Trolling Valves - when to and when not to?

[Squidnation]

I don't have trolling valves - don't think I need them for my small boat. But it has always interested me in watching the pros use them or not use them at certain times. Were trolling valves invented solely for the sake of fishing? serious question. I noticed they are almost exclusively used for sailfishing and white marlin fishing. But I also noticed when the fish were really thick and cooperating that some captains weren't using them at all. I fish on a big boat often and the captain will always start the day using the valves but will abandon the valves as the day progresses. I really think we have caught more with no valves. is it the slow speed you guys are looking for or is it that hum? because I know the boat sounds much "fishier" when they are on but then again i am not a fish.

[Big Jay]

I think its purely a speed thing to be honest. I never bought into the whole "hum of the motors" thing.

I know a few repowered boats that with both motors bumped in gear will turn 7-8 kts. at idle!

That's freakin fast. Especially if you are worried about your hoos washing out or ending up out of the water.

[misokat]

Trolling valves are only for low speed trolling, can be very dangerous running over 1000 to 1500 rpm,sure fire way to toast trannys, as for the noise factor , i just think fish like the hum and sound of a big diesel just like me!

[SeaMent]

I've only seen em used fishin for Sails & Whites as Mr. Pino mentioned, and that was pullin double dredges with a couple hundred mullet on each side, I don't have em either but how close can you pull them dredges to the boat at 3.5 or 4 kts. vs.6 or 7 kts. and what's the difference in a turn ?? I'm sure JonnyD, Howard or White Marlin can bring us up to speed on this topic ! What's up with the trollin valves & dredges guys ??

[Current Affair]

Some guys troll with one in gear also. They just use electrics to pull in their dredges. And a couple hundred mulletI think the max was on the Sizzler when i beleive they pulled 4 double dredges during one tourny. Most others stick with 1 or 2 doubles fun fishin and maybe triples in tournys.

I've only seen em used fishin for Sails & Whites as Mr. Pino mentioned, and that was pullin double dredges with a couple hundred mullet on each side, I don't have em either but how close can you pull them dredges to the boat at 3.5 or 4 kts. vs.6 or 7 kts. and what's the difference in a turn ?? I'm sure JonnyD, Howard or White Marlin can bring us up to speed on this topic ! What's up with the trollin valves & dredges guys ??

[SeaMent]

Some guys troll with one in gear also. They just use electrics to pull in their dredges. And a couple hundred mulletI think the max was on the Sizzler when i beleive they pulled 4 double dredges during one tourny. Most others stick with 1 or 2 doubles fun fishin and maybe triples in tournys.

CA, I was kiddin about the couple 100 mullet my question would be retrieve on the dredges at different speeds and turnin with them at different speeds, and distances from the boat, with trollin valves vs. without trollin valves ?? I've never fished on a boat with trollin valves ON unless it was pullin dredges !! hence fishin for Sails & Whites !!

[ncbillfisher]

Trolling valves are for trolling, and low idle is for around the dock. All the boats i have ran they are must. It helps get your speed dialed in (o.5 knots low end- around 6 knots topped out). I motor rpms never change but once you get to the top of the speed for the valves I have heard them rattle like crazy. I have fished a quad dredge (the most was six at once, I had one called six flags and one called sea world!!!) many of times and your speed is the most important thing, not so much the vavles. Also most of the boats have shaft speed on the gauges and that is how to make everything get dialed in. Like for sailfishing you have one shaft speed sweet spot, Then for white marlin a little different sweet spot, everything is a little different shaft speeds. I have ran a boat where the trolling vavles were so loud i would have to troll on one motor in gear, that sucks if you have vavles and can't use them. The main thing with pulling in the dredges is waiting for all the fish you saw are hooked up, pulling in the inside just enough to see it and the outside will come to the top most of the time where you can see it. The dredge will come to the top because of the white water pushing it up.

[SeaMent]

Trolling valves are for trolling, and low idle is for around the dock. All the boats i have ran they are must. It helps get your speed dialed in (o.5 knots low end- around 6 knots topped out). I motor rpms never change but once you get to the top of the speed for the valves I have heard them rattle like crazy. I have fished a quad dredge (the most was six at once, I had one called six flags and one called sea world!!!) many of times and your speed is the most important thing, not so much the vavles. Also most of the boats have shaft speed on the gauges and that is how to make everything get dialed in. Like for sailfishing you have one shaft speed sweet spot, Then for white marlin a little different sweet spot, everything is a little different shaft speeds. I have ran a boat where the trolling vavles were so loud i would have to troll on one motor in gear, that sucks if you have vavles and can't use them. The main thing with pulling in the dredges is waiting for all the fish you saw are hooked up, pulling in the inside just enough to see it and the outside will come to the top most of the time where you can see it. The dredge will come to the top because of the white water pushing it up.

ncbf, when the trollin valves are workin right does this allow you to pull em closer to the boat and work the dredges a little better at slower trollin speeds ? or are you leavin them in the same position at all times on a flat day for example ? are you pullin the dredges in a head sea in the same position as a down sea ?

[Capt_John]

I used to run a 32' Albemarle Express and I used the trolling valves all the time slow trolling live baits for king mackeral. I swear those valves helped me troll better than any center console with outboards ever could. Other than that, I didn't have any use for them.

[ncbillfisher]

You have to play with them a little. With the vavles you have to fish by sounds of the boat, or at least I feel that way? If something doesn't sound right I won't feel good about it. The Vavles also give you full control of your steering unlike with one motor when going slow. Like on rough days slow down a little because with the bigger boats the like to surf down the wave and that is how something breaks!!!! I would drop them back on a rough day and slow down and on a pretty day maybe pull them closer and go a little faster. I like to be able to just make them out because you will be able to see a fish in the dredge that way, no matter what sea conditions.