Reel Repair by Alan Tani

It's pretty nerve racking at first but here is how we troll of the Pacific Voyager.

After my first trip I made my own leash/strap because I didn't like now the boats were "sun burned", they weren't but I wasn't taking any chances.

I've never caught anything of size on the troll down in San Diego/Mexican waters, but it beats sitting in the galley.

I like your set up PJ, hope you don't have a patient on it because I'm making one.

Steve

Steve have it!  Hope it works for ya

That's the way it's done on every boat other than the SoA! Works for me!

Same for me. Takes a bit of getting used to unhooking the rod when a fish is on, but really not a huge deal.

I have 2 trolling straps and a release clip. All are coming on my SoA 10 day. On the SoA, the release clip on the trolling strap should be money!

Heck ya Mark!

That looks so entirely janky that I can't quite bring myself to take it seriously.

You're telling me these are professional sportfishing boats and their trolling configuration is to sling rods by a bit of seatbelt from the transom rail?

I've got to be missing something here.

Quote from: stoked4fishin on August 01, 2024, 03:59:06 AMHeck ya Mark!

Whoever follows me in the trolling rotation can use it too since it's not attached to my rig.

Quote from: boon on August 01, 2024, 04:02:54 AMThat looks so entirely janky that I can't quite bring myself to take it seriously.

You're telling me these are professional sportfishing boats and their trolling configuration is to sling rods by a bit of seatbelt from the transom rail?

I've got to be missing something here.

It's rock solid and all the local, and long range boats, in SoCal do it that way. Your reel has to have trolling lugs.

It works!

Quote from: boon on August 01, 2024, 04:02:54 AMThat looks so entirely janky that I can't quite bring myself to take it seriously.

You're telling me these are professional sportfishing boats and their trolling configuration is to sling rods by a bit of seatbelt from the transom rail?

I've got to be missing something here.

I thought it was sketch too Boon but it works just fine.

The web/seat belt material has a 500 pound breaking rating.

With the reel in strike setting all you hear is that wonderful sound of the clicker screaming and line peeling.

I've only caught football size Yellowfin and Skipjacks. They don't even slow the boat down. You get them on top of the water and skip them on the surface to the boat.

A couple years ago we caught a 36 inch or so Mako on the troll.

The benefit of the open transom and trolling straps is that the rod points straight at the lure and the line is at a much lower angle. Mike just liked the look of a closed transom, it wasn't based on better performance! I've been on a boat with no rod holders outside the galley windows so you'd have a better view... and less space for rods. Yeah, only boat that did that!

I'll be honest I wondered for a long time what the heck the lugs were for. Then I wondered what the heck they had to do with trolling. Then I wondered how the heck people didn't get more rods pulled overboard. But I guess the answer is light drag setting

Quote from: boon on July 22, 2024, 12:57:06 AMI gotta ask the question, why is that stern rodholder so janky? Reel sitting on the transom, can't even turn the handle?

Never bothered me. I'm not sure why you would turn the handle in the holder other than to adjust the trolling position, you lift the rod up a bit, crank to get the jig where you want, put the rod down?

Quote from: JasonGotaProblem on August 01, 2024, 11:05:34 AMI'll be honest I wondered for a long time what the heck the lugs were for. Then I wondered what the heck they had to do with trolling. Then I wondered how the heck people didn't get more rods pulled overboard. But I guess the answer is light drag setting

Back in the day Jason (and I have still seen similar setups in use today) you would have belts/shoulder straps that you could also clip into and have the rod butt set into a gymbal and use your shoulders/back to help put force on the rod leaving your hand free for just the reel.  Getting pulled over definitely a hazard! - john