How to Troll for Trout With Live Bait

Rig your line for deepwater trolling with minnows or shiners.

Many lakes across the United States feature large trout such as brown and rainbow that reach well over 10 lbs. Fishing for these large trophy fish often requires getting your bait as deep as 50 feet or more. Trolling for lake trout, using live bait such as minnows and shiners, is often a preferred method. Common terminal tackle, lines and knots are used to rig for deepwater live bait trolling.

Things You'll Need

• 7-foot light to medium spinning rod with matching reel
• 12-lb.lead core fishing line
• Sliding weight
• 6- to 8-lb. test monofilament line
• Small-diameter tube
• Sharp scissors
• No. 10 or smaller bait holder hook

Instructions

1. Attach a sliding weight to the end of your lead core fishing line. You may or may not need to add a sliding weight to your lead core line. It will all depend on how deep you must get your rig to reach feeding trout.

2. Attach a 30-foot length of 6- to 8-lb. test monofilament line to the end of the lead core line with a nail knot. The monofilament line will act as a leader for the lead core line.

3. Form the nail knot by placing a short small-diameter tube alongside the lead core line so that the end of the tube is even with the lead core line. Overlap the monofilament leader alongside the tube and lead core line for 8 to 10 inches.

4. Turn the leader back about 2 inches from the end of the lead core line. Hold the lines and tube in place at this point with your thumb and index finger. Wrap the free end of the leader around both lines and the tube six times. Turn the end of the leader back and through the small-diameter tube. Slide the tube out of the knot and off the leader, moisten the knot and pull down tightly around the lead core line.

5. Attach a No. 10 or smaller bait holder hook to the monofilament leader with a Palomar knot. Feed the leader through the eye of the hook for several inches, double the line and feed the free end back through the eye. Place the free end alongside the main line so you end up with a loop on one side of the hook eye and a double line on the other.

6. Tie an overhand knot with the loop and doubled line, pull the loop down over the bend of the hook, moisten the knot and pull down tight. Trim excess line from the knot with scissors.

7. Attach a shiner or minnow to the hook. Insert the hook through the jaw of the baitfish and out just above the nose. Slide the fish down so that it is centered on the bend of the hook.

8. Cast the rig into the water and allow it to settle to the desired depth. Start the boat and accelerate until you are moving no more that 1/2 to 1 mile per hour. Vary your direction and speed, making sure that you go no faster than 1 mile per hour. Allow the fish to take the bait and turn before attempting to set the hook.

Tips & Warnings

• Adjust the drag on the reel so that line does not spool freely while trolling. The drag should allow the trout, once hooked, to take line as it is possible to pull the hook from the softer mouth of a trout when fishing with lead core line and additional weight.

• Pay close attention to electronic fish-finding equipment while trolling so that your bait can be presented through any schools or smaller groups of trout.

References

• South Carolina Sportsman: Deep Bites
• Big Fish: Trolling Lead Core
• Animated Knots by Grog: The Nail Knot
• Animated Knots by Grog: The Palomar Knot