Dumb question from a Rookie

[traditional]

Just started to get hooked fishing salmon. How far back off the ball do you guy's run your lures. I have heared a lot of different numbers. As you can tell I am not having much luck. Thanks :help:

[adam bomb]

Theres no dumb questions, weve all been rookies at one time or another. In general i run my spoons 25-60 off the ball. When i get the riggers up around 30 down or less, i lenghten them out from 60-100'...Experiment, because at times it does make a difference.

With flashers and flies i go 15-30'. The reasoning is so that you can avoid tangles.

Another rule of thumb, the deeper you go, the shorter distance off the ball you can go.

This works for me, im sure others will chime in.

[malidewd]

I'm no pro, we used to run them 20-25 ft back. Like I said, I'm no pro. Are you fishing out of Frankfort?

[Nailer]

I've been running mine 20-30' back but, whats more important is fishing where the fish are, ie Water temp, correct depth. the speed you go is some times very important. also the direction of your troll make a difference (I like to go with the waves/wind).
A lot of guys will tell you to run the lures back farther (40') when fishing Shallow (this means depth down, not depth of water) and close (12') when fishing deep.
Good Luck, you'll get it after a few tries.

[traditional]

Things make a little more sense when they are explained. I just have a 16 foot boat so I have to pick my days been out on west bay and out of Leland. Thanks again

[lccpopo494]

I asked the same question earlier this year for I too am a rookie to the big lake. I was told that on calm days to run the lure 60'-100' feet back and on days with a chop on the water to keep them closer, 20-60 back. it has helped alittle bit, but I think speed and temp are more important.

Al

[Overdew]

Also if you are getting releases and not hooking up shorten the length some,the mono streches less.

[salmon_slayer06]

http://mud.mm-a3.yimg.com/image/2539962076

offshore releases are the way to go for spoons. Roughy choppy water gives your spoons good action when close to ball like 20-40 feet back. Calm flat shallow water run them back farther. Black rigger balls doesn't spook fish if you fishing pressured fish so you can run them closer.

[BFG]

50fow or less...75' or more back on spoons.

50-75fow....30-50' w/ spoons

75+ fow.....15-30' w/ spoons

I used to run Spinnies and flies close to the ball...but as of last week all of that changed and I'll now run them 30' back or more...just watch your inside diver settings if you put them on your outdowns. Use quality releases and load your rods tight.


Hope that helps...

[traditional]

Lot of good information. Maybe I will catch one in my own boat yet. If you hear someone hooting and hollering when your out in your boat you will know I just caught my first chinook. Thanks

[fish-on]

You will,you will.It's what to do when all 3 rods go off at once :dizzy::lol:.Most times i run mine out 30ft.Some times longer sometimes shorter,whatever the fish want.Biggest thing is probaly speed,a fair handheld gps will cure any speed problems.2.2 to say 3mph should get ya in trouble :fish::lol:.mag spoons snap better at the higher end where say crankbaits work better at slower speeds.Theres some good trolling books out there,maybe someone will put up a link for 1 or 2 i dont have one.good luck and get ready,it will happen :evil:.

[sully_0123]

when what your doing is not working change it!!! and then if that works let me know!!!!

[SalmonBum]

I run mine closer than others, usually only 10' 1st light then will vary as the fist tell me what to do. As all have stated, basics are Deeper is shorter, higher is longer. Rough water is shorter, clam is long. When running spinnies I keep my leads under 10'. Them things can really eat up the other rigger lines if you give them line.

[thousandcasts]

I asked the same questions when I started out several years back. Lot's of good advice here and when it all clicks for you, it's a thing of beauty. Don't be afraid to change up things and if something isn't working, do what ever you can to give 'em something different to look at. I mean, some days I was pounding fish trolling at 2.5 on the GPS. Other days, I wouldn't touch anything until I was well over 3 or 4. Sometimes, I'd hitting nothing on an east troll and then pop everything on a west troll. Avoid going in a straight line, make several long turns...it's all about tweaking and finding different things that work. Hell, I miss it! If I didn't have such a chumming problem, I'd get back into the big lake fishery in a heartbeat! :lol:

[MoneyMan11]

My leading are usually 20-30 feet off the ball using flashers. 20 feet if I'm fishing deep, 30 above 50 feet. There are time however if the fishing is slow that I'll extend the lead to 50 feet or more even when fishing deep, I'll only use 2 riggers though. I've caught most of my fish the last couple weeks 90-110 feet down.

[traditional]

Went out on West Bay tonight. Your advice payed off. Ya, the rookie caught a FISH. Didn't mark many but did hook up with a 16 pound king. Happiest guy on the lake tonight. Missed a small one too didn't trip the release so I think it was a small one just saw the rod tip bouncing. Had him for a second. Anyway thanks for all your good advice. Salmon on the grill!!!!!

[eddiejohn4]

just remember that trolling is the art of duplication. when something works change to match.

[adjusted3]

Very interesting as to how far the leads are for different people....

I used to run mine 30-40 back and I am consistantly running them 10-15' behind the ball. I have found no difference except in the spring-- then I run them 40 to 50 back.

I agree with the above post though, duplication is the key.... if the rod is firing at 25 off the ball, then move the others to 25 off.

Good luck,

Mark

[traditional]

Just updating the teachers. Been running 30 feet back on west bay and it is working. You guys have created a monster (My Wife). Thats Right, she does the reeling since I have a small boat and there is no moving around (I man the net). Three Kings now, 16, 12, 8 pounds. Dream Weavers and glo horse flies seem to do the trick (nothing on spoons). Fish are deep though, fish came from 70 to 120 feet down. I can't get a bite on the dipsy though. probably because the fish are so deep. Been running the thing 100 to 150 feet back and still can't get deep enough. Anyway , all the advice has helped THANKS.

[Nailer]

If your using Braid on the Dipsey, you can run it back to 200-250 back, that will get you down 60-70 feet. With this East wind the water will cool down so the fish will be higher in the water column.
Nice job on the fish! Post a pic of your wife with a fish.

[traditional]

I am not a computer wiz. I don't know if this will work. This is one of the Salmon my wife caught. She didn't want her pic posted so this is the next best thing. BTW got skunked last night.



http://http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/531/medium/PICT0200.JPG

[traditional]

As you can tell the picture didn't paste. You can find it in the photo gallery under salmon. I HOPE !!!!! :)