Simple Trolling

[jamieking989]

I just bought a 14 ft. aluminum boat from lost peninsula. I want to troll the saginaw bay shore for walleye. Whats the simplest way to troll 2 lines? Should I use the little 10 " boards cliped onto my line? How far back should they be? I plan on useing #18 rapala's, hot-n-tot's and crawler harnesses.
Thanks for any input. I've never trolled before just surf fished.

Jamie

[bucknduck]

Congrats on your new boat Jamie!
I'm currently in the process of getting my boat setup for walleye and salmon fishing. I will be running a planer mast with big boards, but also plan on picking up the inline boards(10' Walleye Boards), probably this weekend to use on Saginaw Bay.
The 10 inch boards should work just fine.
Is that the same boat your were telling me about a couple of weeks ago?

[fishinmachine2]

Get some good inline boards, I use the Churchs and for leads I would start out around 100 ft but every day is gonna be different. Just play around with the lenght of the lead until you get something going. Remember speed is very important, the rule for spring is SLOOOOWW!! cause the water is cold. I like to troll at 1.2 to 1.5 on the GPS when pulling the big minnow baits. Augres has been great fishing the last couple of springs plus you have a chance for a brown, steelhead or even a king. Good Luck!!

Scott

[MarshEO1973]

I see there are few more Standish fellas on here, hello.
I use the yellow birds if it isnt real choppy.

[jamieking989]

Yes its boat I told you about. 14ft blue fin, 18 hp evenrude with electric start, controls, running lights, trailer, battery and tank for $750. Couldn't pass it up. The ride to toledo to pick it up was kinda rough with my ol beater pick-up but its in my garage now so it was well worth the trip. So you just let out a hundred feet of line, then clip it to the planner, then let it out the rest of the way for the planer to get into position? I just don't want to start out to complicated. bucknduck I read your post about the mast, sounds like you'll have a heck of a set-up. Maybe I'll follow you around, you can a attract all the fish with your 10 line set-up then I'll sneek in behind and nail some, lol Thanks for the info all and hey marsh.

Jamie

[bucknduck]

Maybe I'll follow you around, you can a attract all the fish with your 10 line set-up then I'll sneek in behind and nail some, lol Thanks for the info all and hey marsh.

Jamie

Sounds like a good plan on your part, just be careful of my wash.:lol:

That was a pretty good deal on that boat. We'll have to get out there and figure out how to catch those walleye running boards. 3 day weekend beginning after April 15th thru Dec.

Welcome Marsh, heck, we have half the town on this site now.:D
Sorry I couldn't be more help on your question. BTW, Northwoods is running a really good deal on their rod/reel combos which look like they'll work out nice for walleye fishing.

[fish eater]

If your planning on pulling cranks or bodybaits in any body of water, I have a suggestion. Pick yourself up a Precision Trolling Guidebook. It's done by I think Mark Gwizdala and a few other Walleye pro's. This is the troller's bible and it is a must on my boat. It has all kinds of dive curves for almost any minnow bait you can think of. Right now they have the 7th edition out. Every couple years they experiment with new baits that come out and add them into the book. They range from 20 to 30 bucks. Pick one up and start reading it from page 1. It's very very easy to understand and you'll dig it, I promise.:)

[slowpoke]

If your planning on pulling cranks or bodybaits in any body of water, I have a suggestion. Pick yourself up a Precision Trolling Guidebook. It's done by I think Mark Gwizdala and a few other Walleye pro's. This is the troller's bible and it is a must on my boat. It has all kinds of dive curves for almost any minnow bait you can think of. Right now they have the 7th edition out. Every couple years they experiment with new baits that come out and add them into the book. They range from 20 to 30 bucks. Pick one up and start reading it from page 1. It's very very easy to understand and you'll dig it, I promise.:)

:yeahthat: That will be the best money you can spin (Precision Trolling Guidebook), if you are going to start Trolling, and YES on the inline boards (small boat, inline boards is the only way to go in my book). Good luck.

