Following A Boat Trolling

[fishfinder]

Quick question, Is it ok to follow someone already trolling and how far back should you stay? I know when the jig is on you can almost walk across boats, seems like that when you are perch fishing too.

[cohoho]

You can catch a lot of fish in someone else’s “dirty water”. I like to give lots of room. Lake Erie is no less that a football field. Lake Michigan is more.

that’s just me though. I have had boats on both lakes so close to me it’s not funny. That’s when I get the wire rods out…. There is plenty of room for everyone to fish and plenty of fish in the ponds so no need to crowd out someone.

[itsbob]

There are times when things get pretty crowded in the western basin.Especially in the early season.Its not a good idea to try and troll through a pack of boats trolling and even more so if they are casting.We try to stay away from other boats if at all possible.We will not follow directly behind another boat because I feel its not productive catching active fish after another boat and their lures have cleared out catchable fish.Their lures can also be running pretty far behind their boards too.Now if a group of boats are all heading in the same direction,its a good idea to not try and go against the grain,but try to head over clean water and off to the side of the boats ahead of you.If trying to cross behind another boat I would try and stay at least 100yds behind their boards.Sometimes the other boats around you have slow up,speed up or make a quick turn to avoid others too.Also note that most boats are on auto pilot and are not as alert to others around them as they should be.

[slimshady]

I tend to stay on the edges of the pack anyway, however, there may be times when you have to turn to avoid someone else and the only viable path is behind another boat. When that happens, I tend to give them plenty of space. At least 100 yards, if not more. They may have to slow down to fight a fish or whatever, so I don't want to be in a situation where I am "breathing down their necks".

Funny story last fall when I was out trolling off of Luna Pier. I was trolling down-wind and trying to stay on the my previous path that was very productive for us. There was only one other boat in the area and he was a few hundred yards in front of us and appeared to be trolling against the wind, "headed" right in our direction. I looked up one time and it appeared that he would cross in front of us and end up on our starboard side, so I turned a bit to port to give extra clearance. A few moments later, I looked up again and it now appeared that he would cross us and end up on our port side, so I turned back starboard to make sure we cleared him. The 3rd time I looked up, he had "changed paths again", so I steered back towards our port side. I said to my buddy "what's up with this guy, he can't make up his mind on which direction he wants to go and he keeps messing me up". As we got a bit closer, I could see there was an anchor rope attached to his bow and he was simply swaying back and forth with the wind. Doh! That explains it. Sorry buddy, my bad!

[fishfinder]

That is funny slimshady but I know how you felt lol. When I first started fishing lake Erie I thought my anchor was failing me because I kept drifting close to other boats, I bought a different anchor more rope and still kept drifting. I found out that everyone was using drift socks and they were drifting close to me.

[slimshady]

That is funny slimshady but I know how you felt lol. When I first started fishing lake Erie I thought my anchor was failing me because I kept drifting close to other boats, I bought a different anchor more rope and still kept drifting. I found out that everyone was using drift socks and they were drifting close to me.

[fishhawk2700]

Quick question, Is it ok to follow someone already trolling and how far back should you stay? I know when the jig is on you can almost walk across boats, seems like that when you are perch fishing too.

In a perfect world a couple of hundred yards of separation would be great but in late spring, early summer it is full contact trolling. If you are following someone, try not to get closer than someone can throw a 2 oz lead. Kidding aside, try to keep a good spacial idea of where you and the boats around you are GOING to be. Think ahead. Try to avoid a situation that you can't get out of. You may get pushed off your troll but thats better than getting your gear tore up.

[fisherman 2]

when a boat is coming towards you doing S turns to slow and speed up the lures it look's like they can't make up their mind which way to go...last fall i know boats were thinking that about me cause i was doing it but that's what was triggering the bites.

[fishfinder]

Thanks, I am going to try some trolling and just don't want to be the idiot on the water lol. My wife go out a few times to jig and throw crawlers but I've been watching JOBS and like the way him and his wife troll. I will keep my head on a swivel and hopefully catch a couple big ones

[Capt Juls]

Thanks, I am going to try some trolling and just don't want to be the idiot on the water lol. My wife go out a few times to jig and throw crawlers but I've been watching JOBS and like the way him and his wife troll. I will keep my head on a swivel and hopefully catch a couple big ones

Just know the Rules of the Road on the lake, and give way when you're supposed to.

There's too many out there that either don't know the rules of the road, or just don't give a crap, and will cut you off, so keep a good lookout, make adjustments, and all will be well.