Trolling Question

[Jmorfish]

Trolling for Kokes, trout, or I guess anything, I've had some problems with line twist....I've never used them before, but bought a pack of '6 ball - bead chains' .... any of you used these instead of, or in addition to, the more standard snap swivels to prevent twist? Any other anti - line twist tips? Tks.....
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[a_bow_nut]

I have used that pink tab that you see on the front of a set of pop gear before to keep twist out of my main line.
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[k2muskie]

Have you tried Ball bearing swivels?
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[Ryno]

I always have an inline barrel swivel 3ft above the lure, even trolling crankbaits. I use Spros, which are more expensive but good quality. They help reduce line twist, but if you're still having problems, maybe you're trolling to fast or your dodgers are misshaped? I've had some that just started spinning at higher speeds especially in turns. Most will handle 2.2-2.5 mph in my experience though. Hope that helps, Ryno
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[wiperhunter2]

Hey Joe, can't say I've ever had that problem but as others have said, maybe it is the result of how fast you are going. Since I rarely use my DR for speeds much over 2 mph and always use at least one swivel, sometimes more, I'm not really sure what else could cause that problem. Does it happen every time you use your DR, no matter what lure you are using?
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[Lundman]

I troll 95% of the time and I troll mainly flatfish for bigger fish and they don't like fast speed - I always let my lure out a wee bit and ensure the action is looking good before I let it out - many times either I have to slow my speed or tuning the lure or find out the swivel, blade, bait or what might be functioning properly causing line twist - and with the price of good line I hate when a spool get ruined by line twist.
And as you probably already know just watching the rod tip can be a good indicator is the lure is working correctly.
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[trueblue2]

Like the other reports, I troll virtualy 99% of the time using both DRs and Deep 6 Divers. Most of my trolling is for kokes and trout where I use conventional trolling blades and dodgers, but I also do a lot of salmon fishing on the Columbia where we use the rolling bait holders and in-line Fish Flash attractors. Line twist in that current definately causes twist so most anglers use the 4 bead or 6 bead swivels ahead of and in between the attractor and the lure. This works very well!!!

I like the 4 bead swivels very much and use them on all of my rigs. Rather than use a standard barrel swivel, most times I make my own using a 4 bead swivel and a duolock snap. in MHO these cant be beat to minimize line twist. I never use the gang spinner rigs because they have too much drag. I only use Fish Flash, trolling blades and trolling dodgers which have very low drag. You might want to try that.

Trueblue
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[OCF]

I also troll with DR's 99% of the time. I use a SS single barrel swivel about 4 to 5 feet above my dodger & have never had a problem with line twist. I think you must have your dodgers out of tune & more likely going to fast for the lure/dodger.
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[ReelMasta]

What type rod reel are you using? We troll most of the time with bait caster type rods with spider line and very little issue. I do tie a barrel swivel from the main line to a mono leader.

Scott
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[mtncat1]

i agree what type of reel are you using if it is spin cast they will twist your lin e and no swivel can fix that . if the issue is from a spinning lure you will have to run some kind of blade in front of it . i hope this helps if not more info would help us help you, lure type, reel type, boat speed flashers or pop gear used etc.
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[PACKFAN]

Joe I think I showed you last summer when I took you out on Willard how I hook up my Worm harness on the down riggers and we were trolling 2 1/2 to 3 MPH, we never had any line twist. [cool]
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[Jmorfish]

Trueblue, Packfan, MtnCat, Reelmasta, OCF, Lundman, Ryno, WiperHunter, K2Muskie, and BowNut ---- Thanks for your input and insights, and sorry I couldn't get back online here sooner....Here's what I've been using (mostly) these past few years that I've been trolling out of my own 16' boat, and a canoe occasionally : downriggers, 7'6" trolling rods, (1-St. Croix, 1-Scheels Pro Angler) 12 lb Trilene XL main line with 8 lb Vicious floro 4' leader, ball bearing swivels, then mostly RMT 4 - 6" dodgers or flashers, sometimes a Macks Flashlite, and only a couple times the huge cow bell pop gear....and I'm using Daiwa line counter trolling reels......usually trolling 1 - 2.5 mph, but could line twist been happening when I'm just reeling in fast?.....You know, after missing a hit, or checking on my lures or bait, etc. I think that's the only time I'm "going fast"....TrueBlue did say he'd been using these ball bead chain swivels with success that I was asking about, so I'll give those a try and try to report on them later after using a few times.....looking forward to some trolling soon ......tks all for good ideas and your experience.....Joe

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[Anglinarcher]

I am not a troller, at least not when I can help it. I troll for Walleye and Kokes, sometimes for steelhead and Kings, but for the most part, I grew up trolling and my style as an adult is much more aggressive.

