| Trolling reels are typically used for offshore | | | | strength and durability in producing the best fishing |
| big-game trolling in open water. Trolling is the | | | | reel capable of handling record-breaking trophies. |
| process of dragging both bait and lures behind a | | | | Trolling reels are typically found in the lever drag |
| moving vessel, which is a productive way to | | | | system. On these types of fishing reels, the drag |
| locate schools of migratory fish. The reason being, | | | | pressure adjusts with the slide of a lever, which is |
| when a boat trolls over a school of fish, the wake | | | | located on the top of the reel to the right. |
| and commotion on the surface emulates a ball of | | | | Designated markings of, or similar to freespool, |
| bait. This triggers the feeding instincts of many | | | | strike and full are found on reels like the |
| offshore species and immediately sends the | | | | Penn® International series, Shimano |
| leading edge of the school towards the | | | | Tiagra® and the Acurrate Twin Drag® |
| commotion to investigate, with the rest of the | | | | saltwater trolling reels. Most later models come in |
| pack following. As the most aggressive fish in the | | | | a two- speed version, with two separate gear |
| school frantically try and chase down this | | | | ratios that serve different purposes. The high |
| commotion, the trolling lures, jigs and baits are the | | | | gear is to gain as much line as possible with every |
| first hint of a meal that they come across. They | | | | turn of the handle, sacrificing torque and power. |
| charge at them with reckless abandon, inhaling | | | | Low gear, on the other hand, provides |
| what appears to the fish as vulnerable stragglers, | | | | tremendous torque and in return, sacrifices the |
| desperately trying to catch up with the rest of | | | | ability to retrieve a substantial amount of line per |
| the pack. | | | | crank. When properly utilized, both gears are |
| As soon as one of the trolling lures or baits is | | | | designed to maximize the chances of quickly and |
| inhaled, the trolling reel begins to sing, with the | | | | efficiently landing scale-busting size fish. |
| clicker of the reel creating a loud noise that | | | | The most noticeable difference in a trolling reel |
| notifies the angler to get ready. This sends the | | | | are the two rings that sit atop all trolling fishing |
| anglers into a dash for their gear, yelling "hook-up", | | | | reels. These rings are part of the frame and hold |
| which immediately causes the captain to throw | | | | an enormous amount of strength. Trolling straps |
| the vessel into neutral to stop the boat. As the | | | | are attached through these rings, as well as big |
| momentum of the vessel carries the boat | | | | game harnesses and on some occasions, a |
| forward, the crew begins to throw live bait, either | | | | back-up rod and reel combo, a common practice |
| by pieces or in full scoops. By now, the rest of | | | | when fishing on long range boats out of San |
| the migrating school has caught up to the | | | | Diego for huge bluefin and yellowfin tuna. Trolling |
| commotion and is met with the temptation of live | | | | reels are so strong and powerful, I have even |
| bait, sending them into a feeding frenzy. | | | | seen anglers cut these rings off and even go so |
| However, a wide-open bite is not always the | | | | far as to make custom frames to readily access |
| result of a hook-up while trolling. When the fish | | | | the spool and use trolling reels as live bait reels. I |
| are down, or when the conditions are far from | | | | do not recommend this practice, as many of the |
| ideal, trolling will produce the majority of the | | | | latest star-drag conventional reels will serve the |
| catch, with no feeding frenzy following the trolled | | | | same purpose. |
| up fish. On these days, it is essential to land every | | | | With the high prices of fuel, trolling around in |
| troll fish and having the right equipment is critical in | | | | offshore waters can be very costly. That is why |
| accomplishing this. Trolling rod and reel combos | | | | every serious big-game angler should consider |
| are the most expensive combos on the market | | | | having the best saltwater tackle available when it |
| today. Due to their importance in locating roaming | | | | comes to their arsenal. The properly maintained |
| schools of open water fish, manufacturers like | | | | saltwater combo can mean the difference in |
| Shimano®, Penn®, Daiwa®, | | | | coming home with a trophy of a lifetime, or |
| Okuma® and Accurate® incorporate the | | | | coming home skunked, carrying an empty sack. |
| finest materials and technologies to ensure | | | | |