Speed for Hot-n-Tots

[Red]

Could some one help me with best speed for trolling Hot-n-Tots. I just started using snap weights this week end they seemed to effect the action the crank bait.

Any help would be great.

Red

[ETT]

LAST EDITED ON Jul-23-01 AT 03:58PM (CST)[p]Hot-N-Tots (or any real high action lure) have a limit as to how much speed they can take. I don't run them enough to know their top speed, but I'd guess it to be around 2.8 - 3 mph.

Snap wts. usually go far enough ahead of the lure (30 -50') as to have no effect on the action. Type of line on the other hand can have a big effect on the action.

Hope this helps. Good luck.

[ErieAngler]

I would go along with ETT's top end speed and making sure the snap weights are far enough ahead of the bait. I have run them with much success over 3 mph and according to my electronic's speed indicator into the 4 mph range but I am not sure how accurate that is. Run one close enough to the boat (20 to 30 ft. back) and experiment with speed to see if it stays down. When you are out of tune or the bait spins out it will "quit digging" and surface.

[angle-eyes]

When tuned correctly, the hot-n-tots and rattle-tots run well at speeds from 1.5mph to 4mph. Sometimes during a turn they will run to the top.

As one of my top trolling lures, I luckily re-filled my collection of hots/rattles two years ago. I have over 130 hots/rattles, and now with fireline, I generally don't lose many.

[Cangl]

Try this as far as finding the correct speed for a Hot n Tot, run lure along side boat until it pitchs up out of the water or rolls over (giving line twist) Keep speed below that point. I have split shot weight within 6 inches of the lure and know of guys on Erie that use 4inch lead, this short and it tends to pitch up one side and back to the other. With less weight contact on bottom when parting the zebra mussels with that metal bill.