5 Common Trolling Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
Top 5 Mistakes Anglers Make When Trolling for Salmon (And How to Fix Them)
Trolling for salmon can be one of the most rewarding ways to fish — but it’s also one of the easiest to get wrong. Whether you’re on the Great Lakes, the Pacific Northwest, or chasing deep-water kings anywhere in between, here are five common mistakes that could be costing you fish… and how to fix them.
1. Running Too Fast (or Too Slow)
The Mistake: Many anglers assume faster means more action — but salmon can be incredibly speed-sensitive. Troll too fast, and your lure looks unnatural. Too slow, and it doesn’t get noticed.
The Fix: Dial in your speed based on your lure type and water temp. For flashers or spoons with action, 2.0–2.5 mph is often ideal. Watch your rod tips for proper vibration. And when in doubt, make wide S-turns to vary speed naturally.
2. Poor Visibility at Depth
The Mistake: Water clarity, algae blooms, and depth all work against you. Many anglers don’t realize how invisible their lures become past 40 feet — especially in stained water.
The Fix: Add UV-reflective and glow elements to your spread. These penetrate murky or deep water where traditional color disappears. Lures that combine both — like ours — give you a major edge, especially on overcast days or late in the season.
3. Not Leveraging Bioelectric Signals
The Mistake: Most salmon anglers rely only on sight and scent, ignoring how fish actually hunt.
The Fix: Predatory fish like salmon use electroreception to detect faint electrical signals from wounded baitfish. Lures that emit a mild charge (like the natural .65v bioelectric signal) can trigger strikes even when visibility is low. This is why some anglers swear their catch rate doubles with charged lures.
4. Ignoring Lure Action at Depth
The Mistake: You test your lure’s action next to the boat… but what happens at 60 feet? Downriggers and current pressure can change everything.
The Fix: Drop a GoPro on your downrigger ball or do test drops. Make sure your lure still kicks or rolls properly under pressure. Choose gear that holds its action at depth — many UV-glow spoons and hoochies flatten out if your gear isn’t dialed in.
5. Not Adjusting to Light Conditions
The Mistake: Running the same colors and patterns all day — especially as the sun moves — limits your chances.
The Fix: In low light, use glow and UV-heavy patterns. Midday in clear water, switch to natural or high-contrast colors. And don’t forget to mix up lure size — salmon often hit larger baits early or late in the day, and smaller baits when the sun is high.
Bonus Tip: Keep a Log
Want to consistently catch more fish? Log your conditions — speed, lure type, depth, water temp, clarity, and time of day. Over time, you’ll see patterns that help you dial in your spread fast.
Final Thoughts
Trolling for salmon doesn’t have to be complicated — but it does require attention to detail. By avoiding these common mistakes and optimizing your setup with visibility, charge, and action in mind, you’ll increase your hookup rate and start catching fish that others miss.
Looking to upgrade your spread with UV + glow + bioelectric lures? Explore our collection — they’re engineered to trigger strikes in tough conditions.