Nevertheless, because I do it on occasion, and grew up with it, I have far too much experience.

First advice, any trolling can cause line twist at times. For that matter, casting and reeling can at times. Because you have a boat, take off all swivels, hooks, weight, etc., and feed the bare line out past the twist in the water as you move forward. Once you are past the twist, it only takes a few seconds and you can reel in the line and the twist are gone. Doing this every so often can extend the life of your line for a long long long time.

Next, high quality ball bearing swivels are valuable. The Stainless Steel ball bearings are the best. Sure, they are expensive, but the savings in line cost, lost lures, and wasted time make it worth it.

Bead chains are awesome, but again quality makes a huge difference. Brass bead chains or [#ff0000]cheap[/#ff0000] stainless are a waist of money and time. Get the quality bead chain swivels [#ff0000](usually SS brand name)[/#ff0000], pay the money.

Last, using walleye bouncers, divers, trolling rudders, etc., all help, but ultimately lines twist. Bearings help, straitening can be done, keeping your speed down, not reeling spinning reels in against the drag all help.
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[Beautiful-Fish]

To prevent line twist , do not use spinning reels to troll with. Also certain kind of lures are more prone to cause line twist like spinners. Troll spoons at 2.0 to 3.0 mph & Flatfish at 1.0 to 1.75 mph OK just don't go to fast. Rapalas work great at any speed under 6.00 mph

Slow down when reeling your line in.
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[Jmorfish]

Tks Anglinarcher and Beaut-fish .... So how can you do so much trolling and not be a 'troller'? Am I missing something? Is that a bad thing? ...... Anyhow, I appreciate the idea of letting out my lines once in awhile to relieve any twist....I'll do that....You said go with the best -- the stainless steel ball bearings, but then said the stainless steel bead chains aren't any good....that's all I saw, so that's what I bought recently....haven't put them on yet, but I was going to....What brand/metal are you using, and where would I get them if these aren't any good? tks....
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[Anglinarcher]

I have been fishing for over 55 years, and I believe that I should do what the fish tell me to do. Also, my wife will complain that she had been a fishing widow with my fishing often taking 50 to 80 trips a year. If I troll only 20 percent of the time I still troll more then most people fish. LOL

When I would troll for Walleye, I use a front trolling motor out of a Lund style boat, front depth finder, pinpoint structure fishing, using bouncers, walkers, swimming jigs, etc. Not your typical fishing in Utah. (Sold my boat, DR, etc., to my son a couple of years ago when my wife wanted me to upgrade boats. Moved to Utah, had health problems and have not got that new boat yet.)

When I troll for Kokes, well it is like trolling for kokes anywhere. Steelhead is mostly backtrolling with the same boat in the Snake or Columbia Rivers, and that is where swivels are super important. Same for the Salmon.

I don't even troll for Lakers any longer then it takes to locate a school. Find the school and I can out fish trolling with targeted jigging and countdown (customes I make, some soft, some hard) swimbaits 3 to 1.

Well, you get the point.

Did not mean to suggest that SS beads were bad. I will look at my post again, but I meant to say that Brass bead chains were bad, that SS bead chains were good.

Hope this helps some, send me a PM if you need me to clarify more.
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[Jmorfish]

Tks again for good info, and glad you're on the site....also sounds like you're pretty new to Utah, so welcome, and I hope you get that new boat soon....I'm 'new' to Utah also, but about 40 years ago.....Looks like you're cutting back on your trolling efforts, and I'm still in the (5 or 6 years) learning process......One of the pro-fishermen for Mack's Lures that I know does a lot of jigging also, for the lakers and kokes at Fl Gorge.....I haven't tried that, as my boat isn't equipped to suspend in 80 to 150 FOW and jig in one place.....but I'm sure it works well.....in the meantime, I'm trying to be a TROLLER....so tks for your insights....Guluk...
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