What Is Trolling in Fishing A Legendary Guide

When you hear the term “trolling” in a fishing context, it’s not about online arguments—it’s about a tried-and-true method for catching big fish, perfected by sportfishing legends like Ed and Frank Murray. Put simply, trolling is the art of dragging lures or baited lines through the water from a moving boat, a technique the Murray Brothers elevated into a high-stakes art form during their dominance of saltwater sportfishing tournaments.

Think of it as actively hunting, not just passively waiting. This technique lets you cover a massive amount of water, putting your presentation in front of far more fish than you could by just casting from a single spot.

The Art Of The Moving Hunt

Imagine you’re looking for a friend in a huge, crowded park. You could stand still and hope they wander past, or you could start walking the paths, systematically searching for them. Trolling is the fishing version of that second, more proactive approach.

It’s a dynamic strategy that turns the entire lake or ocean into your playing field. This is a method that was perfected over decades by sportfishing legends like Ed and Frank Murray, who built their careers on mastering trolling in the highly competitive saltwater tournament scene.

This technique really shines in offshore saltwater fishing, where big game species like marlin, tuna, and wahoo roam vast stretches of open water. By keeping the boat moving, you aren't just waiting for fish to find your bait; you're actively taking the bait to them. The constant motion of a trolled lure perfectly mimics the look of fleeing prey, triggering an aggressive, instinctive strike from predators they just can't resist.

If you're new to this style of fishing, you can learn more about its unique challenges and rewards in our guide explaining what is offshore fishing.

Trolling transforms fishing from a game of patience into a game of strategy. Success isn't just about being in the right place; it's about speed, depth, and presentation—a calculated science the Murray Brothers mastered.

To give you a clearer picture, here’s a quick breakdown of what makes trolling work.

Trolling at a Glance Key Concepts

Component	Description	Purpose
Moving Boat	The boat moves at a consistent, slow speed (1-10 knots).	Covers more water and imparts action to the lures.
Lures/Bait	Artificial lures or natural baits are set behind the boat.	Simulates fleeing prey to attract predatory fish.
Line & Depth	Lines are let out to specific distances and depths.	Targets fish at different levels in the water column.
Spreader Bars	Multiple lines are often run at once using outriggers.	Creates a larger "school of bait" presentation.

This table shows how each element comes together to create a powerful and effective fishing system.

While trolling is a go-to for sport anglers chasing species like tuna and salmon, it’s also a surprisingly sustainable commercial method. Commercial troll fishing makes up only about 1.3% of the annual global tuna catch and is praised for its incredibly low bycatch rates. This combination of effectiveness and selectivity is exactly why trolling has cemented its place in sportfishing history.

The Murray Brothers: A Legacy Forged by Trolling

To really get what trolling is all about, you have to look past the dictionary definition and dive into the history of the sport. And when you do, you’ll find the story of trolling is tied directly to two legends: Ed and Frank Murray. Their names are practically synonymous with big-game fishing, not just because they loved it, but because they turned trolling into a high-stakes art form that dominated saltwater sportfishing tournaments for decades.

For years, the Murray Brothers weren't just names on the saltwater tournament circuit—they were the circuit. They didn't just show up to compete; they consistently won, building a reputation as true innovators on the water. Their success wasn't about luck or some secret fishing hole. It was built on an almost scientific mastery of one powerful technique: trolling.

From Passion to Legendary Status

The Murrays understood that trolling was far more than dragging a lure behind a moving boat. To them, it was a calculated hunt that demanded absolute control over boat speed, lure depth, and the overall presentation. They were constantly experimenting with different lure patterns, or "spreads," to create the perfect illusion of a bait school that big predators just couldn't resist.

Their journey from passionate fishermen to celebrated champions is a huge part of sportfishing history and a perfect example of how obsession and strategy create greatness.

The Murray Brothers proved that with the right technique, trolling isn't just a method of fishing—it's the most effective way to target and land the ocean's most formidable game fish. Their legacy is a testament to the power of a perfectly executed troll.

In the cutthroat world of saltwater tournaments, their groundbreaking strategies always gave them an edge. Stories from their biggest wins often come down to one small adjustment—a tiny change in speed, a different lure in the spread, or a new way of reading the water. These details, sharpened over thousands of hours of competitive fishing, are what put them in a class of their own.

The Art of the Winning Strategy

They viewed their boat and tackle as a single, fine-tuned system built for one thing: getting fish to strike. Their winning formula came down to a few key elements:

• Speed Control: They mastered the subtle art of adjusting boat speed to make their lures "swim" with the most irresistible, lifelike action.
• Strategic Spreads: They designed intricate lure patterns that covered different depths and positions in the water column all at once.
• Reading the Water: They knew how to adapt their trolling patterns on the fly based on currents, water color, and any sign of baitfish.

