Trolling Rapalas and Feathers?

jiminoc · Sep-01-2006, 03:31 PM

Just curious when you guys are trolling around, do you mix a couple top feather lines with a couple deeper running rapala lines? I have a 21' boat without outriggers so I'm trying to get the most trolling for my buck.

I only have 2 gunwhale rod holders on each side to work with.

appreciate any tips

thanks,
Jim

**Captain Curt** · Sep-01-2006, 03:43 PM

Brandon and I got a pair of these this year and like them a lot.

Sure they don't get the lines out as far as regular outriggers, but not near the hassel, and don't cost an arm and a leg. Spreads out the pattern more than what you got now. Works for us. Think he picked them up at Boaters World.

Curtis........

The boat Hanna........

jiminoc · Sep-01-2006, 03:51 PM

thanks Curtis, I was just looking at something like that on boatersworld

So would you just troll 4 feathers/plugs or would you mix two tops and two deeper rapalas?

Jaydog · Sep-01-2006, 03:59 PM

I like Rapalas for Yellowtail, Tuna & Marlin feathers for Dorado, Cedar plugs for tuna...

It depends on what your targeting I guess. For tuna usually 4 feathers and a cedar way out the back, for paddies with Yellowtail and Dorado I like 2 feathers and a Rapala out the back, for Islands I like a couple Rapalas for Yellowtail...

**Marcus** · Sep-01-2006, 04:00 PM

I like to troll a rapala or yozuri. You have to slow down the troll a little or they sometimes jump. Its better to either run them on the outside or farther back as the prop wash seems to screw with them.

You may also want to look at the small marauders as you can troll them at any speed.

**Captain Curt** · Sep-01-2006, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jiminoc

So would you just troll 4 feathers/plugs or would you mix two tops and two deeper rapalas?

We like to troll two feathers on the outside and back aways. Then a wiggler down the middle in short. I myself don't like to troll more than 3 at a time. But if we are in trolling hell, and on the hunt we've been known to troll 5 lines before. Sometimes we put on a fishtrap (black and purple or channel Island chovie) with a 2oz. Jig head, on what we call the WWB (way way back). We will stick this rig in one of our Rocket Launchers on the hardtop. When we get bit we will leave this one in the water. Being up that high it stays out of our way. A lot of times it will get bit as the boat stops and it's slowly falling.
Main thing is to change up if your pattern is not working. Always remember: If you want things to change............you might want to try something different. Was taught to me by a wise old man of the sea.

Curtis........

The boat Hanna.........

jiminoc · Sep-01-2006, 04:10 PM

thanks for the great replies...
curtis by back aways do you mean around the 5th wake? further?

Bottom Line · Sep-01-2006, 04:12 PM

I've been trolling feathers on the outside and back with Rapala's inside and medium/short for many years - usually put the Rapala's on flatline clips. This setup works well for me and can troll at 6 to 8 knots with properly tuned Rapala's.

**Captain Curt** · Sep-01-2006, 04:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jiminoc

curtis by back aways do you mean around the 5th wake? further?

The short one is usually at the 2nd wake and stagger the other 2 so they don't tangle when making a turn a couple more back. Just remember, change up. Try different pattern till you find one you like. I'm sure that some other guys will give you all kinds of other ways to do it. Like Steve said the flatline clips work real well. You don't need them with the outriggers, but you do with the wiggler out the back in the middle. Saluki likes to change colors a lot, which guarantees that we don't have any kelp dragging on our lures behind us. Shit all this talk about how we do it makes me want to get out there and do some hunting. :104167739

Curtis........

The boat Hanna...............

jiminoc · Sep-01-2006, 04:18 PM

I have Surg at my house right now installing a new stereo on the boat

I can't wait to try and sucker out tomorrow. I'll be trolling around with the Mrs until she gets sea sick.

Afry · Sep-01-2006, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jiminoc

I have Surg at my house right now installing a new stereo on the boat

I can't wait to try and sucker out tomorrow. I'll be trolling around with the Mrs until she gets sea sick.

Drug her, when she falls asleep you can fish for a few more hours

OBfishguy · Sep-01-2006, 06:28 PM

flat line clips are great for little boats, with the rapalas short in the corner out of the propwash, and learn how to tune the rapala so that it swims and find the speed that the rapala does not skip, some of the other jigs work better at different speeds. Oh and know what you are doing, in other words dont spend all day offshore dragging a rapala at 6 knots when you need to be covering ground and dont skip feathers around in a an area you have small area that looks good. and last but not least when fishing the beach or Islands in crowded conditions dont try the wwb technique.