Trolling flies for freshwater

So last year I started really trying to learn as many of the different trolling techniques you can do with and without a downrigger and started experimenting with trolling different setups.  One that was pretty new to me was trying trolling flies for trout, which I only tried on a whim one day after watching a FHS video 

It was one of those days that I had trolled for several miles without a more than a small trout to bite that I started trying more variety of trolling techniques.  I put on a Sepps black wooly bugger on a standard dodger and started trolling it and about 10 mins later I'm pretty sure I hooked (then lost) the biggest trout of my life.  Unfortunately my leader broke right at my surgeons loop when I set the hook, so I know messed up that chance at a big fish   But this did inspire me to try trolling flies a lot more. 

Thing is I don't see a lot of people out there trolling flies or even really see trout trolling flies for sale at tackle shops.  If you do like trolling flies please comment on your favorite files and trolling techniques for them and where do you get them?  Have been having no luck at the fishing shops in the south bay and looking for somewhere I can stock up on them

Haven't done any fly trolling but if I did, I would give pistol pete's a shot:

https://www.pistolpeteflies.com/pistol-pete-flies-store-fly-selection

They have little propeller blades on the front. I'm sure they'd catch something.

I like the Artic Fox tube flies. it’s a trolling fly tied on a plastic tube, so you can rig any hook you want any way you want. Single? Sure. Doubles smelled like for Kokanee? Yup. Treble hook? Why not! Just don’t overpower the action of the fly with too much hook weight.

Jay Fair trolling flies are also nice. I just really prefer being able to customize my hook options with the tube flies.

Haven't done any fly trolling but if I did, I would give pistol pete's a shot:

https://www.pistolpeteflies.com/pistol-pete-flies-store-fly-selection

They have little propeller blades on the front. I'm sure they'd catch something.

Those are nice and I have some. I really like the smaller ones if the fish want tiny offerings. Sticking with the customization idea macs smile blades (loose) https://mackslure.com/collections/smile-blade are small propellers you can put in front of any lure you want. Like a 2.5 gulp minnow on a light wire Gamakatsu size 1 worm hook. Wait, nevermind, don’t do that it’s a terrible idea 

I also like the Artic Fox tube flies. I always have a rod rigged with them on my trips. Chartreuse, white and orange are my favorite colors. They work best for me on cloudy and slightly  windy days. On sale now
https://www.wigglefin.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=SFNT

http://www.trollingflies.com/ looks like just what I was hoping for!  Ty guys for the suggestions, keep em coming while i'm browsing 

I have bought from here in the past https://www.wigglefin.com/ with fast shipping. They have 20% off right now.

Great thread. Since everyone else already pointed out all of my favorite trolling flies as well as the action discs that are essential to impart action to the fly, I’ll just mention a few rigging suggestions.

Buy different size action discs and flies. Pre-rig a few different combinations and keep them on a foam tube. I use longer leaders more frequently than short ones, but having a range of leader lengths is a good idea too. I typically use 10lb flouro carbon and around 25-30” of leader line.

I also suggest you buy rubber bobber stops or the little plastic beads sold on the wiggle fin website. Having the disc right against the eye of the hook will create a very different action than having the disc an inch or two further up the leader and away from the eye. They will both work, but you want to have that flexibility to move the disc around creating different actions.

You can pair the flies with a sling blade or dodger for increased action, but I often run the flies without the blades, especially when “ripping” the bait. This is a tactic that can really improve your catch rate. At Almanor for example, in the springtime and early winter I look for shallow rocky shorelines and troll slowly and tight to shore. The rod needs to be in your hands instead of the rod holder, because every 5-10 seconds you are going to “rip” the rod forward and then let the tip go back towards the bait creating slack for a short period of time. The ripping action creates a wounded/fleeing baitfish look that works well for the trout.

If you pair that tactic with Cal Kellogg hybrid leadcore setup, you are now fishing the way many of the guides do. I love this setup for New Melones, Camanche and Almanor. When fishing Melones and Camanche I use Sepps grubs instead of trolling flies, but everything else is the same

Check out this thread if you are unfamiliar with the leadcore setup Kellogg did a write up on

http://www.norcalkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=94294.msg1092335#msg1092335
 
If you want to use scent, put it into the disc rather than the fly, then wipe off when packing up for the day.

Jay Fair Trolling Flies, a staple at Almanor and Eagle Lakes.

Those look great too!  Ty, now to send people money for things and wait 

Check out some of the cool offerings at Delta Bass Bugs. I am running sparkle bunnies.

Those sparkle bunnies look good on the jigs!  Also really liked the stained glass fish they have on the site, cool! Lots of good files there: https://deltabassbugs.com/

 

sparkle bunnies

Those sparkle bunnies look good on the jigs!  Also really liked the stained glass fish they have on the site, cool! Lots of good files there: https://deltabassbugs.com/

Their bobber and fly combos made me think Of pyramid lake. The ladder fly guys always seem to catch the biggest fish, I’d like to try a fly under a bobber with a depth stop on conventional tackle. 

Those sparkle bunnies look good on the jigs!  Also really liked the stained glass fish they have on the site, cool! Lots of good files there: https://deltabassbugs.com/

Their bobber and fly combos made me think Of pyramid lake. The ladder fly guys always seem to catch the biggest fish, I’d like to try a fly under a bobber with a depth stop on conventional tackle. 

I can tell you this will work!