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| What is your most productive speed when trolling?
Does it change if your are trolling suspended fish vs. structure trolling? | |
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| Jason,
Trolling speeds for me most of the time are from 3.0 mph to 1.5 mph.This will depend on water temprature,time of the year,time of day,current,wind and size and type of bait as well.I will make one statement,I have never caught a Musky over 50 inches going over 3.0 mph(surface speed + GPS speed over bottom divided by two= Trolling Crankbait Speed).Most of the time I'm using River Current for the action and boat possition for acurate placement on my crankbaits ,behind structure ,breakpoints and in small holes.Most of my crankbaits are modified to give off an action that you would get at a much higher speed.Then adapted to get them to the bottom with a slower move thru the strike zone ,with that faster looking action,but they get a longer look to hone in and hit.Sometimes it doesn't even look as if I'm moving at all or making any ground that is.In the fall when water tempratures dip below 45 degrees,I'm from 2.0 to 1.5 mph tops.Slow Trolling works for me and my Clients,with 41 Muskies over 50 inches to the boat over the years.
Capt. Larry D. Jones | |
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| This is one where me and Larry differ, but when it comes to the late fall I do slow down to his kind of speeds. I think the fish slow down and those great big lures I use would be hard to troll over 3 MPH.
In the spring and summer I troll mosly at speeds of 5 MPH plus. I actualy try to go as fast as I can so to cover more water, now if I get hit at 5 MPH I will speed up a bit and see if I still get hit. I think the hot days of summer dictate higher speeds more then any other times. I also have a prefered speed for certain lures where they work their best and I believe that is so important to have your lure moving along at it's best presentation to attract them big girls. [:sun:] | |
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| My speed varies depending on the bait, the conditions, and the time of year. Generally, I am in the 3 to 8.5 mph range... although I have been known to go even faster on occasion. No variation generally between structure and open water... the bait most frequently dictates speed as you want the bait working at its optimum speed with maximum action. As a rule there is usually not much difference between achieving this speed and having the bait break action and spin or porpoise, so speed must be watched closely. (I have an Osprey Trolling Speedometer, which is far more accurate than the paddlewheel on most depthfinder transducers.)
My most common range is 4.5 to 6 during the summer, and 3.5 to 5 in the fall.
Steve Wickens
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| Steve,
I use the Osprey Trolling Indicator by Moor Electronics as well,great unit.I also sell them and parts like the paddle wheels,if you ever shear off a fin! Capt. Larry | |
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| Larry,
Very happy with my unit thus far (obtained it on a sponsorship arrangement with Moor). I had a small wiring problem when the unit arrived, but I fixed it myself with a touch of solder and a little creativity.
I'll keep the parts in mind, although I am hoping to avoid doing such a thing for a while! Thanks Larry.
Steve Wickens | |
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| Jason,you realy want to answer this question....mmmmm
Some folk may think I am talking to myself.
My perception of speed is relative to many factors.
Speed is relative to weather,wind,water temps
(rising/dropping)(dirty/clear),barometer,
structure,living stucture,bait and forage migration,
depth,time of year and seasons,bait fish and forage
related patterns and most of all presentation (what am
I trying to achieve).
Are you targetting the Luke Skywalkers of the water
columns or the Grazer's of bottom dwelling or the
lillypad thumper's of the Everglades.
Yes I beleive there are many different elements
that fish use.Understanding all the crucial living
spaces on a particular body of water is important.
Once an inkling is known, establishing patterns of
presentation is next in line.
You could be trolling one day at 5 mph in the top 15
feet of the water column and the next day you are down
to 3 mph,weather has a major role to do with this.
You could be trolling in 42 degree water temps and the
common sense fundamentals tell you to go 1 to 2
mph,next thing you know you nudge it to 4.2 or more
and the fish love it.Wind creates aggresive activity.
You could be trolling below the 15 foot level at 5 mph
crusing along the bottom looking for attention from
the Grazers and the nex day you are sleep walking you
way to a rip.Negative fish and abundant forage is to
be contended with.
Are you aiming you baits and targetting the heads of
the suspendos cruising under the bait fish just like
Luke Skylwalker on the hunt for the dark forces.
Make it easy for them.
Are you top teasing or blade ripping through the
Andies for Mighty Joe Young or are lob rolling baits
in and out of the bush's.
Do you have to Kamkaze structure or skip rop along the
bottom.
The equipement you are using has its place also.Are
you using wire to get down into the Abyss or stringing
a tune while taking a Stroll.Are you ropping along
with heavy dacron(45 or 63lbs test) looking for the
california sunshine girls at the top soaking the rays.
Are you using super braids for a subtle aproah or a
deeper and closer aproach.Throw distance behind the
boat into the recipe and you have spahgetti!
Understanding all the pieces of the puzzle is whats
important to establishing speed strategies.Putting it
all together with some luck brings results.
To say one speed is the best is like saying who makes
the best bait or lure,fact they all are good.Knowing
when and where to use them is what must be learned.
Getting up close and having an intimate realationship
is where its at.
My speeds 1 mph to 6 mph,any more than that,I may as
well eat a candy bar while I burn fuel.
I am not saying you cant catch them faster.I have but
from what I have seen,you get alot of scappers and
shackers.
Yes certain weather patterns arrive that dictate
increased speeds but those days are few in a season
and some season it wont even happen.
Some may relates to this but you get an inkling of
whats going on in your surroundings and time tells you
what to do.Watching fish or bait fish activty at he
surface or on your graph.Time of year,the type of year
its been the weather but then again it just maybe the
little community livng inside my head getting out of
wack again!
I dreamed I was walking up a hill side in the
snow,casting shadows way up on that winter sky.I just
stood there counting crows.
1 for sorrow,2 for joy,3 for girls,4 for boys,
5 for silver,6 for gold
7 for a secret never to be told.
The last one out of the circus has to lock up
everything or the elephants will forget to remember
what you said.
Hope you can understand what I babbled about cause
I dont.
take care
marc | |
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| Great answers, MuskieFIRST thanks you for your imput.
As far as my favorite speed Marc Thorpe, I do what ever it takes to trigger a strike. I have caught fish trolling 1mph to 5.5mph. With 2.5 been my most consitant.[;)] | |
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| Jason I am with you,
The best speed is the one that catches fish!
At any given time or moment.
Troll a good one [:p]
marc | |
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Trolling Speed?, Marc Thorpe, Richard Collins, Cap