pop gear and a worm...pictures added

[Bluedog]

I used to use Les Davis bolo flexi troll's when I lived out west in Utah. We would run a 18 inch mono leader behind the trolls with half of a nite crawler on it....the fish slammed it, every lake I tried it on, big or small they just hammered it and it was a lot of fun fishing....

here is my dilema, now I live in Pennsylvania and I haven't fished here yet, but do you think that the same method would work back east here like it did out west? I have a tacklebox full of different "pop gear" and some spinners and that is pretty much it. The folks I ask about trolling for trout here, just look at me funny and go..."Huh?" There are also some lakers where I will be trying it out, as well as 'bows and browns.

Do ya'all think this method of fishing will be effective here or do I need to learn how the locals git r done?

Thanks for your help

[LongLine]

BD

Huh? :roll:

I'm not from Pa, but if legal to use 2 rods, I'd find out how the locals do it & rig one up that way...then rig the other the "western" way & try it. I'd guess Lakers would go for it & you just might show the locals a thing or two.

BTW, welcome to the board.

Tom B.

(LongLine)

[Bluedog]

Thanks for the welcome. I am thinking about trying the dipsy divers as well, before I spend the loot on the downriggers. My understanding is that controlled depth trolling is the most efficient. Dipsy's are better than lead core, but the riggers are the way to go....is that close? Anyway, I wish I could get anyone to speak up about trolling....anyone?

[L&M]

Blued: Welcome to the site. There is a ton of info here. Just take the time to go thru it & go from there. But pop-gear and a worm? Tell us more. Mayby Ray kn's more about it as well.

[LongLine]

My understanding is that controlled depth trolling is the most efficient.

BD - I don't know anyone that would argue with that. Rig'rs are expensive but IMO are the way to go. You might find something on e-bay. As L&M said checkout the last few pages of the site. Also checkout the Article section.

Tom B.

(LongLine)

[Dance the Tides]

BLUEDOG,

That rig is popular in the Adirondack Mountain lakes for rainbows and browns. Another one is a Lake Clear Wobbler with a nite crawler. I haven't heard anyone admit to using them on Lake Ontario.

[fishman08]

If i remember right a walleye fisherman said he caught 2 kings with worm harnesses while fishing for walleyes at the bar last year during a tourny.

[Bluedog]

Using the pop gear and worm method is pretty much the only way I even fish out of a boat....but I am in new territory...so I dont know if it will work here, I guess I'll find out. I wish I had a camera to capture the stupified look on the locals face when I ask them where the "lake trolls" or "pop gear" is located in the store....it's almost as if I am speaking a whole different language...infreakincredible I tell ya. I guess it is a good thing there is ebay or online stores....sure dont want to run out of the magic lake trolls...

I also use dodgers with lead core line.....and a worm about 2 feet behind it on a treble, and we only use half of the worm, and take a small crochet needle and thread it on the hook....awesome system, ya'all oughta try it sometime and let me know how it works in your part of the country.

[LIQUID PLUMBER]

What part of Pa. are you from? Before I got bit buy the big lake bug I would catch fish on a rig like you are saying in Pa. locals call them Christmas trees. I also would do good with small disk divers and small spoons.

DEL

[Absolut40]

Can you explain what a christmas tree rig looks like?I fish a lake in susquehanna county and they use these rigs there but i have yet to see what one looks like.I was thinking maybe something similiar to a "school of minnows" rig but im not sure.Any help would be appreciated.

[Bluedog]

South Central PA....York County to be exact. I just won some ford fenders and some slim jims on ebay....gonna try them out this weekend. To me the ideaology is pretty sweet, the lake trolls really work well no matter where you fish them, I think it's more of a thing of keeping a system that works for you....les davis bolo trolls, brass, with the red and black dots in the middle....18 inches behind the gear....put a worm on a treble, and I will kiss your behind if you cant catch a bunch of trout with that combo in any water....and i know it works....cause I aint kissin nobody's behind!

[Bluedog]

Here's a picture of my son with 6 rainbows we caught here in south central PA today. I wont say we were the only ones catching fish, but we were sure getting some funny looks from the locals when they saw the pop gear coming in ahead of the fish....had a great time, cant wait to go again. Now I still dont understand why the folks around here dont use it....just blows me away.

