Barramundi aren't exactly known for making life easy for anglers. One day they'll climb all over just about anything you throw at them, and the next they'll sit there staring at your lure like they've seen the trick a hundred times before. That's where 'strolling' can really come into its own.
Originally developed by Japanese anglers before finding its way into the tournament fishing scene in the U.S, strolling is a finesse soft plastic technique that's become increasingly popular for targeting pressured fish. While bass anglers have been all over it, it's also proving to be a seriously effective option for impoundment barramundi and Murray cod.
Rather than relying on heaps of vibration or an aggressive retrieve, strolling uses a subtle rolling presentation that can tempt fish when more traditional approaches aren't getting the job done.
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What Is Strolling?
Strolling involves slowly retrieving a soft plastic while using a rhythmic tapping movement of the rod tip while controlling slack line to make the lure roll from side to side.
It's different to hopping a plastic or simply slow-rolling a paddle tail: this approach combines both slow-rolling and hopping strategy. Instead of relying on a thumping tail or big directional movements, the attraction comes from the plastic's gentle body roll and flash, and the ability to leave the lure in front of aggressive fish for longer periods of time.
You'll generally hear two terms associated with the technique.
Hover strolling uses a more lightly weighted presentation to target fish sitting high in the water column.
Mid-strolling is used to work a lure through the middle of the water column and can be particularly handy for suspended impoundment barra.
When Is Strolling Worth Trying?
Strolling is particularly useful when barra are feeding in deeper water, have seen a lot of lures and are reluctant to commit to more aggressive presentations.
It can be a good option when fish are:
Suspended or slowly cruising deeper through the water column
Following lures without biting
Holding away from obvious structure
Receiving plenty of fishing pressure
Ignoring high-vibration presentations
In these situations, showing them a softer, more natural-looking presentation can make all the difference.
Choose the Right Soft Plastic
The shape of your soft plastic plays a huge role in getting the technique right.
Jerk shads, fluke-style plastics and other slim baitfish profiles are a great place to start. Unlike a traditional paddle tail, you're not relying on the tail to generate the majority of the action.
A flatter-sided (more square cross-section profile) plastic can help create that side-to-side rolling movement when worked correctly.
Natural baitfish colours are also worth considering, particularly in clear impoundment water where barra can get a good look at what you're throwing.
Choosing a Jighead Weight
Jighead weight will depend on the depth you're fishing, the size of the plastic and how quickly you need the lure to sink.
Around 1/2oz can be a versatile starting point for impoundment barra and can cover a surprisingly wide range of depths.
Hook size is another consideration. You need something strong enough to handle a solid barra, but going too large can restrict the plastic's movement.
The aim is to find a combination that gives you enough strength and weight without overpowering the lure.
Rig Your Plastic Dead Straight
Strolling is one technique where precision rigging really matters. The hook needs to run straight through the centre of the soft plastic. If it exits off to one side, the lure can spin, kick or favour one direction instead of swimming (rolling side-to-side) properly.
Before casting, give the lure a quick swim beside the boat. If it isn't tracking cleanly, re-rig it before sending it out.
How to Work a Strolling Plastic
Think about the rhythm you'd use to walk a surface lure from side-to-side, except you're working the rod tip slightly upwards while slowly winding at the same time.
Make your cast, let the lure sink to the required depth and begin a steady retrieve.
As you wind:
Give the rod tip small upward pops.
Maintain a little bend in the line to enable the line to snap between tight and slightly loose: this will give the lure the side-to-side body roll that is so important.
Keep the retrieve slow and consistent: cadence is key, and when you start to hear a consistent tap in the reel you are doing it right.
Watch for the lure to roll smoothly from one side to the other.
Too much tension can restrict the action, while too much slack makes it harder to control the lure.
Practising beside the boat is a great way to find the right cadence before you start casting at fish.
Keep the Lure at the Right Depth
When barra are suspended, depth can be just as important as the lure itself.
If the fish are sitting five metres down, you want your presentation travelling through roughly the same part of the water column rather than metres above or below them. There is a magic space 20cm above the eyes of a barramundi and this is the area you need to stroll your lure through. Using live sonar greatly helps the process.
Use your sounder to work out where the fish are holding, then count the lure down before starting your retrieve.
Once you've got it in the zone, keep your winding speed consistent so the plastic stays there for as long as possible. Note this barramundi following a lure (bright dot) dead centre towards the bottom of the image below.
Using Live Sonar for Strolling
Live sonar can make strolling particularly effective because it lets you see individual fish and track how they react to your presentation.
Make a lead cast beyond the fish, locate the lure on the screen and allow it to sink to the target depth before beginning the retrieve.
From there, pay attention to what the barra does.
A fish that rises, follows or turns towards the lure is giving you valuable information. If it won't commit, small adjustments to speed, depth or presentation can sometimes turn that interest into a bite.
Live sonar certainly makes the process easier, but it isn't essential. Traditional sounders, known fish-holding areas and fan casting can still be used to put a strolling plastic in the right part of the water column.
What Setup Works for Strolling Barra?
Strolling requires enough sensitivity to control the lure, while still having the grunt needed for impoundment barra.
A quality 7ft spin rod with a responsive tip and plenty of power through the blank is a handy starting point.
You don't want the tip so soft that it absorbs every movement before it reaches the lure. The rod needs enough stiffness to transfer those small upward pops effectively.
Pair it with a 4000-size spinning reel, quality braid and a leader suited to the size of fish and country you're fishing.
Make Small Changes Before Big Ones
If barra are showing interest without committing, small adjustments are usually worth trying before completely changing tactics.
Experiment with:
Retrieve speed
Jighead weight
Lure depth
Plastic size
Plastic profile
Colour
Rod movement
Strolling is all about subtlety, so even a small change can alter the way the lure looks to a following fish.
Give Strolling a Crack
Strolling might feel a little unusual at first, but once you get the rhythm sorted, it's another seriously handy technique to have up your sleeve.
For impoundment barra that are suspended or simply refusing the usual offerings, slowing things down and showing them something different could be exactly what gets the bite.
And when those barra aren't playing ball, having another trick in the tacklebox certainly doesn't hurt.
About the author
Tackling Australia
Tackling Australia is made up of “Nicko” Fewtrell and “Nige” Webster — two fishing tragics who’ve been hooked since before they could walk. Nige is a long-time fishing journalist and regular on the Aussie fishing comp scene; and Nicko is a fishing presenter, FNQ-based guide and boat builder. Together, they’re a formidable fishing team, with all the expert knowledge you could ask for
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