Throughout their incredible careers, Ed and Frank Murray completely changed how people thought about trolling. They took it from a basic tactic and elevated it into a sophisticated strategy, proving just how deadly effective it could be at the highest levels of competitive fishing. Their story shows that mastering trolling is really about understanding the ocean and the instincts of the fish you're after.

Assembling Your Trolling Arsenal: The Essential Gear

Ed and Frank Murray were masters of their craft, and a huge part of that was knowing their tools inside and out. A successful trolling setup isn't just a random assortment of gear; it's a finely-tuned system. Every single piece, from the rod tip to the lure, has a specific job to do.

The ultimate goal? To make your lures look like a natural, easy meal for a predator. Think of it as creating an irresistible school of baitfish right behind your boat.

The heart of any trolling system is the right combo of rods and reels. Trolling rods are a different breed from your typical casting rod. They're longer and have more flex to absorb the violent shock of a big fish hitting your lure at speed. These are paired with high-capacity reels—usually conventional or line-counter models—that can spool hundreds of yards of line, which you'll definitely need when letting lures way, way back.

Spreading the Lines for Success

To really pull off that "school of baitfish" illusion, you need to spread your lines out. This is where you go from just dragging a couple of lures to presenting a professional-looking spread. The Murrays knew this simple truth: a wider presentation puts your lures in front of more fish. Simple as that.

Here's the gear that makes it happen:

• Outriggers: Picture these as long arms extending from the sides of your boat. These poles let you run lines far out from the boat's wake, giving you a much wider, more enticing spread and preventing nasty tangles when you make a turn.
• Downriggers: These are your secret weapon for targeting deep fish. A downrigger uses a heavy weight on a cable to pull your lure down to a very specific depth and keep it there. It's a game-changer when fish are holding deep and won't come up to the surface.
• Planer Boards: Think of these as little water skis for your fishing line. They zip out to the side of the boat, pulling your lures with them. They're a fantastic way to get that horizontal separation, especially on smaller boats that don't have outriggers.

The Modern Tech Advantage

Of course, technology has brought some incredible tools into the mix. Precision boat control, for instance, has been completely transformed by specialized trolling motors. It's no wonder the global boat trolling motor market was valued at USD 1.25 billion and continues to grow. Anglers are always looking for that extra edge.

From the foundational rods and reels to the high-tech gadgets, every component has to work in harmony. To dive deeper into picking the right equipment, take a look at our complete guide on the best saltwater fishing gear.

Getting your gear dialed in is the first real step toward mastering the trolling techniques that made the Murray Brothers legends on the water.

Mastering the Murray Method: Key Trolling Techniques

For sportfishing legends Ed and Frank Murray, trolling wasn't just dragging lures behind a boat; it was a science. They knew having the right gear was only half the battle. The real secret, the thing that won them countless saltwater tournaments, was knowing precisely how to put that gear to work. Their legacy is built on a few core techniques that any angler can adopt to dramatically improve their results.

The absolute cornerstone of their strategy was boat speed. This is probably the single most important factor when you're trolling. The Murrays understood that a lure’s action—its wobble, its dart, its flash—is a direct result of how fast you pull it. They were constantly tweaking their speed, watching their lures boat-side to make sure they were swimming just right, with that natural, irresistible motion that makes a predator smash the bait.

This visual guide breaks down how all the essential gear works together to make these techniques possible.

As you can see, rods, spreader gear, and lures aren't separate items; they're an interconnected system. The magic happens when you get every piece working in harmony to create a deadly effective trolling presentation.

Creating the Perfect Spread

The Murrays were absolute masters of the "spread"—a carefully plotted pattern of lures set at various distances and depths. This was never a haphazard affair. It was a strategic presentation meant to perfectly imitate a scattered school of baitfish, covering multiple zones in the water column at once to maximize your odds.

Their thinking was beautifully simple: give the fish a bunch of different targets at different depths. Something is bound to catch their eye.

"You're painting a picture for the fish," Frank Murray often said. "Every lure is a brushstroke. The goal is to create a scene so real and so tempting that a marlin or a wahoo has no choice but to attack."

Adapting to Conditions and Species

True expertise isn't about having one perfect setup; it's about knowing how to adapt. The Murrays knew that what works for wahoo won't necessarily work for marlin, and they adjusted their entire approach based on their target.

• For Wahoo: They’d often push the speed up to 10-12 knots, sometimes even faster. This meant using heavy, high-speed lures that could track straight without tumbling.
• For Marlin: They might slow the boat down and pull big, noisy teasers to raise the fish and bring them right into the spread.

Beyond just the target species, they read the water and weather like detectives. They paid close attention to water clarity, currents, and even the angle of the sun, knowing it all influenced fish behavior. On an overcast day, they might switch to darker lures to create a stronger silhouette. In crystal-clear water, they’d almost always opt for natural, lifelike patterns. It was this constant observation and willingness to adapt their trolling techniques on the fly that made them so consistently successful.

