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No bait springs, rigging wire, or chin weights required
Never buy expensive pre-rigged ballyhoo again
Designed specifically for mahi mahi, wahoo, tuna, and king mackerel
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Made in the USA
Happy Anglers
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How to Rig Baits
How to Make Rigs
How and When to Pin the Lures
How to Deploy
Prep the ballyhoo
Start with quality ballyhoo. Offshore fishing is too expensive to gamble on cheap baits. Look for clear eyes, minimal blood, and not refrozen. Ensure the ballyhoo is thoroughly thawed. Partially thawed ballyhoo will have a bow in them and will not troll well.Clip or break the bill off the ballyhoo. Leave about 1/2" on the ballyhoo. Empty the digestive tract by running your thumb down the ballyhoo starting just behind the gill plate and pushing the contents out the anal opening.
Limber the ballyhoo
Work the ballyhoo back and forth in a snake like pattern. Don't mash the flesh of the ballyhoo or try to break the backbone. These have a tendency to reduce the longevity of the ballyhoo and don't help. Don't worry about clipping fins, brining, or removing eyes. These things are not harmful, but don't contribute to the performance of the bait.
Attach the rigging
Start with quality ballyhoo. Offshore fishing is too expensive to gamble on cheap baits. Look for clear eyes, minimal blood, and not refrozen. Ensure the ballyhoo is thoroughly thawed. Partially thawed ballyhoo will have a bow in them and will not troll well.Clip or break the bill off the ballyhoo. Leave about 1/2" on the ballyhoo. Empty the digestive tract by running your thumb down the ballyhoo starting just behind the gill plate and pushing the contents out the anal opening.
Seat the TrollTrue lure in place
Slide the TrollTrue lure down the leader and onto the ballyhoo's head. Ensure the barb of the nose hook slides up into the slot on the lure. Allow the ballyhoo 1/2" of bill to protrude out the opening in the front of the lure.
List of Materials
The standard rigging uses 60 lb Berkley Big Game monofilament with a 4/0 Mustad live bait hook and a Size 1 4X treble hook, though fluorocarbon, 7-strand wire leaders, or alternative hooks can be substituted. Leaders can be tied up to 100 lb test, with heavier ones requiring crimping.
Snell down the trailer hook
Insert leader tag end through the trailer hook eye and hold in place with your thumb. Starting at the hook eye wrap 5-6 tight wraps down the hook shaft.
Complete the snell for the trailer hook
Make two ascending wraps back through the hook eye to secure the snell. For 7-strand wire, use fewer wraps and bend the wire at the eye to align it with the hook shaft.
Establish the distance between the hooks
TrollTrue’s 60 lb rigging sets hook spacing at 4" for medium baits, or 4.5–5" for larger ones, placing the trailer hook about two-thirds down the bait; big baits like ribbonfish may use multiple trailer hooks in series.
Snell the nose hook
Follow the same process for the nose hook as with the trailer hook. 5-6 descending wraps and 2 ascending wraps and back out the hook eye.
Complete the rig
TrollTrue rigs are left open for optional skirts and finished with a barrel swivel, using a Uni-knot for mono or a Figure 8 knot for wire.
100 lb Rigging
TrollTrue offers custom rigs with various leaders and hooks, such as a 100 lb setup with an 8/0 J-hook. Always using the 4/0 live bait hook as this is what fits the lures.
When To Secure the Lure
Depending on sea conditions and position in the spread, the lure can be secured to the ballyhoo. This can also be helpful when clearing baits through scattered grass or as you get used to your TrollTrue lures.
Securing the Lure
The ballyhoo is rigged identical to as if it were not going to be secured except with a couple of additional steps. Insert a toothpick through the eye of the nose hook.
Break Off Excess To Finish the Rig
Break off the excess toothpick to maintain a streamlined presentation. Ensure the toothpick length is longer than the diameter of the lure opening.
Observe the bait
Troll the bait beside the boat and watch it for a minute. Look for some clean water beside the boat so you can see. Is the bait trolling like the video? The ballyhoo should be swimming with a natural action on the tail. It shouldn't be "dead sticking" through the water and certainly not spinning.
Adjust if necessary
Adjust the boat speed to maximize the action of the bait. Optimal boat speed can vary from 4-8 knots. Verify the ballyhoo is well thawed and limber it up if necessary. Ensure the lure is well seated on the ballyhoo's head. Pin the lure in place if necessary especially as you are getting used to TrollTrue.
Drop Rig Back
When you are satisfied with the action of the ballyhoo, drop the bait back. Keep tension on the line as you drop it back. Don't let it free spool as this can unseat the lure. The value of TrollTrue lures is as a swimming bait. The ballyhoo should typically run about 1-2' deep.
