Technique
Rose typically uses the longlining technique on river-chan-
nel ledges, casting perpendicular to the ledge to hit the tar-
get and retrieving the bait from shallow to deep.
he makes a long cast past the spot, then turns and trolls
straight in the opposite direction. Rose is careful not to cast
into extremely shallow water, which could result in the bait
getting hung up and ruining the cast.
on average, Rose moves the boat 40 to 50 yards before
beginning his retrieve, but some situations require taking it to
extremes. and sometimes, he only needs a “little extra.”
“You are trying to hit a specific target. it could be a 5- or
10-foot stretch of rocky bottom or a 100-yard-long mussel
bed with fish scattered throughout,” Rose says. “how far you
move with the trolling motor before starting your retrieve
varies based on the target you are trying to hit.
“for small targets, i will move the boat as little as 10 or 20
yards because a small target requires the perfect angle to hit
it just right. for bigger targets, my drift before starting the
retrieve could be 100 yards. the biggest thing with this tech-
nique is that with more line out you can get your bait deeper
and keep it there longer.”
precise depth control is a matter of experimentation. if you
don’t hit on the first try, reset and troll farther. then try again.
Perfect the Presentation
Rose is careful to watch his line to ensure that his bait is
on track to dive to the target.
“You don’t want a bow in your line because it can affect
the angle the bait dives. i will keep the rod tip low to the
MINI-LONGLINING
longlining is an effective way to get a big plug deep
and keep it there. same goes for smaller crankbaits,
says Rose. he’ll use the technique to drive down a
square-bill or a medium-diving crankbait in situations
where he wants to gain another foot or two of depth.
usually, it only takes 20 yards or so of extra distance to
make a difference.
water with a tight line. otherwise you risk missing the mark
because it is often a very small window to hit it just right.”
the entire process can take upward of five minutes per
presentation. this includes lining up the target, the cast, mov-
ing the boat while letting line out and then completing the
retrieve. so one fouled cast can be a big waste of time in a
tournament.
also, be sure to study the regulations in the tournament
circuit you plan to fish. typically, trolling is not allowed, but
how it’s defined can vary. in a tournament, Rose is careful to
stop the boat’s movement when he finishes letting out line
– spinning around to face the bait is an easy way to be sure
the boat is stopped – otherwise, to pull the bait down under
trolling motor power is considered trolling, which is a rule
violation. check with the tournament director if you have
questions, then take time to practice because longlining can
often mean the difference in hitting your target and catching
fish, or missing the spot altogether.
1. Cast
2. Troll away,
letting line out.
Distance depends
on desired depth
and size of target.
3. Turn boat back
to stop movement.
MAY-JUNE 2018 I FLWFISHING.COM
4. Wind bait
back in.
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