Trolling Trees Fireline or Heavy Floro???

[jignpig]

Gents,
Never Trolled timber before, but the lake I am headed to the middle of July calls for it... what have your experiences been pulling cranks in the timber? I mostly am worried about loosing a bunch of baits... Still have a little bit of a problem running straight Fireline, but sounds like a lot of guys do it. Please let me know any of your experiences and opinions your willing to share. Got a lot of info out of the other thread on this...


Thanks,
Todd

[Jack G]

My limited experience pulling cranks or rigs thru/over timber have been expensive as far as tackle is concerned. I suppose if the timber topped out at a specific depth you could troll just over the tops of the timber but if the timber has irregular tops you will risk hang ups trying to troll cranks.

I have found that jigging and in some circumstances live bait under a bobber has been more productive in standing timber.

Jack

[mac]

Go with JackG's advice. Jigging and slip bobbering is more fun anyway. Trolling you are only the engine that cranks in the fish, not the highly trained computer that sets the hook.

[capnlee]

Trolling heavy timber has been a very productive method for me. I have lost some lures as well, but generally have beeen succesful at going back and getting unsnagged. It can be frustrating at times, but when it is producing it is very rewarding as well. I use 30/8 Power Pro and I would use Fireline before I would use Fluoro. I like to troll the timber a little bit fast, 2.5 up to 3 mph. My most productive, and least snaggy lure has been a CD5 Wally Diver in the color of your choice. I suppose any narrow body lure that runs nose down will cut down on snags. Don't give up as soon as you feel a snag. Often the lure gets caught but doesn't get a hook in the wood. I've caught a lot of walleye as the lure pops through the tree. Avoid using lipless crankbaits. They will snag far more often. Set your drag fairly light, and I would suggest a fast tip rod. If you want to get real adventurous, try trolling leadcore in the timber. I haven't tried it yet, but the guy that goes by Mexico on this site has a very good article about it. There is a lot of really good info on tackle choice as well:

http://abqsportfishing.com/articles/leadcore.pdf

[bdirks]

We troll timber all of the time. My suggestion would be to use braid because it seems to tear through the branches a little better and it is a little more abbrassion resistant. Also, set you drag lighter and go buy a lure retriever. Be prepared though, you are going to lose lures in the timber.

Later,
Brian

[jignpig]

Good Stuff guys! Thanks for the advice! I am looking forward to trying this pattern and hopefuly the fish will be there and into it. The slip bobber thing would be good, but it sounds like this almost an open water over trees senario...Who knows might get there and not find the fish there, but it worth planning for!