Reef runner depth with leadcore, help needed

[Sunshine]

Let me know if I've got this right!

My precision trolling book tells me that using three colors of leadcore line with 80 feet back from the leadcore will give me a depth of 33 feet while going at a speed of .75 MPH. If I use a reef runner, the chart tells me that with 220 feet out (50' leader + 90' leadcore + 80' back from leadcore = 220') the lure will dive to 28 feet. If I add the 33 feet plus 28 feet I get a total of 61 feet. Is this right? Can I actually get over 60 feet deep with this method? Please help!

[NPAA265]

I tested this setup last fall at Huron. With a 50 ft leader and 3 colors of 18 lb test and checked to see were it would touch at 1.3 to 1.8 mph. It did touch at 44ft. with the leadcore and maybe 5 more ft. . With that much backing and a slow speed . It could. I usually do not troll that slow. And its not very often you can if your going down wind .

[Sunshine]

Thanks for the info. Any other ideas out there? Actually, I'm trying to put this web back to the top.

[SUPERTROLLER]

Sunshine, In my very limited understanding and use of leadcore I have assumed approximately 5 to 7 feet of depth per color length used. Dependent upon speed. Hate to argue with Precision Trolling but 33 ft. seems to be awfully optimistic. I will also agree with the above post that said trolling at .75 mph would be tough to attain.Maybe you can get alot more depth at that speed but I've never run it that slow. Keep us posted with any results of actual speed/depths you can pass on with various lures used. Thanks. (Mostly replyed to get this back on top. Good topic !! )

[Big C]

I think you are making some wrong assumptions. With increased amount of line out you get more resistance which will cause the dive curve to flatten out. Also, you are combining 2 different ratios. I think you either have to use one or the other and not add them together.

[Sunshine]

Does anyone else have an opinion? The reason I thought that my math would work is because the original formula for leadcore uses a shallow stickbait. On page 31 of the Precision Trolling book it states that diving crankbaits will run deeper. I know that I may have to go out and experiment to see the actual diving depths but I hoped that a simple formula like the one that I used on my original post would give me a ball park figure to start with. Hey, Mark Romanack, are you out there? What is your educated guess?

[Popia]

You are correct in your calculation of the depth for your reef runner on lead core. You do need to add the depth the lure will run with a given amount of line out to the depth that the lead core will give you. Try a ripstick with 3 colors of lead and the 80' leader and you should have your bait at 30-33 feet.