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When faced with large areas of water on fisheries such as the Broads, their associated river systems, lakes reservoirs or lochs up and down the country and the problems of locating where and how to fish, there is one method that many experienced pike anglers will use that allows exploration and fishing at the same time, that method is float trolling. Whilst the name tends to imply a specific method there are variations that can apply to this descriptive title in different disciplines within angling. It will be impractical to try and embrace all of those here in this article, possibly it may be worthwhile covering some of the options and variations at a later date so keep an eye open for these!

Please read the information notice at the foot of the page!

Trolling is probably one of the simplest methods and is the induced movement of the tackle and bait being fished, live or dead, being fished from a boat. This particular article will cover this method for use within the Broads and its tidal river network, but with minor adjustments could easily be adapted to bigger and deeper venues around the Country!

In its simplest incarnation a trolling rig will look like a free roving live bait set up and at a push the rig shown on this site could be pushed into service, providing the float and weight are adjusted to suit the conditions encountered. However there are variations in tackle and set up which will be necessary to make the rig more efficient.

Rod and Reel
The rod needed for this job will be a general pike rod with a test curve of around 2.5lb to 3lb combined with a bait runner type reel or multiplier, the fixed spool reel will suit most anglers better. The reel line should be 15 to 18 lb. BS monofilament nylon line or a braided line of around 30 to 40lb BS, one of the floating versions will be ideal as the line needs to stay on the surface during the troll to avoid snags or tangles. The mono nylon should be treated with a silicon spray floatant or line grease such as Mucilin to achieve this floating condition

Terminal tackle
The rig shown here in the diagram shows how the various items differ and need to be set up. Starting with the float, this should be suited to the job in hand and a longer bulkier through the middle sliding float is required that will be capable of carrying more shot load to keep the bait down, particularly when trolling against the flow in rivers! The float will be held at the chosen depth by using a bead and Powergum stop knot tied at the depth you choose. This should be at least the depth from surface to bottom, less perhaps 12 inches to ensure initially that you are trolling near the bottom, the bait will probably now be over depth but as you commence trolling the bait will lift and trail off bottom. The bait may occasionally touch bottom or encounter weed beds that may possible give false ‘runs’ or floats disappearing intermittently. If this proves to be a problem then adjust the depth in small increments 6 to 12 inches until the problem stops.

If the bottom varies on rivers or still waters some compromises may need to be struck, on still waters, with the aid of an echo sounder or fish finder follow the contours, changing the depth to work the baits along the next depth by following them around the lake etc. as a whole or by working back and forth along one particular shoreline you fancy!

On rivers you won't have this luxury and will need to consider discovering the depths and then fishing through these adjusting the depth before and after each depth, fishing over depth and increasing the trolling speed for shallower areas and slowing down to let the bait work through the deeper sections or ultimately anchoring at the top most edge of the deeper channel/area and trotting the rig(s) through, which can be equally effective and a chance to enjoy a coffee and sandwich!

If you decide to work over depth and increase speed be wary of the float slipping down the line and changing the depth being fished too dramatically, if this is a problem you can employ either a stop knot and bead or a rubber float stop and bead below the float. The latter will move more easily if you are over deep water and prevent the float jamming in the top ring hindering your netting of the pike!

The rig shown utilizes an uptrace to maintain the protection against bite-offs and the weight required to get the bait down is attached via this. The most practical way to do this is with a commercial quick change weighting system or a drilled bullet with a slot cut in one side, fitted and locked to the bottom uptrace swivel with silicon rubber tubing. The weight here should match the float being used and it is better to use a larger float than necessary than too small a float! The uptrace is a 30lb BS wire and the hook trace should be 20 to 30lb BS and employ 2 size 4, 6, or 8 semi-barbless trebles spaced out to suit the bait in use, between 2 and 4 inches apart!

The way the bait is mounted on the trebles will make trolling a success or a failure, the bait should be mounted with the upper treble on the trace going through the top lip and the end treble going into the baits flank/underbelly near a fin. Dorsal and flank hook mounts tend to inhibit the bait and create too much resistance and risk false indications and premature failure of the bait!

Trolling is a very effective method if used correctly and not too much speed is the secret, except where you may choose to use an increase this to lift a bait to encourage a take or avoid a snag or change in depth.

The rods can be laid on the stern of the boat with the bait runner mechanism set to give line when the bait is taken, or can be mounted in purpose made trolling rests to change the position of the rods to widen the area being trolled or to accommodate an additional rod. It is better to work 2 rods well than get into difficulty by trying to use more.

The trolling rest can allow one rod to be worked close to the bank or left or right hand drop off's whilst keeping the boat and the other bait in deeper mid river channels.

Dead baits can be trolled in a similar way as can lighter metal lures or spoons, some of the neutral density lures can be trolled where there is not too much in the way of snags, should you wish to give the method a try despite having no live or dead baits available. It is a more technical method and will need some experimentation to get the best out of it, it is not a shallow water method, better to troll diving lures direct with no floats at all but that's another method!


NB: it is illegal under Environment Agency By-laws to move fish from one water to another with out consent and Pike Online supports this restriction on the translocation of fish wholeheartedly and recommends each angler observes this ruling and any that may apply on the individual fisheries you may visit.

Additionally, trolling under power from any outboard, even electrically powered outboards is illegal within the Broads Authority area and enforced by a local Bylaw, this is despite the Environment Agency having no similar Bylaw preventing trolling under power. The Broads Authority will prosecute anyone caught trolling under any other propulsion means other than trolling under the power of oars, which is still legal! You have been warned!