Control Depth & Speed With This Tip
If you're an avid lake angler, you probably already know just how effective trolling can be when it comes to fooling trout on the fly. You've probably also had the same experience every stillwater enthusiast eventually has — you take a sharp turn, either on purpose or at the behest of a pesky wind gust, and a trout slams your offering as it whips through the water at seemingly warp speed.
It seems odd because trolling is typically best done at a fairly slow, steady pace. Why, then, are they suddenly enticed by a fly being ripped across the bow of your boat? Isn't it moving far too fast to present naturally?
In short, no. When your fly is moving in a straight line, it's presenting at its fastest to the trout. The shortest distance between two points is a straight line — your fly is taking the most direct route between Points A and B, which means it will be in the trout's sightline for a finite amount of time.
When you take a hard turn, your forward progress actually stops, and your momentum carries you into it. That causes your fly to pause, then arc through the water at a steady pace — showing the fish maximum movement without pulling the fly outside its feeding range. In other words, the fly takes a more circuitous route between Points A and B, extending its time in the trout's sightline.
You may also have noticed that resident trout in lakes tend to congregate around the edges, where the shoreline drops off into deeper water. These drop-offs provide cover and food, allowing fish to ambush prey from below as insects, crustaceans, and baitfish leave the relative safety of the shallows.
The "S" troll lets you re-create the circumstances that lead to those sharp-turn takes, while simultaneously providing the optimal presentation to target trout cruising the drop-offs for food. It's exceedingly simple — troll in an "S" shape out from shore and over the drop-off, then back in toward shore, and repeat.
Gear and Fly Patterns
The optimal "S" troll is best achieved with a full intermediate line, but can also be done with a floating line and a long tapered leader or a versileader tip. However, the intermediate line — fully underwater and unaffected by surface tension — better achieves the "pause" effect that makes your fly look most vulnerable and appealing to the fish.
Fishing the Wind
You can also employ a variation of the "S" troll on windy days. Simply position yourself so that you're trolling directly into the wind, then periodically let the wind rotate your boat or float tube back in the opposite direction. A gust of wind can actually provide a more natural rotation than a purposeful turn with your flippers or oars — I've caught countless trout on windy outings just letting the wind do most of the work.
Success in the wind is entirely dependent on a full intermediate line. This is a must-have in your arsenal before you tackle spring and summer on our local lakes, especially those high up on Mount Hood, where the breeze can really get going.
Fly Selection
On still, cooler days, you can "S" troll at super slow speeds using your favorite stillwater nymphs — hare's ears, pheasant tails, baetis, and chironomids. But if you're covering more ground, battling wind, or the trout are highly active, the "S" troll is best fished with a streamer pattern like a Wooly Bugger or Sculpzilla.
Want to learn more advanced stillwater techniques? Book a half or full day with one of our guides on the water.