I need to know...

[Gerritt]

I see on alot of sites people talking about back trolling. why would someone want to troll in reverse? any benefits? PIA? what drives a man to drive around in reverse for hours on end?

 

G

[Terry]

the only reason I know is to slow down slow enough to use a worm harness most motors will not let you troll under 1mph but back trolling can get you down to .2 mph or less

[lew]

I don't do it myself either Gerritt, but I think the idea is that it makes it easier to steer the boat more precisely while going backwards, plus it would also give you the slowest speed possible without an electric motor....at least that's my understanding.

[Spiel]

....Ah so young grasshopper and much to learn. Observe the ways of the wise and ye shall become infantly wiser.

[FISHINGNUT]

Its good when trolling for walleye .You can achieve slower speeds while back trolling plus with a tiller you get better boat control for following weed lines or breaks

[Gerritt]

....Ah so young grasshopper and much to learn. Observe the ways of the wise and ye shall become infantly wiser.

 

 

Bite me oh great one! LOL...

 

Thanks guys... but why not just use a drift sock or throw down the electric? Seems odd to me.. and I dont recall ever seeing someone doing it on the water...

 

 

G

[Terry]

under some conditions like following a weed line under windy conditions you have better boat control for tight turns with back trolling, plus there were no drift socks when people started this method so even though a drift sock would work under many conditions they are use to back trolling

and as for electric motors using the gas motor gives you a lot more power and control when needed under windy conditions....

[TennesseeGuy]

There are lots of advantages when going after walleyes. It puts you right over your transducer. Backtrolling with a youngster in your boat keeps his line away from the prop. It aids in boat control. Trolling in reverse might reverse aging. We'll see.

 

Don't hit a rock. Watch out for waves in rough water unless you have a splash board.

[FISHINGNUT]

From what I have been told there is no better way for boat control when following tight structure than back trolling.My dad and uncle always back troll for eyes and using a worm harness.I would also think it has something to do with the transducer for your fish finder.Being mounted on the back of the boat you are steering directly under the transducer without the time delay of the length of your boat passing over before reaching the transducer

[FISHINGNUT]

Tennessee guy beat me I cant type that fast

[Beans]

First time I ever witnessed back trolling was on the river below the dam in Trenton...it keeps your bait from drifting past the fish too quickly and in their face longer...neat method once you master it...

[TennesseeGuy]

Combining backtrolling with a controlled drift can put walleyes in your boat.

 

It's more of keeping your bait on the bottom where the fish are than pulling your lure around the lake showing it to lots of fish as in conventional trolling.

[oldschool]

All very good answers. Plus...it keeps the lines away from the propeller. a good thing with the young, inexperienced, and heck, even the unlucky amongst us.

[trapshooter]

These guys all nailed your answer Gerritt. It's all about boat control. You can follow a contour or weedline with great precision or easily keep the boat on one spot-on-spot by punching it in and out of reverse. Of course, you always backtroll into the wind. This is the only method we use while dragging jigs or bottom bouncers at the lodge I work for. We use 18' pro V tillers w/ yammy 90's. Like others mentioned you can slow right down to a crawl if you have to or get a decent trolling speed going. It's a very versatile and very controled way to fish. You'll need wave breakers/splash guards and WORKING BILGES cause when it gets rough you will take on water. Here's a rough day backtrolling on Lac Seul.

 

 

I've got a question.... Does anyone backtroll with a console boat? I've only done it with a tiller. I'm sure it could be done but it wouldn't be as easy as with the tiller. Vive le tiller!!

[Spiel]

....Back trolling is one of the top reasons I bought a big tiller!

[trapshooter]

....Back trolling is one of the top reasons I bought a big tiller!

 

Ah, you truly are a wise old master!

 

Seriously though, I couldn't agree more. Tiller and backtrolling for life!

[Garyv]

And remember once you start backtrolling, you will need backtrolling accessories. Does the spending ever end?

http://www.wavewackers.com/

[trapshooter]

at least they're cheaper then a trolling motor.....

[walleyejigger]

i spend 80% of my time fishing back trolling, but even that isn't slow enough for me sometimes, i mix it up with a lot of neutral

[Roy]

TILLER!

 

 

What a wonderful world!

[Rizzo]

I backtroll for muskies at 6 mph just so I can look like an idiot...a very wet idiot

[John Bacon]

The increased control is especially true when trolling into a strong wind. If you try trolling into the wind at a slow speed the wind will tend to push the bow around.

 

Back trolling with the wind doesn't work so well; I only tried that once.

[camillj]

Yep .. backtrolling rocks for me ... but then most of my time is spent in a tinny with a 9.9 tiller .... and no electric ... I think if I had a bass boat and a foot operated electric I wouldnt backtroll too much ... but for now ... its my way of covering water AND being able to jig/cast/bottom bounce AND see whats coming toward the prop at a manageable speed ... and it really does put more fish in the boat (for me at least)

 

Like Big Cliff said though ... backing trolling into the wind isnt a very good idea ... BUT thats when I toss the anchor out the front and 'back-drift' with the waves for power .... theres always an answer

Edited December 23, 2007 by camillj

[TennesseeGuy]

Backtrolling is less like trolling and more like taking your jig for a walk on the bottom. You're jigging almost straight down from your rod tip and you're jigging the area that you're seeing on your sonar screen. It's vertical jigging at it's best. I wouldn't suggest pulling a minnow lure backwards.

[fishindevil]

Well i know back trolling can work well in certain conditions but i just put a trolling plate on my motor,so i wouldnt have to do that,you can use your electric trolling motor as well,or you can toss out a drift bag and troll like that...so there is always options,before i would be back trolling for sure,and i have tried it before and didnt find that i had any advantage over any other way of trolling !!!