Withen the next day or two, I will attempt a "how to make" for lake trolls, with pics.  I use them a lot for lake trout, brown and rainbow trout.  They have also been used for walley and striper.  I am new to this and will appreciate responsible input and remarks to this thread.  So, join in on the fun and we will learn together how to make one of these boogers!

 

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

Ok professor.

You master me grasshopper.

Lifemember and Bushwacker SMF upstate NY

LAKE TROLLS

 

 

Lake trolls have been the backbone for lake trolling many years, and still are in many areas.  Commercially made lake trolls can be expensive but can be made at a fraction of the retail cost.  Their construction is rather simple and only takes a few tools.

 

Lake trolls consist of several spinner blades (3 to 7) spaced apart on a length of nylon coated stranded wire (12” to 60”) with a trolling rudder on the front end to ensure there is no line twist and a snap swivel on the rear for lure or leader attachment.  Let’s take a look at some of the tools we will need for our project.

 

Tools

 

I found that a good pair of wire cutters and a good quality crimper is needed.  I thought I would save myself some money and buy a pair of crimpers that were made in China.  After five trolls, Howard and I were ready to throw the crimpers in the trash…

 

Cable

 

The cable I used was uncoated, 7 strand downrigger cable.  The book recommends the use of nylon coated wire.

 

Trolling Rudder

 

 There are many size rudders that can be used and they can be found in plastic

 or metal.

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

Beads

 

 

There is a variety of beads that can be used; Metal or plastic, smooth or facetted.  I used smooth plastic for the trolls that I used sonic blades.  These blades do not require a clevis and I was concerned that the blade would become “stuck” on the bead facets.

 

Assorted Blades

 

 

The only restriction on blade type is your imagination!  On my trolls I used a size 7 blade. 

 

Snaps, Swivels & Sleeves, clevises

 

 

I used a combination of swivels without snaps and swivels with snaps.  You will need two types of crimps, single and double.  Most suppliers provide info concerning wire size and the proper size crimp.  Most of you will be using the coated wire (cable) and the clevis to be used is the folded clevis.  For all other bare wire (cable) you will use an easy spin clevis.  The difference is that the folded clevis will not damage the coated wire.

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

Assembling Lake Trolls

 

Begin by cutting a length of cable (coated or non-coated) a few inches longer than the desired finished length of your troll.  I already had a favorite commercially made lake troll so I used its length for my standard.

 

Next, attach a snap swivel to the wire using the correct size connection sleeve.  Now this is another area that I used a commercially made troll to determine where I want to have the blades located.  So, the next step would be to slide on another sleeve and crimp it where you want the first blade to stay.

 

Now you are ready to slide on your first blade.  Special care needs to be taken here to make sure that the blade is facing the correct direction when in place.  Slide a bead down the wire.  This helps as an attractor and a swivel point for your clevis.  Attach the blade to a clevis and slide it onto the cable, allowing it to settle against the bead (double check your direction of the blade at this point and at every location that you have a blade).  I should note here that a clevis is not required when using the sonic blade.  Add a couple of more beads and you are ready to place your next crimp, repeating the same process as the first crimp, beads and blade.

 

After the desired number of blades has been added, secure a barrel swivel to the wire, using a crimp and attach a split ring to the swivel and the rudder.  I should note here that the use of a split ring to attach the rudder allows for interchanging of the rudders to other trolls (you won’t have to buy so many).

 

Crimp Sleeve Chart

 

Size                                                                        Coated Wire Size

 

1        …………………………………………15 lb. test

2        …………………………………………20 lb. test

3        …………………………………………30 lb. test

4        ……………………………………Over 45 lb. test

 

Pictured below are some of my finished lake trolls.  I hope you have enjoyed this thread and I look forward to responsible comment AND some pics of your finished lake trolls! 

 

 

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

Pete they look great, now when you going back to Harvey's lake to test them out.

 

Lifemember and Bushwacker SMF upstate NY

Pete: Hate to be a pain, but why are you messin' with this crap during the fishing season? Hope you are doing this on rainy days! The only time I mess with tackle is when my boss doesn't have anything for me to do but won't let me leave or the weather won't let me fish. OTOH, what you are working on look like what I call Kokannee rigs. If you are useing these for salmon, let me know how they work. On another note, do you use hair jigs for Walleye? Saw a TV program about them today and started wondering. Tom
Fishin' fool in NE Illinois

These trolls I made when I was up to Kinger's place for our season opener.  I had promised to write this thread after I did the one on "inline spinners."  My next thread will be on "crawler harnesses", but I won't do that one until the end of fishing season.  The troll pictured below, I used to catch my brownie...

The spoon is nickle plated (both sides) which I put gold holographic tape on.  It was my first attempt with that troll & spoon!

 

I have only used hair jigs with minnows for walleye.  Most of my walleye I have caught on live bait.  I must say though that I am catching up using crankbaits!  These trolls work for brown trout and I will find out if they work for rainbow and lakers later on this year.

 

I have had enough time to write the lake troll thread because I have NOT had enough time to go fishing!  The honey do list was very big!  The kitchen is now finished and I am moving on to repairing the damage caused by a hawk that decided to fly through my porch screen door and wreck havok on my large screen pannels that surround the porch...I will be out soon!

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

TTT!

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa.

You did a great job with this "show and tell" topic Pete

 

I've been able to pick up a "troll" here and there in misc. Ebay purchases over the last few years....and found some on sale this summer on the Panther Martim website.

 

Still haven't had a chance to use them though....as with so MUCH of other things I have

Life Member David BB Linkmeister US Army '78-'85 West Central Wisconsin

Turnip. I hope you can get around to posting this again, sorry all the pics were lost. I did not see this post before and thought it looked interesting.

 

Brian