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{{Short description|The practice of fishing by drawing a baited line or lure behind a boat}}{{distinguish|Trawling}}{{use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}File:Trolling drawing.jpg|thumb|upright=1.7|Artist's conception of tuna trolling operation, using outriggers to tow multiple trolling lines and give the appearance of schooling fish]]Trolling is a method of fishing where one or more fishing lines, baited with lures or bait fish, are drawn through the water at a consistent, low speed. This may be behind a moving boat, or by slowly winding the line in when fishing from a static position, or even sweeping the line from side-to-side, e.g. when fishing from a jetty. Trolling is used to catch pelagic fish such as salmon, mackerel and kingfish.In American English, trolling can be phonetically confused with trawling, a different method of fishing where a net (trawl) is drawn through the water instead of lines. Trolling is used both for recreational and commercial fishing whereas trawling is used mainly for commercial fishing.Trolling from a moving boat involves moving quite slowly through the water. This can be accomplished with the use of a special trolling motor. Multiple lines are often used, and outriggers can be used to spread the lines more widely and reduce their chances of tangling. Downriggers can also be used to keep the lures or baits trailing at a desired depth.

Line-spreading trolling devices

File:Trolling for bluefish2.jpg|thumb|upright=1.4| {{center|"Trolling for blue fish" lithographby Currier & IvesCurrier & Ives

Outriggers

Outriggers are poles which allow a boat to troll several lines in the water without tangling. A boat which trolls enough lines can simulate a school of fish.Ettingshausen A (2006) Fishing for Beginners Page 143. Pan Macmillan Australia. {{ISBN|978-1-4050-3749-5}}Slatter SO Outrigger assembly United States Patent 6668745, issued 2003.Francis ER Fishing lure for simulated feeding {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926210112weblink{{!}}schooling{{!}}shoal{{!}}shoaling%20outrigger%20%20troll{{!}}trolling&f=false |date=26 September 2011 }} Patent number: 4858370, issued 22 August 1989.

Downrigger

Downrigger are devices used while trolling to keep a bait or lure at the desired depth. In practice, fish swim at different depths according to factors such as the temperature and amount of light in the water, and the speed and direction of water currents.Moritz AJL Trolling line sinkers {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926210122weblink{{!}}trolling%20fish{{!}}fishing&f=false |date=26 September 2011 }} Patent number: 2645053, Issued: July 1953. A downrigger consists of a one or two metre horizontal pole which supports a weight, typically about three kilograms of lead, on a steel cable. A clip called a "line release" attaches the fishing line to the weight, and the bait or lure is attached to the release. The fishing line is reeled in by a spool powered either by manual cranking or by an electric motor.Schultz 2009, p. 219–220. Using a downrigger can be hazardous. For example, man-made reservoirs can contain submerged trees and other structures beneath the surface which downriggers can snag.{{Cn|date=March 2021}}

Paravanes

"Paravanes" (underwater kites) are sometimes used as depth controlling devices,Larson W Trolling depth controller {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926210126weblink{{!}}trolling%20fish{{!}}fishing&f=false |date=26 September 2011 }} Patent number 4486970, issued 11 December 1984. particularly in commercial tuna fishing operations. These kites have various shapes, such as arrowhead paravanes, flexi-wing paravanes, and bi-wing paravanes.WEB,weblink Tuna Fishing an Underwater Bait Setting Device, fishing.sh, 2015-08-31, The devices can place the lure or bait at designated depths and positions; and in this way multiple devices can be towed at the same time without the devices and bait interfering with each other.WEB,weblink Patent US2914884 - Trolling device - Google Patents, 2015-08-31,

Spreaders

"Spreaders" allow multiple baited hooks or lures to be trolled from a single line. There are many inventive spreader designs, such as devices which cause the baited hooks or lures to move in helical patterns, in a sophisticated emulation of the schooling behaviour of a group of fish.Barnett OL Rotating fishing lure spreader for use while trolling {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926210144weblink |date=26 September 2011 }} Patent number 4920687, Issued 1 May 1990.

Planer boards

"Planer boards" are trolled devices designed to spread fishing lures out away from the fishing vessel. They allow multiple lines to be trolled. They come in dual board and inline board designs. Dual board designs consist of two boards that are spaced apart and attached by a line to a mast near the front of the boat with a separate fishing line in a spring tension release clip that separates when the fishing line is set. Inline boards are attached directly to the fishing line and a spring tension clip that releases upon setting or tripping the planer board so it slides down the fishing line to a swivel tied several feet in front of the lure. Inlines are popular with walleye and wahoo