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Posts: 15
Location: Sault Ste. Marie | just wondering if there is anyone out there that tinkers w/ trolling bucktails w/ in-line weights. I would like to get the bait down 5-7 feet. I would be trolling about 3.5-4 mph & would line to use 1 1/2 - 2 oz. weights. Does anyone have a system that factors in your amount of line, size of in-line weight, etc. to get the desired depth? Any input would be appreciated. Thanks for any replies in advance..... |
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Posts: 256
Location: MadCity Wisconsin | Gregg Thomas has been trolling Double Tens for a few years now. His DVD on spring muskie tactics details his exact trolling curves and weights used. As I recall he likes using 12-14oz weights and has a depth curve.
I do not recall the name of Greggs DVD but I am sure others on this board will. |
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Posts: 97
| All you have to do is burry your rod straight down in the water. |
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Posts: 41
| You can bury your rod as mentioned, but that don't always get your desired depth. Trial and error will determine what weight you will need at what speed to achieve your desired depth. Make sure you use some kind of "Keel" to stop the line twist. Can get nasty otherwise. Hope this helps. |
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Posts: 720
| I've been trolling in-line bucktails off of my portable downriggers. I like using the downriggers for the simple fact that I can control baits depth. I use a 3 pound weight and usually run this set up in the middle of summer during the warmest water of the season. I've had some success with this. Two problems that I'm constantly running into.
1. Finding a release that will hold the lure to the ball weight. Pulling big baits is a problem on turns with the additional pull on the outside bait. That leads me into my next problem.
2. Limits on speed. Right now I get around 3.5mph. Faster than that the lures pop off more than I care for. Like I said I'm just begining to play with this.
Ideally I would love to get up to 5.5mph but the lift of the blades and the strength of the release seems to limit me. I'll keep looking for a stronger release. But if I had any doubts about wheather or not I can catch fish this way. I had my questions answered up north the last two summers. Granted I'm not setting the world on fire but I have caught enough fish to keep trying. . |
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| I use a 12 ounce Gibbs weight 5 ft in front up the line to keep in-line spinners & spinnerbaits under water at fast speeds.
http://www.thefishinhole.com/index.cfm?imageSku=3494510&enlargeSkuz...
Working usualy from shallow to the points that drop deep fast,out the outside and in on the inside turn.
When a fish gets on the Gibbs weight slides down the main line to your swivel between main line and leader.I use leaders of 80 lb Seaguar Fluorocarbon that are 3/4 the legnth of my rod.
Capt. Larry D. Jones |
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Posts: 3242
Location: Racine, Wi | Hey Dave,
What rods are you using for your riggers? I've been tempted to do that with my riggers, but don't want to use my salmon rigger rods as they just won't have the backbone to hook those fish when the release trips. I know my musky rods won't load up like a salmon rod, and tend to be way longer than my salmon rigger rods.
As for the other question, I tend to run 10-16oz weights for trolling the 10s. Even with those weights you can get some distance from the boat. I'll have to keep better tabs on my dive curves with different weights. Right now, I eyeball it for the most part when running up to 7 feet or so (can see them for the most part as you're letting line out). 1-2 ozs won't get you very deep though when going at higher speeds like you're looking to do though unless you have a TON of line out and even then, not sure you'll hit the depths you're looking to get. |
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| looks like Mike should do a third addition. |
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Posts: 2024
| On a trip out west I picked up a handful of Gibbs sinkers as Capt. Jones described. We were using them to weight our salmon/trout plugs and I figured they'd be great for trolling bucktails. Perhaps a little easier to use than some of the other methods out there that require modified leaders to accommodate cannonball weights. |
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Posts: 3242
Location: Racine, Wi | For the actual weights I use 10-16 oz snap weights (the little round ones). I use the same for salmon fishing on my pump handles (or thumper rods as they are also called) and just connect with a snap to the swivel. This helps keep the line from twisting. I keep them on when fighting the fish which can put some swing in the line so tell your net man to watch out (hence the "thumper" rig, well not really, but it's another use for the name "thumper" on those rigs. You can also connect them with the Offshore red snaps with the pins in them (OR16? I forget). |
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Posts: 184
| does this heavy weight effect landing ratio? and is there a weight that is just too heavy where you lose more than u bring in. 1-2oz does barely anything imo. for bucktails i think 4oz would be a starting point from my experience. i have heard that anything over 16oz you'll lose more than you'll bring in. your thought guys?
