Thread: Return of the clothespin rig

I have fished the piers since the early 1950's, mostly at Gulf Shores but also in other parts of the country as I have moved around. I like Gulf Shores the best of all and generally find the people to be the best and most friendly and helpful to each other. Over the years I have seen more disagreements and fusses associated with Trolley fishing than on all the other subjects combined. I personally think the Gulf Shores pier regulations are the best of any with which I am familiar and I would hate to see Trolley fishing come back. I have seen some pretty nasty arguments involving people who think a certain piece of a pier is their TURF and most of these arguments have involved Trolley Fishing.

The only time I've ever used a trolley, maybe on the old pier about thirty years ago (or it could have been in Florida), it was because there were high winds out of the East and the East side of the pier was unusable for anything but bottom fishing.

Personally, I wouldn't use a trolley for any other reason than to hold a live bait upwind, but they are useful for that.

While we are on the subject I would like to ask a question.

Is a single-pole rig with the hook and float sliding above a sinker (say 4 oz pyramid or one of those jobs with spikes) considered a "trolley" by the rules or do they only apply to double pole rigs?

Originally Posted by T-wagon

It just seems wrong to me to get a strike from a trolley rig, leave a set line in the water behind you, and expect everyone to clear the way for you to fight and land your fish. To me, a trolley rig says, "Hey, everybody, I don't care about you!" It would be fair to me if everyone else threw out a weighted line and let you fight your fish around it. When you yell, "Comin' down!", they can say, "We don't care about you, either."

I presume you imagine that only considerate, accomplished anglers will set out trolley rigs. Good luck with that.

I envision a handful of grumpy guys playin' cards and yellin' at people not to fish around their rigs. Once they attach a trolley rod to the rail, they think they own the spot. I like the idea of trolley rig fishing very much, if I just think of myself, and I have the only trolley. It just seems so obviously unfair and inconsiderate to everyone else. If you let a bunch of people do it, then you've got Jacksonville Pier. Sixteen stations. Stay away from the trolley rigs. Deal the cards. My humble opinion is, if you want to attach gear to the rail and leave a set line out, build your own pier.

I quit snobbling just a little early before sunset at PCB City Pier the other evening, because the shark fishermen had set out their baits. If I had gotten a twilight king, it could have gotten into their expensive set lines in the dim light and been a mess, like trolley fishing. I don't think trolley fishing can coexist well with free-lined baits. One style or the other will prevail. Good luck with it, whatever you decide to do.

How do you think we fish at EVERY place in the bay that we fish for larger species? We set out a weighted rig with live bait or big chunks of mullet

I think If everyone would quit whining about trolleys and both sides get along then there would not be an issue. The pier can function with both parties. We are all adults for the most part. I know a few guys that fish a trolley and they are the nicest guys in the world.

My concern is only for methods employed at the six Emerald Coast piers. I understand other places use other methods. People throw out weighted lines off the ends of Emerald Coast piers, too, sometimes. They don't know any better, or don't care. Sometimes there's a rule against it. They don't care about that, either, sometimes. My opinion is just my own opinion: pier anglers at Emerald Coast piers should not be permitted to secure rods or lines to the railing. Trolley rigs should not be permitted. Just one opinion. I'll have to adapt to whatever rules and methods should happen to be in effect. For example, fish cleaning is not permitted on Florida piers. That's convenient for game wardens. It's bad for pier fishing and pier anglers, but that's the rule. I don't like it, but I abide by it.

Originally Posted by Dselrod

I think If everyone would quit whining about trolleys and both sides get along then there would not be an issue. The pier can function with both parties. We are all adults for the most part. I know a few guys that fish a trolley and they are the nicest guys in the world.

Expressing your opinion is not whining. We can disagree without being disagreeable, and get along in spite of our differing opinions. I think trolley rigs are fun to fish; I just think they are a bad idea on the six main Emerald Coast piers. I think people will eventually find that out, but it remains to be seen.

The rumored, speculated, trial-run (whatever you want to call it) idea is to allow trolleys north of the ocatagon. Most everyone who free-lines and snobbles does so off the octagon at the end. So why all the fuss over the trolleys? They wouldn't be in the way of the free-liners and snobblers. Plus we're only talking the upwind side of the pier, for the most part. What about people who can't stand up and fish all day? Like the elderly, handicapped, or otherwise hindered fishermen. Shouldn't they be afforded a way to fish? On the old pier there was Doc Hayes, Ms. Velma, and a bunch of other retirees who simply weren't able to stand all day at the rail. I've seen days when ONLY the trolleys were catching fish. It is an extremely effective method, especially the two-line method. It is just like kite-fishing. It keeps your line and leader out of the water and presents the bait in a very appealing way. When I used to fish the two-line rig, I always monitored it and kept it out of the way of people fighting fish. And I will reiterate, if it is north of the octagon, why should those fishing on the octagon mind it?

why should those fishing on the octagon mind it?

Because it is against the rules.
Simply get the rules changed first ... or STFU! (j/k) lol

as stated before....I will not fish this way if it's NOT allowed on the pier, and might not anyway if it is....unless the wind dictates it ....so I am done with this thread thanks for all the insight on the method and your feelings....
I try and follow rules and hope nothing I have said upset anyone. or pictures I posted of a east coastal pier with live bait tank