[Nawanda]

the "troller's bible" 7 edition

In hopes of catching walleyes etc, I decided to find out about trolling. The recommended book is "Precision Trolling" by Dr. Stephen Hold, Mark Romanack, and Tom Irwin. I ordered a brand new one from a used book service online, www.abebooks.com and it arrived today.

It came in a thick zip lock bag, and I thought, "gee, they really expect you to protect this on the boat! Imagine my even greater surprise, when I found that the book pages & cover are.......all made of waterproof plastic! That's a big plus for taking a book on a boat. Well, I gotta run, but more soon on this serious book.

 

[Nawanda]

Re: the "troller's bible" 7 edition

(from the man who knew squat about trolling...Nawanda)

Okay, so "Precision Trolling" has no page numbers. What it does list is 125 different crankbaits, with a full color photo of each according to manufacturer & size. Each page has a chart, a graph of how deep the lure will be (all rated on 10# test mono) at so many feet back from your rod. For example, the "Deep Husky Jerk" at the exteme distance from your rod of 220' will be at a maximum depth on 10# mono of 19'. At only 120' back, the lure will be at a max depth of 16' depth. I guess these guys did a very scientific study of all this stuff.

I noticed that only a small handfull of Lures will go as deep as 44' @ 240' back of your rod. One of these is the Bomber "Slim Shad" I don't recall seeing any lure that goes deeper than 40'

Guess I gotta hunt down this trolling technology on my own, otherwise. I'm wondering if there are tricks to get terminal tackle deeper than 44'?

 

[epic]

Re: the "troller's bible" 7 edition

If you use lighter thinner lb test like 6lb line when trolling and targetting walleye at deeper depths, those lures will go deeper and with less line out. When pulling anything threw water there is resistance the thicker and heavier the line causes more resistance and is thus harder to pull threw the water with a lure attached to it. I am not a super walleye fisherman so if Ken and Don and some of the other walleye guys can back me up here, I think 6lb test is fine for walleye here in Colorado.

 

[idratherbfishing]

Re: the "troller's bible" 7 edition

You are right, thinner/lighter line casts further and has less resistance in the water so you can get deeper with less line.

To me the problem with light line is when trolling or feeding heay cover the line gets nicked up quickly and then breaks that much easier. So I go with bottom bouncers, egg sinkers and heavier line to get my line down where i want it.

Dan

 

[don broeren]

Re: the "troller's bible" 7 edition

Precision Trolling is a great book, I highly recommend it! It gives you the benefit of knowing exactly what depth your baits are running, especially when used with line counter trolling reels. Ken and I use a variety of lines for trolling. Fireline, 10 lb. Trilene XT, and leadcore are all good choices at times, it really depends on the situation.

A new lure that I'm looking forward to trying is the Rapala Deep Taildancer. The color patterns look awesome and according to Rapala it will dive to 30 feet! I'm not sure what pound test they used to achieve that depth but I assume it was 10 lb.

 

[epic]

Re: the "troller's bible" 7 edition

Precision Trolling is a great book, I highly recommend it! It gives you the benefit of knowing exactly what depth your baits are running

Isnt this information on the lure box? I havent bought any crankbait in a while but the ones I do have are in my tackle box with the tab from the box on it that says the depths and recommended line.

 

[Nawanda]

Re: the "troller's bible" 7 edition

ePic,

Precision Trolling goes way beyond the info on the new lures box. Most lures give info in the general sense (2-5' or 8-12' or 18-24' ) whereas this book specifies how deep these 125 common lures will go by:

size and weight of the model of lure

speed of the trolling boat

how much line you have out, according to every 10' from 10' to 150' for some lures, and from 10' of line out to as far away as 260' from your trolling boat

Since there is so much variation in lure sizes, such as 1/4 oz, 5/16 oz, 3/8 oz, 1/2 oz, or 3/4 oz etc,....

This book is for the man who wants to know exactly what depth his lure is reaching.

Take the Creek Chub "Pikie" lure for example, on a 10# line:

With 40' of line out, it will reach exactly 7' depth

With 60' of line out, "............................" 8' depth
With 80' of line out, "............................" 8.5' depth
But you have to go to...
120' of line out to "......................." 9' depth

the Smithwick "Deep Super Rogue" will reach a maximum of 18' with exactly 240' feet of line out, but only 6' depth with 20' of line out.

I guess it's important if a fishfinder identifies that fish are at 27' of depth, and you need to put a lure right there. Some lures will reach it with 80' of line out, and others won't ever reach that depth.

It also shows the "20 plus method": if you add a 1 oz Snap Weight 20' from there lure, will cause the lure to run 33% deeper.

I guess the nice thing is that the chart on each and every lure's page is simple and easy to understand, if you take trolling as serious as the authors do. Heck, I don't even have a fishfinder, but I figured the book would teach all the basics of trolling. (I think other books might cover basics for a turkey like me, who knows nothing at all about it)

The book recommends Fireline etc, which I've seen that many walleye fishermen prefer, because it has 'smaller diameter' and allows greater depth than mono.

(sorry for droning on. I just find all this stuff fascinating, cause I've never trolled except to stick any old lure on and drag it around a res!) heh heh

 

[1eyered]

Re: the "troller's bible" 7 edition

If you slow down a little, it would put the lure down deeper right? And if so, would that slower speed reduce the effectiveness of your lure?
:-\
Hmmm.. I should read the book.

 

[idratherbfishing]

Re: the "troller's bible" 7 edition

If you slow down a little, it would put the lure down deeper right? And if so, would that slower speed reduce the effectiveness of your lure?
:-\
Hmmm.. I should read the book.

Possibly Yes and Possibly yes!

Slowing down will definitely make some lures run shallower, but some lures are designed to run only a certain depth and there is a limit how deep they will go. So what I am saying is once you have exceeded the optimal speed not greater depth will be achieved. So sometimes slowing down makes no difference. Make sense? But generally speaking slowing down will reduce depth.

If you slow down too much many lures lose their distintive wobble or if they have rattles, they will not rattle effectively. Every lure has its own characteristics and if it is not explained on the packaging then trial and error is the key.

Another thing is the diameter and length of line you are using. Heavier weight thicker lines tend not to run as deep and the more line you have out the more it "planes" and also not run as deep.

Does this help?

Dan

 

[1eyered]

Re: the "troller's bible" 7 edition

Make sense. Thanks!

 

[Neal/CO]

Re: the "troller's bible" 7 edition

You can also use a soft action rod like an Ugly stick and spool your line counter with Fireline. Fireline is alot thinner and will allow you to get quite a bit deeper. You also have zero stretch! If you can afford several line counters I would have some with Fireline and some with mono.

I think my favorite thing is when walleye move off structure and suspend in the basin following shad, which usually occurs around late July thru September in most resevoirs.