It’s hard to imagine what it takes to manage an 18- to 20-foot fishing rod anchored with nearly a pound of weight and possibly 2 or 3 pounds of hefty fish dangling off the end. Combine that with a boat moving at speeds up to 2 mph, and suffice to say that power trolling isn’t for the faint of heart.
However, since the unwieldy tactic has a proven track record of catching fish, especially during the hottest months of the year, some anglers have chosen to tackle the challenge.
For veteran crappie angler David Nasser, choosing to power troll from a pontoon boat was the first step in taming these rods.
“The pontoon allows me room to maneuver the rod,” he said. “It’s easier to walk backward and bring the fish to you rather than lift him straight up and over the boat.”
Speaking of wrangling rods, it takes more than just your average panfish pole to withstand the pressure of power trolling. The old-time trollers showed savvy in their selection of using bamboo blanks as the backbone of their system. Bamboo is lightweight, strong and relatively cheap.
The selection among the mainstream rod market ranges from flipping sticks used for bass fishing to surfcasting rods. Problems ensue with the bass rods, which are powerful but limited in their length, while saltwater sticks provide length and strength but are unwieldy to handle.
Editor’s Note: This story appears as part of a feature in Mississippi Sportsman’s August issue now on newsstands. To ensure you don’t miss any information-packed issues of the magazine, click here to have each issue delivered right to your mail box.
Be the first to comment