Trolling speed survey

[Gunga Din]

What's your go-to trolling speed. I know it varies depending on conditions, so feel free to say under what conditions you adjust. I'm looking for rules-of-thumb--not "let the fish tell you".

For instance, I start the day out pulling cranks/spoons at 1.8 mph. I go a little slower at times, a little faster at times--and I usually do lots of 'S' turns--but it seems 1.8 is my most productive speed.

As for bottom bouncers, spinners, lindy rigs, etc, I usually crawl with the electric. I have no idea how fast (er, slow)--just enough to keep that line at 45 degrees. Sometimes it seems too slow when fish are 30', but I try to add more weight to keep that 45 degree angle.

With inline planer boards, I keep it about 1.8 too. With leadcore, never more that 2 mph.

What about the rest of you?

[Tom22]

In July and August in Saginaw Bay ,I run from 2.0 to 2.8.(running cranks) Last week we started at 2.1, caught 2 fish the first hour, kicked the speed up to 2.7 and caught 7 more and 2 other releases the next 2 hours.

[Eldon]

I assume that you are measuring your speed with GPS, but at speeds less than say 1.5 mph GPS doesn't do a very good job for me. So I did some calculations and made some assumptions that you may find useful. Your ability to estimate distance and time is key to this "homemade" speedometer:
Assume that you move 3 feet(pass a leaf on the water, or spit, or whatever you decide to use to measure 3 feet. I chose 3 feet as an arbitrary length as opposed say to 10 feet. I felt that I could keep track of a 3 ft. change of position easier than say a 10 ft. change of position. Then simply count or use the stopwatch on your arm. Use the chart below which I have taped to the back of my Precision Trolling book by Steven Holt, Romamack and Irwin and go get em'. The following table will get you close. Have fun!

Assume you move 3 feet in X sec. then Y = mph

X------Y
.5-----4
1------2
1.5----1.5
2------1
2.5----.8
3------.7
3.5----.6
4------.5
5-----insects are biting
>5----anchored (:-)

Eldon

[MR.Pike]

Whoa! hope this guy doesn't have access to uranium or plutonium.. I agree with saying that my go to speed is 1.8.mph. But seriously, throw away the mph reading and watch the rod tips to see how the baits are running. I gotta say that the rods tell alot more(and if the fish are hitting)than most people realize. I also think that a proper running lure has more to do with getting hits than just the speed factor(IMHO)
<;{{{{{<<( Mr.Pike

[Fin Addict]

2.2 mph on the paddlewheel for cranks as a starting point and move up or down from there. Faster later in the year, like now, if weather has been stable. Slower in colder water or unstable weather.

[Eyez]

April/early May = 1.0 - 2.2 mph
Late May/June = 2.0 - 2.7 mph
July/August = 2.5 - 4.0 mph (This speed does NOT work with boards :) )
Sept = 2.5 - 3.0 mph
Oct = 1.0 - 2.5 mph

During most of July and August when cranks are best I like to fish between 2.5 and 3.5 mph. I'll sometimes speed up to 4 or even 4.5 mph for short bursts, immediately followed by taking the motor out of gear and stopping. Suspending plugs work great for that.

As far as bouncers/spinners, I rarely ever go more than about .7 mph, almost always with the electric. It's too hard to keep on bottom without using a cannonball for a weight.


Eyez

[Sunshine]

1.7 starting all year round

[Fuji]

I tend to agree with Mr. Pike feel the rods. When a crank bait wobbles you can tell when it's putting out maximum water displacement. Not nessisarily faster vibration but rather maximum tug with every shift from side to side. When this rythm is set I seem to nail'em. This might be 2.5 into the wind and 1.9 with it. It's kinda like seat of your pants fishing.

[poopie]

i usually start at 1.5 and go from there. depending on the cranks i'm using some cranks won't run well at higher speeds. but in the summer with my go to plug (hot-n-tot) usually bounce between 1.5 and 2.2 . with spinners i start just fast enough to turn the blades, then speed up if nessecary.


has any one else had trouble with hot-n-tots latley? the last batch i bought 1 in 10 would not run out of the box and i had a **** of a time getting them tuned.

[Bob Z]

I sure am glad we are all of a like mind on that issue. (ha ha). Good thing the fish arn't too fussy about speed.
Interesting trip I made to the Baja last spring fishing on the Sea of Cortez. The trolling speed was about 9 - 10 MPH. My 9.9 would have been usless.
PS, We were on a school of dorado about 26 miles out from the beach with a dozen other boats. I looked up between fish and saw a 16 ft. red Lund troll on by.

[Dunn]

I fish the outter areas of Saginaw Bay, and this is how I usually troll the areas near Big Charity Island, Au Gres, down to hat Point Reed, and Pt. Austin Lighthouse:

Spring (April-May): 1.5 - 2.5 (Crankbaits)
Summer (June-July): .2 - 1.0 (Crawler harness')
Late Summer (July-August): .5 - 1.5 (Mixed)
Fall (August - October): 1.0 - 2.5 (Mixed)

--
Marshall J. Dunn

[Matt]

I have to aide with Mr. Pike and Fuji. Around 2 (on my depth finder) is my start speed. But that is only my first point of departure. I really feel that a properly running lure is the key. Into the wind/current or with it, size/style of lure.... too many variables to just pick a speed. I feel with the rod, listen to the motor, watch the scenery (great formula Eldon) going by. I don't like using the speed on my GPS. Drive around with your GPS in the truck once. I'll believe my truck speedometer before my GPS. The spedometer on the depth finder is also not very accurate at those speeds because its not measuring how fast you are going but how fast the surface of the water is moving by you. Sorry Gunga Din, but to answer your question 1.8 is where I start with Rap's.