SPOTLIGHT ON: TROLLING It truly annoys me when some ignoramus comments that trolling is not sport, is unfair, is too easy, etc. I have no problem with people not wanting to troll because they prefer to cast, but spare the pious drivel that shows you really don't know what you're talking about. Furthermore, if you think that trolling simply entails dragging any old lure or bait at an indeterminate distance behind a boat at an unknown depth, in an unplanned fashion, then you are very misinformed, and if you do that you'll have generally unproductive results. Now that I've got those things off my chest, let me comment that I think trolling is an important, challenging, and effective method of angling. I know that dedicated trollers are compelled to conscientiously search for and find fish. They're compelled to know exactly where their lures are and to scour the water column for their quarry. They're compelled to make a calculated, determined effort to entice fish that they rarely see until it is hoisted out of the water in a landing net or brought to the side of a boat for unhooking and release. You may know that many, many people troll for some or most of their fish. Trolling is the main way to catch trout and salmon on lakes and reservoirs. It is the main method on some muskie waters. It is a valued technique for most walleye anglers, an overlooked method for black bass fishing, and an important means of catching striped bass. However, many trollers simply don't go about it very well. They take haphazard boat rides in which they wash the paint off their lures, get a tan, and see the lakeside. That's not trolling. So, if you want to know the ins and outs of how to troll effectively in freshwater and saltwater, I have the most comprehensive information on the subject that you can find in one place. Just click on the following to check it out: http://www.kenschultz.com/template3.asp?bookname=TROLLING
