How to Flatline a Kwikfish

The Kwikfish is a long skinny lure with an arched shape designed for trolling behind a boat. The water pressure against the flat, forward-facing surface makes the lure wobble enticingly in the water. The fish picks up the vibrations from the wobbling through its lateral line, which helps it zero in on the lure. The key to flatline trolling Kwikfish is to control the depth. Too shallow or too deep, and the fish can't find the lure.

Instructions

    • 1

      Select the appropriate sized rod for the species of fish you are catching. You want a rod with medium action and a soft tip. The tip will absorb the force of the strike without breaking the line, while the stiffer midsection gives you the power to fight the fish and won't bend under the resistance of the lure.

    • 2

      Select line appropriate for the species. Lines with thinner diameters will run deeper than lines with thicker diameters. Weighted lead core line runs deepest of all. Color-coded trolling line is useful to determine how much line you have out. The more line you have out, the deeper the Kwikfish will run, until a bow develops in the line that forces the lure toward the surface.

    • 3

      Tie a small snap onto the end of your line. A snap makes it easy to switch lures and find the right size and color. Clip the snap onto the eyelet on the front of the Kwikfish. Some models come with a snap already attached to the lure. Tie your line directly to the snap.

    • 4

      Set your motor to trolling speed, and drop the lure beside the boat. Experiment with different trolling speeds and observe how the lure behaves in the water. You want the lure to track straight, with a tight wobble. If the lure tracks to one side, retrieve it from the water and use a pair of forceps or needle nose pliers to bend the eyelet in the opposite direction. If it running to the left, bend the eyelet to the right. Test the lure in the water again to check the tune.

    • 5

      Let out the appropriate amount of line. The K14, K15 and K16 models will run from 8 to 12 feet, depending on the amount of line and the current. A 30 foot distance in a slow current will make the lure run shallower, while an 80 foot distance in strong current will make it dive deeper. Models K11X, K13X and K16X run deeper, with a maximum depth of 18 feet.