Wire Line - Speed

[BigDan]

When pulling wire in the SCR, say at Marine City, what speed over water should you run for pencil plugs or spoons. I don't have a GPS so I have to use the paddle on my fish finder. Thanks for the input.

[Gone Fishing]

I’ve never had a gps or a ff transducer with speed but I make very little forward progress, probably less than 1 mph excluding the current. Most of my bottom coverage comes from sideward movement.

[Wall-llard Willie]

I don't have anything that indicates speed either but Gone Fishing is right on. If your headed straight up river your forward progress will be very little.
I use my cable angle as my indicator. Of course angle will vary depending on alot of things (cable weight/coating, depth, river location, weight, plug type ect) but a good rule of thumb is 45 degrees to the water, sometimes flater. This weekend in Port Huron with 2 lbs of weight and non coated wire I was running more like 30 degrees.

Marine City 1-1/2 lbs of lead and 45 degrees should be about right.

[alex-v]

I have always used the angle method for deciding trolling speed; never did have any of that fancy electronic stuff. And, yes, upsteam speed is slow. The idea is to slip across the current, allowing the lures to run up and down the drop offs. Think of allowing the boat to move sideways to the current and not directily into it.

Sometimes, you can spend hours moving back and forth and make no progress going upstream at all.

[Wallywalleye]

GPS is useless when trolling in St. Clair or Detroit river. Paddle wheel works great in places where wind can affect current speed. I've trolled as slow as .7 with rapalas in cold water, up to 2.2 with pencil plugs at night. Trick is to barely make headway when paralleling shore, then sliding in & out while fishing contour, or drop off. I use a combination speed indicator,& experience feeling the sinker touching bottom. Don't forget every speed indicater will vary a little, especially at real slow speeds. Hope this helps. Wallywalleye

[River Rat]

in calm conditions i usually go 2.0 to 2.4 in north wind as much as 3.4 in some cases. try not to fish with a north wind

[BigDan]

This is a bit like getting a recipe from your grandmother, a pinch of this and a shake of that. Learning what feels right is a lot more difficult than plugging in a number on your electronics. Thanks again
Dan

[Houghton laker]

I’ve never had a gps or a ff transducer with speed but I make very little forward progress, probably less than 1 mph excluding the current. Most of my bottom coverage comes from sideward movement.


I never new you were a wire puller John!! Now we just need to turn you into a icefisherman!! :lol:

[Gone Fishing]

I never new you were a wire puller John!! Now we just need to turn you into a icefisherman!! :lol:

I did it for many years. As far as ice fishing, it will be a cold day in Hell Michigan! :p