Bob Matthews of Ladson will use any technique he needs to catch speckled trout, but in December, trolling can be a key to his success.
“On some days, trout are difficult to locate in good numbers,” Matthews said. “Those are the days I will troll, enabling me to cover a lot of territory. Trolling for me is simply a means to an end; it’s not my go-to technique, but its helps me get there.
“The result I’m looking for is one that will enable me to find enough trout to start casting and working lures or live baits to catch fish. But there are days when trolling is the most productive method.”
Matthews said trolling can produce, even for inexperienced fishermen.
“By trolling, you can effectively cover a lot of water quickly and find trout hots pots easier than by casting on some days,” he said. “Once you find a localized area where you’re catching trout trolling, I can be even more effective by casting to a specific location.
“The key to trolling success for me is to troll along high-percentage areas,” he said. “Random trolling is not nearly as effective. I prefer to fish a stretch of water that has points, pockets, oyster beds and small creeks dumping into the bay or river. Any spot that creates current change has the potential to hold trout. Also, high spots or humps, such as grass flats in the middle of deeper water areas, are excellent places to troll. At low tide, slow-trolling the middle of creeks can be very productive”
Matthews will slow troll the same lures, including jigheads with plastic trailers, he will use for casting. When he catches a trout or two close to each other, he will stop and cast the area. If he doesn’t find more trout, he’ll go back to trolling until he finds a hot spot or limits.
“Either way, I’m happy with a limit of trout,” he said.
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