In general terms, trolling speed should be higher in the summer, when walleye are more active, and slower in spring and fall, when walleye are more lethargic due to colder water temperatures. In addition, hard bait lures are ideal for higher speeds, while live bait rigs need to be trolled at lower speeds.
How fast should I be trolling for walleye?
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.
Is trolling the best way to catch walleye?
Trolling is by far one of the most effective ways to target walleyes throughout much of their range. By pulling baits behind the boat, anglers can more effectively cover the vast expanses of open water that walleyes utilize in the warm water months of the year.
How much line do you let out when trolling for walleye?
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! Just remember, the flat-line diving depth of your crankbait still applies behind the ball!
What colors do walleye see best?
Walleyes also possess color vision, based on analysis of the structure of the light-sensitive cones. Scientists tell us walleyes should see red, orange, and yellow the best, followed by green. Theory also suggests walleyes see blue and violet less well, and these colors may even appear black.
What is the best speed for trolling?
So, what is the best trolling speed? The best trolling speed depends on several factors including the type of fish, water conditions and lure choice. In general, trolling speeds between 1.5 and 2.5 mph, as measured by GPS, are a good starting place for most species like walleye, trout and salmon.
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 far behind the boat should I troll?
Every boat is different and you should make your boat your own study. Proper distance for most boats will be anywhere from 20 feet to 150 feet behind your boat. Whether you have inboard diesel or outboard gas engines, your power dictates the distance you troll your baits and lures.
Is mono or fluoro better for trolling?
For some trolling applications in clear water, using fluorocarbon as the main line makes a lot of sense. While fluorocarbon sinks it does so very slowly and doesn’t impact on the trolling depth of crankbaits and other gear.
How can I make my lures deeper?
We’d suggest trying a 20 foot leader (shorter leaders do better in current), attach a 3 or 4 oz. Snap Weight, and then let out line until you feel the lure tick bottom. Those river fish relate to the bottom, so it’s Snap Weight setupimportant that you get your lures down there.
Can you troll for walleye without planer boards?
Without planer boards, most anglers will run four to five lines out the back of the boat max on most walleye rigs. There are several variations to accomplish this but generally, the rods out the very back of the boat are out at more line.
What depth are walleyes?
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. transitioning to Summer, 25-40 Ft.
How do you catch walleye in early season?
Early in the spring when water temps are cold and the sun shines I have often seen walleyes hanging out in shallow water where they appear to be sunning themselves. Clear, calm water can mean a difficult bite, but slow rolling a jig and minnow or dangling a leech under a bobber can often entice these wary walleyes.
Does lure size matter?
Decreasing lure size usually has a minor effect on catch rates. In contrast, even minor increases above the size optimum can yield major decreases in catch rates. If your catch rate falls off after upsizing, you are beyond the preferred size.
Is walleye fishing good in the rain?
One of the best times to catch walleye is right before rain. The bite will continue into the rain event itself. I have found walleye to continue biting during rain as long as you fish a little slower. The rain and stormy conditions will stir up the water adding additional nutrients into the water.
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.
How do I know when my lure hits the bottom?
When they are in the water column, you should feel the vibration of the lure as it moves. If you feel anything else, you have either hit the bottom or some debris in the water column. If you just graze the bottom, you will feel a tick. If you are dragging the bottom, you will feel an uneven extra weight on the line.
How do you know what depth to fish?
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.
Do you use a swivel on a crankbait?
Never use a swivel or angled snap when fishing crankbaits. This type of terminal hardware makes it more difficult to tune lures. Even worse, avoid tying crankbaits directly to the fishing line using common knots like the clinch.
How deep do Bandit lures dive?
27 ft.
Bandit Walleye Deep Divers are great for walleye, zander, and other predator fish that explore deeper waters. These lures dive quickly with their round lip and slender build. Walleye Deep Divers are the go-to minnow jerkbait for many anglers. Depth: 27 ft.
SKU.
| Brand | Bandit Lures |
|---|---|
| Lure Max. Diving Depth (ft) | 27 ft. |
Can I troll with a spinning rod?
Yes, trolling offshore for species like tuna and mahi can be done with a spinning reel—if you know a few basic facts. Naturally, when offshore trolling you wouldn’t want to use a reel, even a high-quality reel, that’s sized for stripers—like a Shimano Stradic C3000. This is a great reel, but it’s simply not big enough.
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