How to Troll Live Bait
- 1). Attach a weight onto the end of your line. A variety of weights can be used including bank, egg casting and crimp on. The type and amount of weight you use will depend on personal preference as well as the depth you will be fishing. Weights can be tied onto the line or used as a sliding weight.
- 2). Attach a barrel swivel to the end of the line with a uni knot. Tie the uni knot by feeding the free end of the fishing line through the eye of the swivel. Wrap the line around and pass it through the swivel once again to increase the strength of the knot to the swivel. Bring the free end of the line up along side the main line forming a double line. Hold 1 inch or so of the double line in place and turn the free end down, forming a loop beside the double line. Wrap the free end of the line around the double line and through the loop three to four times. Moisten the knot and pull it tight against the eye of the hook.
- 3). Attach a length of fluorocarbon line to the opposite end of the swivel with a uni knot. The fluorocarbon will serve as a leader for the live bait rig. Moisten the knot before pulling tight and trimming excess from the free end of the line. The length of the leader should be at least 18 inches long.
- 4). Tie a circle octopus hook to the end of the fluorocarbon leader length with a Palomar knot. Feed the free end of the fluorocarbon line through the eye of the hook. Turn the free end toward the eye and pull the line back through the eye so that you have a loop on one side of the eye and double line on the other. Tie an over hand knot with the loop and double line, pull the loop around the bend of the hook and tighten the knot against the eye of the hook.
- 5). Hold a bait such as a minnow so the front of the fish is accessible and insert the point of the hook through the bottom of the jaw and out through the upper lip. This will allow the minnow to swim freely while being trolled.
- 6). Cast the trolling rig behind the boat and allow it to sink to a level in the water at or near the point where fish are feeding or holding. Start the motor of the boat and slowly pull the trolling rig with the live bait behind the boat. The boat should travel no more than 1 to 1 1/2 miles per hour while trolling.
Source...