Trolling equipment recommendations

I'd appreciate some recommendations on rod, reel and line for flat-lining cranks, worm harnesses, etc. Depth I'm trying to obtain is ~ 20 - 30 feet. Is there cranks out there that will go this deep?

Mann's makes cranks that go that deep.

Where do you plan to fish?

[ETT]

There are a bunch that will go over 20'. Some of the deeper ones are: Reef Runners, Bomber 25A, Original Deep Thunder Sticks, Power Dive Minnows, & Stretch 20s.

But ...if you want to learn how to troll, do yourself a favor and get a copy of Precision Trolling by Mark Romanach (available on this site, the products page). It's the first 30 bucks any troller ought to spend. Will lessen the chances for buying the wrong stuff, and put fish in your boat much sooner than if you go without it.

ETT -- Thanks for the info.

Seven -- I'll be fishing in smaller laker ( under 12,000 acres ) in Wester PA.

[Toolman]

There's lots of cranks that will dive to 20+ feet. Rapala Down Deep Shad Raps are another not already mentioned. The addition of in-line weights (such as snap weights will get almost any crank to those depths with little trouble. As far as line, it's hard to go wrong with 10 lb mono (I like Trilene Sensisation) but superlines such as Fireline and the many different braided lines have their place in trolling, as well. Their thinner diameters allow cranks to achieve deeper depths than mono, too. Depending on the line as much as 20% greater depth can be attained.

As far as rods go there's a bunch of good ones for reasonable $$. 3 I'd recommend are Diawa Heartlands (2 piece-about $30) and BPS P&K trolling rods (telescopic-about $60) and Berkley Gary Roach pro model (telescopic-about $60). I've heard good things about Okumas and Ugly Sticks, but haven't used either one. You can find the P&K rods for about $40 quite often (best buy for the $$ IMO).
As far as reels, a line counting device of some kind is a good idea.A clip-on counter can be used, but for long term use I'd recommend a Diawa LC27SCA or Okuma Convector 20. I used to count by 2' "pulls" or 10' "sweeps" but it's easier and more accurate to use a good counter.

Are you planning to hold the rod often? The more a trolling rod is in your hand-the more important the rod/reel "fits" you. A big bulky reel on a long, heavy rod is a bad combo for holding for long periods of time while longlining. A slightly shorter rod (7' to 7'6") with a smaller linecounter (Diawa 17 or Okuma 15) might work better, if this is the case.

Hope this helps.

Tim

[Rod Holder]

I am not a pro but a partner and I recently had great success at the walleye central get together at Huron, Ohio. I use 8' St. Croix Pro Glass telescopic rods (4 of them). They have a moderate action with plenty of forgiveness I am a bit of a maverick when it comes to reels on them. I use Abu Garcia reels in the left handed versions loaded with 12# Perlon mono. I did the 12# set up with the thought of the rods/reels doing double duty for walleyes and salmon. It was reassuring when I exchanged emails with another member of w-c who uses lefties himself. No left handed linecounter reels available, (yet) so I use Shakespeare clamp on line counters. Yeah, they're cheap but they work and do provide repeatability. A good many different crankbaits will reach 20' depth, but...you can achieve this depth with a Reef Runner with only 80' of 10# mono behind your planer board; in my case with 12# mono it is 100'. I know of no other crankbait that will achieve this depth with so little line out. Some will achieve 20' with anywhere from 100' to 200' of line out. The Precision Trolling book will explain how to use the 50/50 method with snap weights for additional depth or the +20 method with a one ounce weight which achieves one third more depth than the normal set back would produce.
You can go longer on the rods depending upon whether you want to use dipsey divers or for other reasons. Longer rods seem to be the way things are going. There was a pretty good article in the Insider about fishing deep in an issue from the summer and in which there was information about snap weight methods, dipseys, and jet divers. A friend of mine borrowed some 10' rods ahead of the PWT tournament at Dunkirk.
For large walleyes and great lakes fishing, mono provides some stretch and with moderate action rods, you can keep the hook from tearing from the mouth of a heavy fish. Just don't get impatient and try to bring them up when they aren't ready. Hopefully, Capt. Dan will have some of his own thoughts to add in regard to trolling on Saginaw Bay. I'd try to remember any pointers he would give.

Good Luck and good fishing.

Keep in mind, the cranks that can get deeper thatn 20', unaided, will be large baits.
If you are fishing a lake with many large fish which are used to eating fairly large forage, then you have no problem.
However, if you want to get smaller cranks down to that depth, you will have to help them out. You can do so by employing some form of weight ,or leaded line, or by using divers.
If you are just starting into the trolling thing.... get ready to spend some money! LOL.
It is like an addiction.... Not the fishing... the tackle purchasing.
:)

Thanks for all the reply's. I'm going to order the Precision Trolling book tomorrow. Sounds like I can't go wrong with the Diawa 27LC's and Shimano TDR's. I guess if I decide to trolling with lead I'm going to need a larger capacity reel??

You may... but mostly using leadline means using a segment of the lead line, and not a whole reel full.....for walleyes, at least.

[Stormsearch]

Bass Pro has the P&K's on sale right now for $40 as Toolman mentioned.