Trolling with 14 foot boat - walleye or??

[DetroitIron]

Hello,

I just picked up a Meyers super pro 14 boat. I've been wanting to learn the "art" of trolling, so I picked up the book "precision trolling", and bought
(3) Daiwa SG47LCA bait casting reels (got a really good deal) and 7 foot rods to do some trolling with. I"m a total newbie when it comes to trolling.

I'd like to take it on Lake Erie on only "calm" days, not too far from shore, otherwise, I'd like to fish inland lakes and rivers, targetting walleye and pike (and maybe other species, if I can troll deep enough)

1). Anybody have any experience with these reels? Are they good? How far deep can I troll with these? (just wondering how far in the water column I can go down before downriggers become the norm - I've heard around 25 feet lure depth??)

2). Can any body share any experience they have in setting up a 14 foot boat? Its all I can afford now, and I got a good deal on it. I'd rather have a 16 or 17 foot, but I dont' have $2000-$3000 for something decent.
Should I set up my rod holders on the sides of the boat, or make a rod holder along the back?

3). Can anybody recommend a good inland lake or river to target walleye/pike, say, 1-1.5 hrs from Dearborn during the week, and anywhere on the weekend? What types of baits should I run targetting walleye with my boat and 3-4 bait cast reels? Crawler harnesses, bottom bouncers, plugs, spoons?

Any and all input is appreciated.

Thanks very much in advance.



Mike

[KI Jim]

Mike,

Congrats on your purchase! You will really enjoy the boat.

I have fished 14 footers all of my life and I even have one now (I also have a 19 foot Lund). The great things about 14s are that they are no maintenance, immensely flexible and easy to tow and handle. you have to be careful though because if you get stuck out in Erie in a nasty chop-you cannot go into it at all. Also, be VERY careful when you are going with larger waves because they are prone to broaching. when running, ALWAYS have the kill swith lanyard tied to you-it probably saved my life about 4 years ago.

Trolling out of a 14 footer is a lot of fun, and very productive becaus ewhen you find fish, you can really stay on top of 'em. I use plugs and spoons on occasion (get some Dipsey divers to run your spoons-they will take you down as deep as you want to go). My go to method of fishing is slow trolling or drifting worm harnesses off of bottom bouncers-a great way to catch fish.

As far as rod holders, check out the Down East brand. They are really good for a small aluminum because they are mounted on a c-clamp type bracket and are immensely adjustable. So this means you can put 'em anywhere according to how you are fishing that day.

Jim

[alex-v]

2). Can any body share any experience they have in setting up a 14 foot boat? Its all I can afford now, and I got a good deal on it.
You are saying this like it is a bad thing. It is not. Read the msg from "KI Jim" and you will see that having a 14 foot boat is not bad. It is a good thing.

I have a 14 foot Meyers and have just as much luck as some of those guys who run all over the river with their 16, 17, and larger boats.

[Blueump]

If you can get to Saginaw Bay in the summer, its always a slam dunk for walleyes. Just keep your eye to the waves and wind!

[jakeo]

I have had boats fron a 10' flat-bottom to a 26 ft Sea-Ray and still love my 14'er the best.. YES you must be VERY careful but the fun you can have is great. Not all 14'ers are the same..some deeper then others and bla bla but what you have is still only 14' so be careful.
Im just learning the art of trolling with the 14' Mirrocraft that a gentleman gave me on here about 4 years ago but Ive mounted adjustable rod holders from Cabelas on there. They are both on the port(LEFT) side and run one back quite a ways back and also run the other just past the propwash. With both rods on the same side, I can watch both easily and still take someone else who can run on the opposite side.
BTW....Ive had 6 different Meyers boats and still find that the older ones to be the best. Just my opinion.

GL and have fun

[SeaRay]

This site may help you some. It doesn't get real in depth but it has some good info. http://www.bigjon.com/tips/tips.asp

[DetroitIron]

Thanks for the responses everyone. I'm not saying having my 14 foot is a bad thing. I"m really looking forward to fishing with it this year. I just know I have to be carefull if I even THINK about taking it out on Erie. Actually the previous owner of this boat (1976 Super Pro Meyers) mostly fished Erie with it by Cleveland I was told.

I've heard of some scary stories out on Erie, and know you have to have horsepower and some size to get the hell to shore if something blows in. I'd like a 19 footer at least and a 50 hp engine, but at present the cabbage isn't there.

So..... Inland Lakes, rivers???? I was maybe thinking about trying Cass or Orchard Lake, or during the week, and was thinking about taking it up to the Saginaw river or Au Sable River where it opens up wide (near Mio or Alpena I think) on the weekends and give a try for a walleye or two -

I"m just looking to warmer weather and some fishing!

[KI Jim]

I really wouldn't be THAT scared of running the big water on Erie and Sag Bay. You will have many days where it is very fishable out of a 14 footer-just dont get dumb like running 6 miles out off of Monroe in the summer when there is a significant chance of thunderstorms.

There are thousands of 'eyes caught every year within 3 miles of shore between the Detroit River and Toledo. Go get 'em!

Jim

[fishenrg]

A few years ago a bunch of buddies and I got a couple of cabins on Lac LaBell (not sure how to spell it) way up in the UP. If you've ever been there, you know there is a connecting channel to Lake Superior on the lake. My brother-in-law, one of my buddies and me went out on Lake Superior in my bro's boat. It was probably about 14' long, but it was very shallow. I can't remember the kind of boat, but it was almost a floating platform type boat. We were out at the mouth fishing for smallies when the wind started picking up. Being usually at least relatively smart we decided to head back in. Unfortunately, our cabins were all the way on the other side of the little lake...it took about 30 minutes for us to get to the channel. The wind kept getting stronger our whole way in. We stuck near shore and kept our eyes open for a place to beach if it got too sketchy. A bigger boat shadowed us on the way back to make sure we made it ok (thanks to whomever that was). We made it back but we were all quite soaked, and slightly tense.

Long story short, stuff picks up fast so don't push it at all. Get close to the nearest shore if it picks up even if its not where you left from..can always beach it.

The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald just came on the radio as I'm typing this! lol