So, what's the secret sauce that makes trolling such a killer technique for legendary anglers like Ed and Frank Murray? It’s not just one thing. It's a smart blend of efficiency, strategy, and a real understanding of what makes a predator tick.

At its heart, trolling is a numbers game. It's all about covering water—a massive advantage when fish are spread out across a huge lake or miles of open ocean.

Instead of casting and hoping a fish swims by, you're actively taking the hunt to them. Trolling lets you systematically comb through different depths and zones, putting your lure in front of way more fish than you ever could sitting in one spot. It’s a proactive game that stacks the odds in your favor.

The Art of Triggering a Strike

The real magic of trolling is how it taps directly into a fish's hardwired predator instincts. A lure pulled through the water at the right speed looks exactly like a panicked or wounded baitfish.

That steady, rhythmic motion triggers a powerful, deep-seated reaction in game fish like marlin, wahoo, and tuna. They're built to chase and crush anything that looks like an easy meal.

Trolling works because it speaks the language of predators. The speed, wobble, and flash of a well-presented lure create an illusion of life that fish simply can't resist.

This method also gives you an incredible amount of control. With tools like downriggers and planer boards, you can put your lures exactly where you need them, targeting fish suspended anywhere in the water column with pinpoint precision. That level of control is what turns a good day on the water into a great one.

The Big Three: Why Trolling Dominates

When you boil it all down, trolling's success rests on three huge advantages that have made it a cornerstone of sportfishing:

• Covering Ground: No other method lets you explore massive stretches of water so quickly and thoroughly.
• Pinpoint Depth Control: You can target fish holding at any specific depth, whether they're just below the surface or hugging the bottom.
• Incredibly Versatile: The technique works for just about any species in any body of water, from freshwater walleye to giant bluefin tuna.

This effectiveness is a big reason why the overall fishing market keeps growing. It's projected to expand at a 6.3% compound annual growth rate and hit $769.7 billion by 2029. Modern gear like GPS-guided trolling motors and advanced fish finders have made the technique even more potent, giving today's anglers an edge that legends like the Murrays could only dream of.

If you're interested in the market side of things, you can dive deeper by checking out the full fishing industry report.

Common Trolling Questions Answered

Even when you've got the right gear and a solid plan, questions always pop up once you're on the water. If you're new to trolling, you'll probably run into the same handful of challenges we all did—from finding the perfect speed to keeping multiple lines from becoming a bird's nest. We're leaning on decades of on-the-water experience here, much of it pioneered by sportfishing legends like Ed and Frank Murray, to answer the questions we hear most.

Think of this as your troubleshooting guide, straight from the pros. Every angler, including the Murrays, learned through trial and error. This advice is meant to shorten your learning curve, so you can spend less time fixing mistakes and more time fighting fish.

What Is the Best Speed for Trolling?

There's no single magic number for trolling speed. It all comes down to the fish you're targeting and, most importantly, the action of your lure. The Murray Brothers always treated speed as the main way to make a lure come alive.

A great place to start is right next to the boat. Before you let your lines out, watch your lure in the water. You want it to have a natural, enticing wobble—it shouldn't be spinning out of control or looking dead in the water.

The golden rule from Ed and Frank was simple: "Let the lure tell you how fast to go." If it looks right, it probably is.

As a general guideline, think in these ranges:

• Slower Speeds (1-3 knots): This is often the sweet spot for live bait and species like salmon or lake trout, where you need a more subtle presentation.
• Faster Speeds (6-12+ knots): Aggressive hunters like wahoo and tuna often hit lures moving at high speeds. It triggers a reaction strike they can't resist, and high-speed lures are built to run true in this range.

How Do I Keep My Lines from Tangling?

Keeping your lines from tangling is all about separation, both side-to-side and up-and-down. The Murrays were masters of running complex, multi-line spreads in big-money tournaments, and they did it by following a strict deployment order.

Always set your longest and deepest lines first. Then, work your way in toward the boat, setting the shorter and shallower lines last. This creates a clean, organized V-shape in the water that minimizes crossovers.

And when you turn, make it a wide, gradual arc. Sharp turns are a recipe for disaster. The inside lines will slow down and sink while the outside lines speed up and swing wide, creating the perfect storm for a tangled mess.

Can I Effectively Troll Without Outriggers?

Absolutely. Outriggers are a fantastic tool for spreading your lines out wide, but they are definitely not a requirement for a great day of trolling. You can be incredibly successful with a simple two-to-four-rod setup running straight from your boat’s rod holders.

A great starting point is to run two "flat lines" straight off the corners of your stern, setting them at different distances. If you want to mix up the depths, you can use a diving plug on one rod and an inline trolling weight on another. This simple approach is more than enough to catch plenty of fish and is the perfect way to learn what is trolling in fishing.

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