Edited by zach2626 6/9/2010 3:47 PM
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Posts: 15
Location: Sault Ste. Marie | I'm not planning on trolling 10's. The bucktails are more comparable to a bucher 700 series or bucher willowbuck. Maybe even Mepps musky killers size wise. I bought 1 1/2 - 3 oz inlines. Gonna start there and see what happens. Headed out tomorrow so i'll post the results. Thanks for the replies. |
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Posts: 3242
Location: Racine, Wi | zach2626 - 6/9/2010 3:44 PM
does this heavy weight effect landing ratio? and is there a weight that is just too heavy where you lose more than u bring in. 1-2oz does barely anything imo. for bucktails i think 4oz would be a starting point from my experience. i have heard that anything over 16oz you'll lose more than you'll bring in. your thought guys?
I haven't noticed a lot of fish getting off for me when using heavier weights. I think as long as you have a good gapped hook (the 7/0s on DCGs for example), you get a good hook into them that won't be as likely to pull out due to the weight moving around). I usually only troll blades with the heavier weights, so in that respect, no issues with loosing fish due to the lead. More issues with smacking myself or others with the lead.  Even when using them for Salmon, we rarely loose fish on those rigs but that could be because the boat is always moving, so it's more difficult for the fish to get slack. |
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Posts: 720
| Sorry Joel,
I've been out on the water and missed your question.
To answer your question. I'm using a couple of rods made by Franks custom rods. One is a 7' 10" rod and the other is a 8'0" rod. Both rods have a slower tip much like a crankbait rod. Both rods are set up with a Shimano Calcutta 400 and 80lbs test tuff-line xp. Then typically I'll run a 3 foot long 100lbs floro leader with a 100lbs snap. These rods aren't what you and I would throw big baits with typically. I'm relying on the release to handle the lure's pull and once the fish is hooked your obviously back to normal in regards to fighting and playing fish.
As far as baits goes. I'm trolling some large bucktails with in-line blades. I like a longer profile over larger blades for the simple fact that I can pull these baits with less pressure on the release verses pulling bucktails with colorado blades. Another thing I've tried and like very much is trolling big plastics. Baits like Super D's and mini D's track really nice. Keep in mind I'm going at a slower speed. Have you tried them out at all?
Again sorry for the slow response.
Dave
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Posts: 54
| Guys, the easy way to troll those blades is to use a size "0" dipsey diver. Use a 3-4 foot trolling leader behind the diver. If you want it straight back behind the boat run the dial on 0. That will put you at 10 feet of line out down 2-3 feet. If you set the dial left or right to run out to the side at a #3 setting, 15 feet out will put you down 2-3 feet. It is really simple once you try it.. |
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| Your not going to get much speed out of a Dipsey Diver,once you get over 2.5 mph they start to rise,if over 3.5 mph on #3 setting they will roll out of the water.
Capt. Larry |
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Posts: 34
Location: madison chain | i second the dipsy diver. Been running 4mph on 3 setting and 25feet of line out with double 10's. hitting bottom in about 10 feet of water. only caught one fish on it so far though. |
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Posts: 15
Location: East Central WI | Give the Shakespeare Ugly Sticks a try, the Bigwater Rod, it is 10 feet tall (literally) and bullet proof. $50 or so at Fleet. They load up nice on a rigger and have pretty good backbone. Or stick them out the side in a holder, at 10 feet long, with two of them and an 8' wide boat, you can cover a 28' wide swath. I think they come in 8, 9 and 10' long. If your really serious, talk to some saltwater guys, I bet they've got the rod your lookin' for. Sportsman's in Appleton on Wisconsin Ave. has good trolling sinkers/apparatus' too. A modified keel, a hybrid between a bottom bouncer and a big keel sinker, not sure what they are called though. |
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