How Do You Measure Troll Speed?

How do you judge trolling speed?

The way we do this is to watch the action of our lures beside the boat and make note of how it translates to pulses on the rod tip. Now, each time you send your bait behind the boat, look for the same movement on the rod tip. This gives a good indication that you’re going the right speed.

How fast is trolling speed?

Baits and lures are typically trolled at speeds up to 9 knots (17 km/h), though speeds up to 15 knots (28 km/h) can be used, particularly when boats are travelling to different fishing areas. The speed at which the lure is pulled through the water impacts on the fishing success.

What is the best trolling speed for walleyes?

What Speed Should You Troll For Walleye? It depends on the time of year and water temperatures. Trolling speed, in the spring, is best at 1.3 – 1.5 mph. Summer trolling speeds increase 1.5- 2 mph as walleyes are more active in warmer water temperatures.

Do fish finders measure speed?

Fish finders with transducers that are installed properly can mark the bottom at relatively high speeds — up to 40 mph in some cases, though the slower the boat speed, the better the on-screen images.

How far behind a boat should you troll?

For bigeye use a flatline about 40 feet behind the boat. They want it in the prop wash. The longer the lures are the more careful you have to be when making turns. You also have to make sure your lures are running straight or you will get nasty tangles.

How much line should I let out for a troll?

Trolling Depth Trick #3
Consider the following example: If you’re trolling a tandem rig tied with two five-ounce bucktails (5 x 2 = 10), and you let out 100 feet of line (double 50, so multiply by two again), according to the Rule it will run at about 20 feet below the surface (5 x 2 = 10 x 2 = 20).

How can I reduce my troll speed?

1. Shut Down Your Boat’s Engine(s) If your boat has multiple outboards, shutting down one or more engines will allow you to drop speed.
2. Shifting Engines Out of Gear.
3. Using Drift Socks and Trolling Bags.
4. Benefits of an Auxiliary Outboard Engine.
5. Using an Electric Motor.
6. Outboard Engines with Troll Mode.

How fast can you troll with a downrigger?

Most people troll at 1.5 to 3.5 mph. How do you know if you are at the right speed? Sure, you can look at your GPS speed over ground readings, but you see your downrigger lines are almost straight at 2 mph.

How fast can you troll crawler harnesses?

The best trolling speed for fishing with a crawler harness is from 1 to 1.4 mph. This is significantly slower than most other baits used in the summer, and the reason for this is that you don’t want to rip off your nightcrawler from the harness by trolling at high speeds.

What depth do you need to catch walleye?

Walleye are generally caught between 10-40 Ft. A typical mid-sized lake in the Midwest would likely hold Walleye between the depths of 10-15 Ft. during the Spring, 15-25 Ft.

Why does my depth finder not work at speed?

Seeing poor performance at speed usually indicates that the transducer needs to be mounted lower so that face of the transducer is in contact with the water at speed. To make this adjustment, loosen the mounting screws, and slide the transducer 1/2″ lower and re-test. New holes may need to be drilled.

Should you troll with or against the current?

When in an area with current, troll crosscurrent as opposed to with and/or against the current. Going crosscurrent, you don’t have to worry about how the current is affecting your lure’s or bait’s speed through the water. Plus, fish generally swim into the current.

How fast should you troll for mahi?

between 2 and 9 knots
Mahi Mahi are aggressive fish and will eat fast as well. Professionals tell you to troll for Mahi Mahi between 2 and 9 knots. Try varying speeds until you get a bite, but more importantly be consistent and make sure you keep the boat moving at a steady pace.

Can you troll with a 60 hp motor?

A 60 sure ain’t making 60 hp at idle, but if you run a 5″ or 7″ pitch prop like a T8 or ProKicker does, it would troll slowly too. The trick is to run as little pitch as possible, at as low a rpm as possible, yet still have enough prop to propel the boat at a reasonable speed when opened-up.

Can you troll with a drift sock?

The preferred way to use your drift sock for trolling is to first find the fish or landmark on the map you want to target. Then continue past the spot heading into the wind. Drop all lures or bait into the water that you want to use. Deploy your drift sock and let it slow the boat down.

Can you troll with a 150hp motor?

Trolling bags work very well! I typically need one for to get to 2.2 mph with my 150 hp. They stabilize the boat in wind and waves very well when trolling. If I need to get to 2.0 mph I will put out a second bag.

How fast do you troll for mackerel?

The secret to more effective Mackerel trolling is speed. If you want to catch more Mackerel on lures, troll faster. While 6 knots is okay, 7, 8, 9 or 10 knots is even better. The faster you can troll, the more likely you are to get connected.

What is the best speed for trolling for salmon?

​The best trolling speed for salmon will lie somewhere in the range of 1.5 to 3.5 mph depending on your exact setup. ​Dodgers are designed to dart from side to side without much spinning. If you start to run at speeds above 2.5 mph you may well end up making the dodger spin.

At what speed should you troll for salmon?

Two mph is a good trolling speed for coho salmon, but a speed of 1.5 mph is a better speed for chinook salmon, and you will be fishing even deeper at the lower velocity.

What size swivel clips should I use for walleye trolling?

Light and strong and allows the bait to give its maximum wiggle. I use a size 12 or 14 Crane swivel at the end of my braid and attach a 2′ piece of fluro to the swivel.