Lure choice and trolling speed The best trolling speed for any species is the one that gives your lure irresistible action as it moves through the water. While 1.5 to 2.5 mph creates enticing action for crankbaits, trolling a worm harness with a smiley blade might deliver better results going slower than 1.2 mph.
What is a good trolling speed for bass?
It takes a bit of experimenting to get the speed right, but for typical bass crankbaits it’s anywhere from 2 to 4 mph–you can tell prime speed because that’s where the rod bows up most.
Does trolling speed affect lure depth?
Speed (at normal trolling speeds) isn’t supposed to noticeably affect the depths of cranks when long lining and that’s why you see no depth compensation curves for different speeds.
How fast is high speed trolling?
A standard troll speed is usually around 8knts and high-speed trolling is up to 20knts. Usually I average around 15 knots, but will fish at speeds starting at around 11knots all the way up to 20knots depending on the spread and the conditions (the rougher it is, the slower you go).
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.
How much line should I let out for a troll?
Downriggers. Downriggers allow for extra long length between the downrigger ball and the lure. Let out 50 feet of line and clip into the release. If that’s not enough distance to prevent your lake’s wary walleyes from seeing the ball…then let out 150 feet of line!
How do I make my lures deeper when trolling?
If you need to go deeper, just let out some backing until your target depth is reached. On the lure end of the line, remove a short section of lead as before and tie on a size 18, or smaller, barrel swivel. Now use a 10 to 15 foot mono or fluorocarbon leader to tie on the lure.
How fast can you troll a Yo Zuri Bonita?
6-15 knots
This versatile trolling lure can be pulled from 6-15 knots and features a tight swimming action. The Yo-Zuri Bonita comes in two sizes and seven color patterns to cover a variety of fishing conditions.
How fast should you troll for wahoo?
Wahoo (also called ono) can swim at least 60 mph, so trolling at 14, 16 and even 20 knots is now commonplace using techniques developed by Capt. Ron Schatman, winner of a dozen major Bahamas wahoo tournaments over five years. “In 1995, I went from pulling baits at 14 knots to pulling lures at 18 knots,” Schatman says.
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 line to use for trolling for walleyes?
monofilament line
For most walleye trolling applications 10 to 14 pound test monofilament line is the ideal choice. Lines of this pound test rating are more than strong enough to handle even big walleye, yet thin enough to enable crankbaits and other popular trolling lures to reach substantial depths.
How fast do you pull crankbaits?
Determine a depth – Like Whitehead, using 90 to 110 feet of line is a good starting point. At 1.5 mph this will put the 8- to 12-foot crankbaits between 12-16 feet, depending on wind on waves. Choose a speed – 1.5 to 1.7 mph is where Whitehead stays and is a common speed for pulling cranks.
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 long should a trolling rod be?
Fishing rod size chart
| Fishing rod type | Length range | Most commonly used length |
|---|---|---|
| Surf casting rod | 9′ to 14′ | 10′ to 12′ |
| Boat rod | 5′ to 7′ | 6′ to 6’6″ |
| Trolling rod | 8′ to 14′ | 9′ to 11′ |
| Ice fishing rod | 20″ to 48″ | 28″ to 36″ |
How do you control crankbait depth?
Move your crankbait too slow or too fast and it’ll run too shallow. The bill has to bite into the water at the correct angle for the lure to run as deep as possible. The length of your cast is the next thing that affects running depth. A longer cast will let the bait get down deeper.
What is flat line trolling?
Definition of flatline
Referring to trolling; to fish a lure or bait behind a boat without adding any weight or directional device to the lure or line. If a diving lure is trolled behind a boat with no weight, diver or other means of altering its depth or direction, an angler is said to be flatlining.
How do you know how deep you are fishing?
Attach a float to your line and a weight where you would normally put the hook. Let it sink and the bobber will give you an idea of how deep the water is. If it’s too deep, it will pull the bobber under and you will need to put more line between the float and the weight.
Can you troll without a trolling motor?
If you don’t have a trolling motor to cruise dock lines and mangroves, you can always troll the edges of channels and flats for trout, ladyfish, jacks, bluefish, and mackerel. And once you find a spot with a lot of fish, you can anchor up or drift.
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