Powder Coated Finish
Provides the vibrance and durability for even the most demanding offshore conditions.
Slotted Head
Accommodates a variety of riggings including treble, circle, and J-hooks.
Keel Weighted Design
Keeps the bait upright and swimming naturally with no spinning.
Lead Construction
Weighs 1.6 oz and is substantial enough to control the ballyhoo.
Keel Weighted Design
Keeps the bait upright and swimming naturally with no spinning.
Slotted Head
Accommodates a variety of riggings including treble, circle, and J-hooks.
Lead Construction
Weighs 1.6 oz and is substantial enough to control the ballyhoo.
Powder Coated Finish
Provides the vibrance and durability for even the most demanding offshore conditions.
Just used for the first time caught several fish. Completely satisfied. Package came in damaged and missing some pieces called and they sent new ones out immediately. Will definitely order again.
Baits run very well in the water. Fished out of Hatteras this past week. TrollTrue got me a 44 inch Bull Dolphin last Monday.
This is the third year for me using TrollTrue. Simply the easiest product on the market to use. We hit our limit using TrollTrue off the Marathon Humps.
What are my rigging options?
Most anglers will have the best results using the TrollTrue 60 lb rigging in either monofilament or 7-strand wire. This rigging consists of a 4/0 live bait hook as the nose hook and a Size 1 4X treble hook as the trailer hook. This rigging is recommended up to 30 lbs of drag.
Custom rigging is available in monofilament, flourocarbon, or 7-strand wire up to 100 lb test. The nose hook is always a 4/0 live bait hook as that is what fits the lures. Trailer hooks are available is a variety of sizes and styles including treble hooks, circle hooks, and J-hooks.
Can I customize my TrollTrue bundle?
Absolutely! You're the boss. Customizations include color combinations not available directly from the website. Packs of 60 lb rigging can be ordered in any combination of monofilament or 7-strand wire with no difference in price. Packs of custom rigging can be ordered in lieu of the standard 60 lb rigging at the same bundle price. The difference in the custom rigging is they come two (2) rigs per pack instead of the standard three (3) rigs per pack.
If you want any customization on your bundle, place the order using any of the colors and text/call your requirements (910.995.2485). Include your 4-digit order number. Don't email the customizations as we ship orders quickly and may not see the email.
How should I deploy my TrollTrue lures?
Once the bait is rigged and the TrollTrue lure is in place, watch how the bait swims beside the boat. Adjust the boat speed and/or limber up the bait to optimize the action.
With the bait presentation optimized, begin dropping the bait back. Keep your thumb on the spool to maintain pressure on the line. Don't free spool the bait back. This can displace the lure and cause it not to troll right.
Read complete step by step instructions at How To Deploy TrollTrue Lures
How can a fish get hooked on the nose hook?
The short answer is the nose hook is not intended to hook fish. Fish will always be hooked on the trailer hook.
The purpose of the nose hook is only to hold the baitfish. It serves the same function as the pin in a traditional pin-rig. The nose hook should always be a 4/0 live bait hook as this is what fits the lures. The nose hook as no effect on the strength of the rig.
What holds the TrollTrue lure in place?
The lures are designed to be held in place on the ballyhoo by the water flow across the bait. This allows the lure to slide up the leader while fighting fish.
Some anglers prefer to secure the lure to the head of the ballyhoo. This is not a problem. The lure can be secured on the bait by inserting a toothpick into the nose hook eye once the lure is in place. Break off the excess toothpick to maintain a streamlined presentation. Read complete step by step instructions on How and When to Secure the Lure
What is the optimum trolling speed?
The optimal trolling speed is the speed that maximizes the action of the baits. Several factors can influence what that speed may be including bait position in the spread, sea conditions, and type of baitfish.
Expect to troll ballyhoo in the 6-8 knot range to maximize their action. Cigar minnows are more fragile and stiffer. They will likely not ever "swim". At speeds greater than about 4-5 knots will likely wash out quickly.
Read more about finding the optimal speed at How to Deploy TrollTrue Lures
Will TrollTrue lures work with skirts?
TrollTrue lures work seamlessly with everything you’d normally run on a traditional pin-rigged ballyhoo — from skirts and daisy chains to planers and downriggers.
Choosing the Right Skirts
The key to a great swimming bait is water flow across the ballyhoo. Some skirts can restrict that flow, causing the bait to “dead stick” instead of swimming naturally. Slimmer options, like squid skirts, usually perform best by adding flash without disrupting the ballyhoo’s action.
Rigging Tip
If you’re running a skirt, trim it as needed to keep it clear of the trailer hook so the hook stays fully exposed and ready to connect.
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