"Backtrolling Question"

[bripow]

Is there a consensus definition of backtrolling? While doing some research online tonight I came across many different definitions. I always referred to backtrolling as trolling back into the current (upstream) to offset the slower moving undercurrent thereby allowing you to keep your lines vertical when jigging for instance.

[Ed Michrina]

Back tolling is just another tool that should be used at times. on the river larger boats and river boats can back troll 3 ways , to slow the boat but not make it go up current. Most boats with rear trolling or kicker motors are back trolling to keep the jig vertical. lake fisherman back troll to gain control, following a weed bed or drop off. I have also used it in extreme winds on the lake where I wanted to just drift. It keeps the boat (Back side) even with the wind making the boat (role) livable and slows the drift enough to get fish. There are 100 other uses to back troll.

[FishTales]

Is there a consensus definition of backtrolling?
Backtrolling is just what it says, trolling the boat backwards, transom first.
Backtrolling is used more or less to follow bottom contours, since your transducer is at the back of the boat and you get faster notification of changes in depth / bottom structure.

I always referred to backtrolling as trolling back into the current (upstream) to offset the slower moving undercurrent thereby allowing you to keep your lines vertical when jigging for instance.
Trolling to offset the undercurrent to keep your line straight up/down, is Vertical Jigging. This is commonly done with a bow mount trolling motor.
Rich

[five more casts]

I agree with Fish Tales. especially with a small boat with a transom mounted trolling motor, control is important for holding structure. splash guards were made to keep waves from coming over the back. more boats now have bow mounted electric trolling motors. it's always easier to pull a boat into the wind instead of pushing it. with the motor mounted in the back, it can be pretty hard to keep a heading into the wind.

[sfw1960]

I made my own wave-whackers & I like goin' "backwards"!!!
http://pages.pathwaynet.com/%7Esfw1960/SFW1.jpg

Gotta see what's under the transducer!!!

:D R :D