WWB trolling technique ?

[joeksr]

Not trying to start another thread about the ups or downs of wwb but I thought of a technique question.
Yes I have to much time on my hands and need to go fishing.
BUT,
Here it is anyway.

If your trolling and see a school of fish, do you half circle it and straighten out to bring your lines thru the school (much as you would bring a tow rope back to a skier) Or just circle the school ?

[Bird Dog]

I've always circled to bring my baits thru the school, never ran them over. Same thing applies inshore for rockfish.

[LongRigger]

as far as an open school of tuna or mahi are concerned, i troll to bring my baits in front of the school depending which way they are running and feeding. ideally the school would run over your pattern while chasing other bait such as flying fish or ballys.

[Rob Rondini]

i have never seen a live bally offshore. i have however fed them by hand on reefs in ten ft. of water.

[gradyfish265]

Well this past weekend at the Hudson canyon we were pulling our lines when a school of 30lb yft erupted so back in went the spread, we went 2/4, and the 2 misses were the error or my crew not advancing the levers far enough forward. I ran along the edge of the school then made a slight turn to drag my baits infront of them. Once we were hooked up, 7 boats ran through the school, only 1 hooked up, the first guy who did exactly what I did, the others either tried to drag baits through the school, some even drove through the school, needless to say that school broke up before we got another pass at it. I've alwaysd had better luck dragging lines either 45 to the fish heading the direction they are, or running parallel just outside them and slightly turning into them so my baits are right on the very outer edge. The few times I ever dragged through a school were when I first started offshore fishing, it typically we had few hook ups and depending on the school we even pushed them down on many ocassions. I am a firm believer of NOT running through the school, more times then not it hurts you, there are times where the bait is so thick that dragging through them will not effect the school or break it up, but why take the chance and lose out on a few more passes at the fish.

[92 feet down]

Well this past weekend at the Hudson canyon we were pulling our lines when a school of 30lb yft erupted so back in went the spread, we went 2/4, and the 2 misses were the error or my crew not advancing the levers far enough forward. I ran along the edge of the school then made a slight turn to drag my baits infront of them. Once we were hooked up, 7 boats ran through the school, only 1 hooked up, the first guy who did exactly what I did, the others either tried to drag baits through the school, some even drove through the school, needless to say that school broke up before we got another pass at it. I've alwaysd had better luck dragging lines either 45 to the fish heading the direction they are, or running parallel just outside them and slightly turning into them so my baits are right on the very outer edge. The few times I ever dragged through a school were when I first started offshore fishing, it typically we had few hook ups and depending on the school we even pushed them down on many ocassions. I am a firm believer of NOT running through the school, more times then not it hurts you, there are times where the bait is so thick that dragging through them will not effect the school or break it up, but why take the chance and lose out on a few more passes at the fish.

I'll second that.

[BTH284]

Make passes to the side and edge of the school staying angled in front of them as well as tighten my spread and let my baits fall in the clean water on my turns. Never run over or through them!

[joeksr]

I understand DO NOT run " the boat" thru them.
Breaks em up or sends em down.



If you ever towed a water skier you know how to circle the skier and bring the rope to him. Same could be done with a long bait or lure.
Run ahead, Circle and straighten out. Baits should go thru the school.
Do not bring the boat thru the school or bait, Bring the lure or bait thru the school.
Does this make any sense ?

[BTH284]

Makes sense to me but I think the predator fish would go after the bait separated from the main body that has been balled up and pick off the straglers IE your spread on each edge pass to bait ball or fish school