Trolling question

[falcon2082]

Started trolling for walleye for the first time this past weekend in the Western Basin of Erie and after about 5 combined hours with not one fist I have a few qestions.....

I judge my speed by GPS (I don't have a speed sensor for my Lowrance 135) and was wondering how accurate the speed is and what speed I should be trolling. The reason I ask, I was running a couple Deep Diver Reef Runner's and they kept finding there way to the surface with 80 ft. of line out. My speed was 2.0-2.5, too fast?

Bringing my next question. Do you tie your Power Pro straight to the split ring on the Reef Runner or do you use a swivel snap? I was using a swivel snap and was wondering if my above problem was the cause.

Besides running the Deep Divers straight back, I was running 2 size 0 without the ring Dipsy's with a 3 ft leader and nothing hit that either. More speed problems? Too short of a leader?

I ran one drift sock which could get my speed down to about 1.5 or so by GPS but controlling my I/O was a bit difficult. I am not to sure if my "wobbling" back and forth was hurting my presentation or not. Wasn't to sure if two bigger drifts socks were needed which would help my boat control with more prop rotation or should I invest now in an autopilot to help with the boat control?

As you can tell by now, no one has taught me how to troll so I am learning as I go and am looking for quite a bit of help. Thanks for all your help.
Mike

[Airwave(OH)]

I would get 2 bags and get your speed down. 1 to 1.5 would be better this time of year. I would also run your RR off inline boards, not dipseys this time of year. Auto pilot is nice but not mandatory(sorta). I like mine but did it for years without one. Ya might want to drag some worm harnessses off bottom bouncers too. Tying your PowerPro to a swivel is OK. The wobbling back and forth with the boat can actually be a good thing.


If I agree with you, then we'd both be wrong.

[marcbodi]

Hi,
I assume that you were Flat lineing the Reefrunners and they were coming to the top.If you were your problem was you did not tune them.You have to bend the eye very gently one way or the other and make sure they are running straight at the side of the boat before you send them out.If you were running them off dipsys you should not run deep divers off them as they affect the action of the dipsy.We run from 6 to 8 ft leads off dipsys.
May I be fishing somewhere Tomorrow

[ChadM]

Mike, I am no expert but the last time I was on Erie this time of yuear we caught the fish within 5-10 feet of the surface. You may be fishing below the active fish. Our hot baits were ripsticks, rogues and deep huskey jerks.

[JJ Mac]

I'm thinking your problem with the RR's coming to the surface had to be the snap swivel, lures out of tune, or a combination of both. The first step I would do is go with just snaps and not snap swivels. I like to run from the mainline--a bead (for a planer board stop and nice indicator for landing fish at night), then a barrel swivel to a 4 ft. leader to a snap.

If you are tight lining, a few planer boards will help tremendously!

Good advice about the dipsies and the deep runners. You're probably better off going with a shallow or suspending lure, and let the dispies take the lure to the desired depth.


Before I got a kicker motor, I had a couple of drift socks.
But I found a couple of buckets with pre-tied ropes worked fast and easy. Just toss em out there. No worrying about drying them when your done. I could run them off the front, side cleats, and they didn't bang the boat and didn't take up space off the back for landing fish. Some guys cut a small hole in the bottom of them and claim they track better.

I'm no Erie expert, but most places 1.8-2.0 is a good speed for hardbaits this time of year, even slower of course for harnesses.

[falcon2082]

Marc, I was flatlining the deep divers and running ripsticks off the dipsy's. I will go with the 6 foot leaders. I had made some 3 footers for spin doctors/spoons for steelhead. If I go with just snaps and not swivel snaps will I run into problems with line twisting?

[bobwhy]

Up until this last weekend our trolling speed was 1.3 to 1.4. Some of the guys are down to 1 or less. Colder water lower speed. This past weekend 4/17 we were up to 1.5 to 1.7. Tune your RRs and they won't pop up to the surface. Any bait untuned or jet divers will roll and come up at higher speeds. 2mph and up are summer speeds. 3ft leaders will work on active/not spooky fish. For inactive or spooked fish a longer leader works better. Just make sure it isn't longer than your rod. It's easier to control.
Bob Y.
WBSA Member