Shadow cliffs 12/17

Sorry for the quick change of subject, but i've gotten skunked out there twice, once at horseshoe and once at Shadow Cliffs. So far i've been trying to troll what I think is referred to as "topline" style. No weights, just the lure and about 10yards of line from pole to lure out the back. Am i going about this all wrong or should there be more line like 40 yards between pole and lure? I kept my speed fairly low maybe 2mph. There were other guys hammering them out there supposedly doing the same "topline" technique.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

10 yards is way too short. i would go minimum 100 feet, upwards of 150-200 depending on how many other anglers you have to work around.  i troll around 1.7 all the way up to 2.5mph, changing speeds and constantly trying to figure out what the fish want.  change colors too.  Quarry and the cliffs are both ultra clear lakes so i try to keep my setbacks as far back as reasonably possible.  i don't really know how far back, its just...way back there.

also, some scent doesn't hurt. 

if you're fishing the cliffs, constantly scan the water surface for ripples or other activity.  the fish are often holding in places you never expect.  sometimes i find them out towards the swim area in 15 feet of water, other times right smack dab in the middle of the lake, other times along stanley and the corner.  I also don't like to troll there as much on a glassy flat day as the weeds end up being pretty bad, especially after a wind storm.

[/quote]10 yards is way too short. i would go minimum 100 feet, upwards of 150-200 depending on how many other anglers you have to work around.  i troll around 1.7 all the way up to 2.5mph, changing speeds and constantly trying to figure out what the fish want.  change colors too.  Quarry and the cliffs are both ultra clear lakes so i try to keep my setbacks as far back as reasonably possible.  i don't really know how far back, its just...way back there.

also, some scent doesn't hurt. 

if you're fishing the cliffs, constantly scan the water surface for ripples or other activity.  the fish are often holding in places you never expect.  sometimes i find them out towards the swim area in 15 feet of water, other times right smack dab in the middle of the lake, other times along stanley and the corner.  I also don't like to troll there as much on a glassy flat day as the weeds end up being pretty bad, especially after a wind storm.
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Thanks bmb!! I'll be sure to significantly lengthen the line next time and didn't even think of using my scents (duh). Don't fish for trout often but now that i have some idea of what to do i'll have to give it another shot.

Just to add, if you can do a few zigzag troll, I've caught a lot of fish on the turn. I troll as slow as 1.2mph depending on the lure. I rarely go faster than 2mph.

I had the afternoon off yesterday and hit Shadow Cliff for a few hours.  I got skunked.   

I tried all my tricks.

Had hopes of hitting the Cliffs today but was denied by the missus.

Second best thing, went shopping for fishing gear.  Love buying my own Christmas presents.

Going tomorrow morning to try some new methods and lures. If nothing works, Ill be out in the middle soaking powerbait.

I was there yesterday all so for sausage size trout that where all released.