Typically, fishing from a rowboat or a kayak involves moving from one fishing spot to fish another. You could set out a trolling line behind the boat, but fish that are in front of you might scatter before seeing the lure. Setting out a downrigger as you row allows fish to see the lure before they spot your boat. Learning how to row while trolling with a downrigger improves your chances of hooking into a nice fish.
Step 1
Mount a portable downrigger on one side of the rowboat between the oar locks and the back of the boat. Mount the downrigger on a kayak so it doesn't interfere with your paddling station. Adjust the angle of the downrigger so it is parallel with the surface in deeper water and tilted upward in shallow water.
Step 2
Set up a trolling rig and lure on your casting or spinning rod and reel combination. Use a heavier lure when trolling in deeper water and a lighter lure in shallow water. Put the trolling rod in a rod holder or secure the butt and grip under one leg with the rod tip pointing toward the downrigger.
Step 3
Row at a steady pace and begin letting out the trolling line and lure. With leaded line, let out five colors. Let out 50 feet of monofilament line. Clip the fishing line in the downrigger clip.
Step 4
Establish a visual reference point, such as a buoy or a landmark. In a rowboat, the reference point is beyond the back of the boat. The reference point is ahead when fishing from a kayak.
Step 5
Ship the oar or lift the kayak paddle on the downrigger side of the boat and continue to row with the other oar or paddle. Steer the boat on a course that's at an angle to your reference point. The best angle for covering a greater area with the lure is 30 to 45 degrees. Maintain this course using both oars or paddles.
Step 6
Watch the trolling line and continue on the angled heading until the line is straight behind the boat.
Step 7
Ship the oar or lift the paddle on the opposite side of the downrigger and locate your reference point. Use the oar or paddle on the downrigger side to steer a course at an angle across your original line. Maintain this heading using both oars or paddles.
Step 8
Continue to tack across your reference line in each direction. Allow the trolling line to straighten out behind the boat on each heading.
Step 9
Ship both oars or paddles when a fish strikes. The pressure from the fish pulls the line out of the downrigger clip. Lift the trolling rod out of the holder. Play a fish caught on a trolling rig as you normally do.
Things You'll Need
- Trolling rig and lure
- Casting or spinning rod and reel combination
- Portable downrigger
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