[muskybob]

Got any pics of the set-up? I'd like to see it.

[Bluedog]

I will put a picture up tomorrow for you to see. It has worked in every lake I have used it, they slam it and can't seem to resist it...don't know what it is, but it works.

[Edd]

.....Now I still dont understand why the folks around here dont use it....just blows me away.

Well Dog, I fish out West, mainly 'cause I live out here, and we quit using that 'POP' gear because there is TOO much drag. We may take the same set of long flashers and attach them to the rigger weight and call it a 'Ball Troll', but after the hook-up we only fight the fish. They do work. I used them for many years b-4 purchasing my first pair of riggers. It is a real treat to fight only the fish, and, you don't experience as many LDR's.

It's like anything else......if it keeps a working, keep using it.

Edd

[Bluedog]

I can appreciate what you are saying Edd, my main point being however that you cant even buy the stuff here, in any sporting goods store I have been to.

THEY DONT KNOW WHAT IT IS!

So I guess the question is, have they already tried it and ruled it out as an effective means of catching trout, and have moved on to more efficient means and methods? Who knows...I just wish I could find some more pop gear at a decent price, cause I sure like using it, ad it has always seemed to work well for me....and it is a fun way to fish....and the DRAG....heck that is part of the fun! Have a good one!

[Edd]

You can get whatever you want from Cabela's or Fisherman's Warehouse on-line catalogs. It's not 'if' you can get what you want, it's 'when' will you get what you want. But all that stuff is still available.

Edd

[stinger]

Hay `dog. As others have mentioned it sounds like your using lake troll/christmas tree rig/etc or similiar. Post a picture of what your using and take a mystery :? out of it. Just maybe we have a different name for it and someone may be able to point you in the right direction but by the sounds of it if they are not in your local shops then you'll have to mail order. We've made some various riggs using smaller willow leaf blades to try and reduce the drag but it just wasn't my bag so they only got used once.

Those riggs do catch fish but I for one don't like pulling them `cause of draaaaag. I like to move along and those riggs are for sloooow-troll and is fine on smaller bodies of water. Dodgers & flashers also catch fish and that is about all the drag I really want to put up with.

[Bluedog]

Here is a couple pictures, my camera isnt the best but you get the idea...

[Bluedog]

by the way I like the dodgers too...but the pop gear is king in my book....just an opinion ya know...

[LongLine]

BD - East of the Mississippi & way North of the Mason Dixon line "we calls dem cowbells." (just playing...but we do refer to them as "cowbells") They should be available all over the place under that name. I know some shops around here have them. Quite popular on the upper lakes. Used mostly for Lake Trout. I'm pretty sure some money fish have been caught on them in past LOC derbies.

Here's a popular site for them.

http://www.lakemichiganangler.com/store ... Trolls.htm

Tom B.

(LongLine)

[stinger]

OK `dog-y, now you have everyones attention. So.....a rose by any other name is still a rose....right. Pop Gear, Lake Troll, Cow Bells.....all the same.

Here is a picture of one of the rigs I made up :shock: but it just didn't pull all that well.. :? .......

............the stand is just to hold the cow bells for picture takein' if you know what I mean .

PS: I'm on my second glass of wine now so don't get mad at me...OK . Just having a little fun

[Bluedog]

now them look like some serious cowbells there....and let the record show....Bluedog never gets mad, and actually enjoys it when someone out there in cyberworld actually has a sense of humor....very refreshing. So I am going to have to start looking for "cowbells" around here then....dang, and I though my bullridin' days were over.....after the broken wrist I just never could quite hold on just right anymore....and that was the last time I saw a "cowbell"......sold the rope and the home made cowbell for 50 bucks after that rodeo and never looked back....

[LongLine]

Hitting the hooch again huh Stinger? :roll: Here's what Bill Saiff said about them. He also predicted a rise in popularity as the water gets cleaner.

http://lakeontariooutdoors.com/archives ... akers.html

Tom B.

(LongLine)

[Bluedog]

going for some brookies and some rainbows this weekend, at a lake that I haven't fished in 26 years....cant wait to get back there and throw some pop gear and a worm at em in my mighty 12 foot sun dolphin....with my heavy duty 2 hp trolling motor....you know...the heavy duty rig! Woo-Hoo!!!!!!