baits to more fish. up to the heavy weights. I run high-
Longling pulling jigs, longlining
crankbaits and pushing cranks are
t h r e e w a y s t o t a r g e t a n d c a t c h t h e s e I like to look for tight contours
fish. One more method, we will call meaning sharper drops.
Power Trolling, is another aggressive
way to target these fish and the
method we will feature this month.
What is open water? Fishermen vis line above the water because
consider it to be water without cover. I want to see the line move. Once
There is no standing timber or other under the water I run a Seaguar Red
cover coming up high in the water. Label leader, 15-pound test. The line
Open water might be a 20 foot deep doesn’t stretch a lot under the heavy
flat without cover, or, it could be a 30 weights. I run an I-Pilot trolling motor
foot flat with the bottom loaded with to run the boat so I can fish.”
stakebeds and stumps but leaving Smith says, “My rigs are
the top 20 feet water open. identical. I’m a fanatic about having
everything consistent so I have
a sewing mat with graph lines. I
Power Trolling Basics measure my lengths so everything
Avid outdoorsman and stays uniform. I start with a barrel
Mississippi crappie fisherman, Les swivel then come down two feet and
Smith, says power trolling isn’t for do three overhand knots. I have a
everyone but it’s one choice that six-inch leader for the top hook. I
works great in the Mississippi lakes come down two feet to where I put
and should work in many waters my weight on the line I add a bead
across the country. underneath to keep it from falling
Smith says power trolling isn’t
doesn’t work for everyone. The heavy
weights and long poles requires
strength. People who are not strong Power trolling is an in-your-face tactic to
cannot physically handle it. Plus, it’s attack open water fish. Heavy weights, big
a lot of hard work that some fishermen spinner jigs and fast speeds in the 1.0 mph
don’t want to do.
“I’ve tried a lot of different range makes it possible to cover a lot of
water with multiple baits.

equipment and have found the

4 Crappie NOW September 2016