[The Whale]

In-lines are extremely useful, but don't rule out the big boards usefullness too. A little creativity on your part and you could be using these also. You asked about "simplest", in-lines are the way to go. Don't be afraid of trying trolling with just the rods themselves straight out from the boat with a "Big Jon" mini-disc 3' - 4' ahead of your crankbait / harness etc. Them mini-discs can be set to pull away from the boat on either side. Won't get out as far as a board, but they do work. I use them regular with good success on the Bay, especially when in 20' or more. Experiment as time goes by while acquiring more gear (!! :D !!) to have a variety of methods to use. :fish2: :fish: :fish2:

[Kirb]

Last year was the first year for me, I did ok with 4 rod holders. Lets just say I blew this years gas buget with all the hardware I picked up between then and now. Jigging is on the buget this year.:lol:

[adam bomb]

simplist, bar none, are the inlines. being your only going to fish 2 lines, i presume your fishing alone, so i would go with them because they are simple and dont require you to leave the helm/tiller to bring them in. let me paint a little scenario for you: imagine its a little choppy and your up by the mast trying to reel in the planer board, the waves crashing into the boat turn it sideways, that continues and you get turned around, the planer line gets wrapped around the motor......what a mess, yuck, go with the inlines you wont be disappointed. when you have someone else on the boat, then you might consider the big boards. personally, i wouldnt go to the big boards until you get over 3 lines per side. sure the church boards are pricy, but with big boards,you have to buy all the releases to go along with it. you can make em cheap homemade, but i havent seen any that will compete with the yellow offshore releases commercially available. there pricy, but effective if you should go that route.

now as far as distance back, thats going to vary depending on fish location in the water column as well as water depth. use your locator, and adjust distance back accordingly....dont be affraid to run a short lead either, ive caught lots of walleye 20-40 ft. back on #18' in the spring, but thats mostly at night. the water is clear in the spring and longer leads produce better during the daylight hours...keep in mind the water is cold, so keep your speed down. go anywhere from 1.2-1.5 m.p.h. for your best results. firetiger, clown, blue/silver/orange belly are good baits that produce consistantly.

as the water temps warm up, switch to your harnesses w/inline weight or bottom walkers, and as things really heat up, the tots will take off. but, late in summer, when surface temps are scorching, the crawlers on bottom walkers will produce deep down where the eyes hang out in cooler water. i wont elaborate on that, because you should keep things simple since its your first experience trolling.

good luck to you.;) :)

[jamieking989]

I will be fishing with my wife but just want to go with 2 lines to start with to make simple. I guess we will just try some inlines to start with. Can't wait,

Jamie

[glockman55]

I will be fishing with my wife but just want to go with 2 lines to start with to make simple. I guess we will just try some inlines to start with. Can't wait,

Jamie

Jamie, What part of the bay will you be fishing? I used to go out of Sand Point, and head out to the Small Charity Island in the early season, then work my way past North island all the way back to the inner bay as the water warmed up, I'm getting back into it again this year, I sold my boat,(21' Penn Yan,) about 7 years ago, and regretted it every since. I'm getting a smaller boat this time, a 17' Mon Ark with a 90 hp, plus a 15 hp kicker. I'll have to watch the weather a little closer with this one. In line boards, just make sure you use heavy enough line, I think I had about 12 lb test on mine. Good luck with your new boat and maybe I'll see ya on the bay:fish:

Jerry

[adam bomb]

i use 10# line with inline boards, no problem. most line counters and lure charts are configured using 10# line, thats why i use it. that way i can be allot more precise with lure placement as far as depth and length back. anything outside those parameters requires personal tests and documentation. whatever you do, be sure to keep a full spool on your linecounters to keep repeatablility throughout your rod set as close as possible. this will help when you get a lead that produces consistantly.

in spring fishing is usually good near river mouths and the first flats adjacent to the shore line. the fish could be anywhere from 5-14 fow. usually deeper during the day and shallower at night. spring fish are in there for one reason, and thats to eat. get your set up fined tuned during the day, and then once your confident enough, set it up with some lights and try the night bite, its phenominal. get ready for some of the best fishing of the year...tear em up.;) :)

[William H Bonney]

While the in-lines are very simple,, don't rule out mini-dipsies' and mini-streaks. Those are probably the only thing more simple than the in'lines.

[jamieking989]

I'll probally be fishing around augre this spring. Also might try out in frount of the pine / palmer for perch. Will be in omer at the sucker net for the next 3 weekends though. Hope you have good luck.

Jamie

[glockman55]

Try the White Bass fishing in and around the Hot Ponds, It's a blast, perch rigs, minnows. You might catch anything, but the bass are fun and good to eat. We filled a cooler in no time. I caught a 15 inch Perch in there one year its on my wall.

Jerry

[adam bomb]

jamie,
fishing up around augres, youll probably get a few browns as well. sweet, nice bonus fish.