Trolling with bottom bouncers.

[THEFISHHUNTER]

Went out last night and pulled floating crawler harnesses behind bottom bouncers. We fished between 11 mile and grosse point yacht club. We were in 13'-16' fow and trolling from 1.5 to 2.0 mph. We pulled up a dozen rock bass, 1 huge sheep head, 1 measly perch, and 0 walleye. We were targetting walleye and perch.

Is there anything we can do different to get perch and walleye? Faster? Slower? Deeper water? Shallower water?

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

[Capt. Jonzification]

There are walleye in that area. I have been catching walleye on slow turns and have been using only 1/2 ounce bbs. The hot color seems to change daily. Yesterday morning I got 3 on gold with orange dots and got 5 last Thusday on chartruese with orange dots. Keep at it....that area is packed with fish and weeds.

[Slimshady]

It helps to get your lines way out away from the boat and boards make that possible. I use the off-shore yellow boards, with tattle flags. You need to check your lines often due to the weeds. You also need to make sure that you don't have too much line out between the board and the BB, otherwise it will foul in the weeds as you are letting it out. I will sometimes go faster as I am setting the lines to get them out there without fouling, then slow down. On the boards, I would try running a 1 oz bouncer with about 20-25 feet of line between the board and the BB. If you are still getting lots of weeds, then you may want to shorten it even more. I normally start with 1.1 - 1.3 MPH, then experiment up to 1.6 or even 1.8 or so to see what is working. However, the faster you go, the more line you may need between the board and the BB to get it down.

[joecc]

"Is there anything we can do different to get perch and walleye? Faster? Slower? Deeper water? Shallower water?"

all of the above. The key to any type of fishing is if what your doing is not working, try something else. harness color is a big factor and that can change by the hour. 1.6MPH Speed over ground is about as fast as you want to troll although i've caught them going faster. As Capt. Jones says, walleye are often caught on the turn.

you're a beginner and you have to pay your dues, learn by trial and error, etc.. the walleye gods havn't let you in the club yet:evil: Just Keep trying!

[So-hooked]

I’ve been trolling that same area, doing 1.2mph and not having any luck with the walleye either (rock bass and sheephead like crazy though). I cannot keep the weeds off my line. Its not that I’m snagging bottom, but as soon as I put my lines in, the weeds on top of the water follow down my line and get caught around my bb’s or harnesses.:rant:

[Michael Wagner]

I’ve been trolling that same area, doing 1.2mph and not having any luck with the walleye either (rock bass and sheephead like crazy though). I cannot keep the weeds off my line. Its not that I’m snagging bottom, but as soon as I put my lines in, the weeds on top of the water follow down my line and get caught around my bb’s or harnesses.:rant:

Sheephead???? Hmmmmmmmmmmm Ya must be takin that Joeker fella out with ya, He`s a sheepherder from way back. Mike

[williewater99]

I’ve been trolling that same area, doing 1.2mph and not having any luck with the walleye either (rock bass and sheephead like crazy though). I cannot keep the weeds off my line. Its not that I’m snagging bottom, but as soon as I put my lines in, the weeds on top of the water follow down my line and get caught around my bb’s or harnesses.:rant:

:coolgleam You might want to try a split shot or two a few feet back from your bb's., or between the rod tip and any in-line boards you may be using. The shot will catch the weeds before they get to your gear. There's also plastic beads that have a groove and thread on to your line in the same location. You'll still have to clear the weeds, periodically. :fish:

[woody95]

all of the above responces are right on. If it's not working change it up. You may want to try using 1 oz in-lines on your boards rather then bb's. This will let you control the water column better. Set them to run the top of the weeds. 2 ft back will get you 1 ft down going approx 1.5 mph. We just supplied 9 mile BP with some custom painted ones. Good luck

Woody
Detroit Custom Tackle

[jiggineyes]

I agree with the inline weights. BBs cvatch way too much weeds. I only use a 1/2 oz. weight with the snubber in the midde that you twist. LSC is the only place I use them for this reason. The fish will be just inside the weed line in 10-12 fow. With 1/2 oz I only need 35 feet of line to be running them right at 1-1.3mph.

[THEFISHHUNTER]

Thanks for the info so far but;

What do you mean by on the turn? Do you make s turns while trolling?

Also, what depth are you looking for them in?

What tactic do you use when it gets dark in that area? Trolling rapelas? If so what depth? Dipsy divers?

[backstrap bill]

Yes. Dont just troll in a straight line line, the S turns trigger strikes. I work 12ft all the way out to the channel. Where ever I mark em on the graph.