Reducing Sail For Fishing (Trolling)

Posted By: Bill Reiter
Date: 5/2/08 11:20a.m.

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Since I've only had Hermione (WWP-15. #1094) out five times so far, I still have so much to learn. Being an enthusiastic fisherman however, I have experimented already with reducing sail to facilitate trolling. Here in the Midwest it would not be productive to be moving much more than one or two mph and expect to catch walleye, crappie and bass. Sailfish, marlin and tuna are rarely caught here despite stories to the contrary. I discovered on the first day's outing while experimenting with some sail changes that the smaller of the Potter jibs alone placed in the mains'l position worked pretty well for trolling for fish when winds were five to ten mph. The reefed main was just too fast! Did you ever think you'd hear someone complaining about going too fast in a WWP-15? I've already started cutting and sewing a storms'l of heavy dacron with approximately the same dimensions for this purpose, complete with boltrope so I can run it up the slot. On the second day of experimenting I found winds of from twenty to twenty-five with gusts to forty mph and then even that handkerchief-sized sail was way too much. It was a lively afternoon sailing though. The Potter never flinched, but the guy on the tiller did at least once. I would like to hear your thoughts on sizing the sail plan for trolling and any other fishing-from-a-Potter stories and tips you would care to share. Thanks, Bill