Short line trolling with deep diving baits .

[scaleface]

I'm not an avid troller but there are times where I will follow the contours with a crankbait . When  first started doing it , I let out lots of line . When following the contour with a lot of line let out , half the time the bait was not tracking at the correct depth when zig zagging   trying to follow the contour  . Also every time the lure  snagged  , I had to back track a long ways to get to the lure . Eventually I started trolling with just a cast length of line . That allowed me to keep the lure in contact with the depth targeted much better , it also  wasnt near the  hassle when snagged. I  was more successful this way because it is much more manageable  . When trolling cranks , do you guys let a lot of line out  or short line it like me ?

[Finessegenics]

I usually let out a lot of line and ended up with the same frustrations as you did. My thinking was always that if the lure was too close to the boat fish may be spooked by the boat and motor. I have no way of knowing for sure. Somewhere in between far and close, whatever that is, is probably best

[Team9nine]

It depends. For deep water contour trolling, then deeper running plugs on shorter lines is often the best way to go. The deepest depths on the shortest lines require wire. However, there are situations where longer lines and more traditional diving depth plugs can excel - straight line passes, clear water, cold water, S-curves, maximum diving depth; any situation where the fish might be spooked by the boat and need a brief period of time to resettle before the lure comes through the area. You really need to be able to do both to properly cover all situations.

[Deleted account]

33 minutes ago, Finessegenics said:

I usually let out a lot of line and ended up with the same frustrations as you did. My thinking was always that if the lure was too close to the boat fish may be spooked by the boat and motor. I have no way of knowing for sure. Somewhere in between far and close, whatever that is, is probably best

It's a balance, depending on the contours, the bottom composition, and the number of rods being trolled. A swimbait on a jig head or swim jig is a good option if cover or snags are a big problem. 

[J Francho]

I guess I'd say I use a short line, slightly more than a long cast.  Any longer and you aren't gaining any depth and losing contact with the bait due to bow in the line.

[Fishingmickey]

15 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I guess I'd say I use a short line, slightly more than a long cast.  Any longer and you aren't gaining any depth and losing contact with the bait due to bow in the line.

X2 here.

 

I've also found that using 30# braid will allow me to get the deeper (15'-20') diving crankbaits down to that 20' depth range. I will long line them too. Long lining for me is a long cast and a half or two long casts distance.  I just keep the drag on the light side and use a sweep set when I get bit. If it is a bigger fish 4lb+. I'll ease up on the drag a touch to make sure I don't bend out the hooks when fighting the fish.  Using 12# fluorocarbon and a long cast works great for that 10-17' depth target.

FM

[Deleted account]

1 hour ago, Fishingmickey said:

I just keep the drag on the light side and use a sweep set when I get bit. 

Interesting.

[J Francho]

I do the same thing.  You can add drag with your thumb if needed.  I fish for salmon and steelhead with a centrepin, so applying pressure to a fish this way isn't foreign.

[gim]

I used to do a fair amount of trolling with crankbaits for walleyes.  I don't do it anymore as I find it to be an extremely boring way to fish nowadays.

 

When I used to do it, we flat lined with Berkley Fireline.  That stuff knifed through the water extremely well and got the crankbait down to where it was supposed to be with a minimal amount of line out.  Sometimes we used planer boards if more than one line was permitted per angler AND if we thought the fish were getting spooked by the boat.

 

My parents still troll for walleyes but now they pretty much just use lead core.  The lead-weighted line goes right to the bottom and they can troll crankbaits at any depth, even ones that aren't designed to be ran deep.

[WRB]

Define short line... under 120’ or 150’. Unless you are using lead core or monel wire the depth reaches it’s max depth Somewhere between 120’ to 150’.  

Musky trollers often troll about 60’ of line, that is a short line!

Tom

[gim]

4 minutes ago, WRB said:

Musky trollers often troll about 60’ of line, that is a short line!

 

I've seen some muskie guys who troll one right behind the boat in the prop wash.

[Dwight Hottle]

2 minutes ago, WRB said:

Define short line... under 120’ or 150’. Unless you are using lead core or monel wire the depth reaches it’s max depth Somewhere between 120’ to 150’.  

Musky trollers often troll about 60’ of line, that is a short line!

Tom

 

Max depth for walleye deep diving baits is 200-240 without weight just straight braid.  

[Dogface]

I do a lot of trolling. The body of water, the depth, the clarity, the lure, etc. dictate how much line I troll. Sometimes I have lures right in the wake and sometimes they are way out there. For me the answer to your question would be "it all depends". 

[Dwight Hottle]

2 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 

I've seen some muskie guys who troll one right behind the boat in the prop wash.

 

Not only muskie but also pike & lake trout. The bursting bubbles is what they say gets their attention.

[Dogface]

3 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 

I've seen some muskie guys who troll one right behind the boat in the prop wash.

 

Pike too! I catch a lot of toothy creatures right behind the boat. 

[Catt]

Interesting topic!

Very interesting!

 

Toledo Bend was known as the Mudbug Capital of the world & trolling was why.

 

I still got a few ?

[Born 2 fish]

I just make a normal cast and troll. 

[Fishingmickey]

4 minutes ago, Born 2 fish said:

I just make a normal cast and troll. 

     Same here, usually it is when I am moving between spots with the kayak. I'll chuck out a crankbait or lipless and put it in the holder whilst I pedal or paddle.  If I am trolling (not spot to spot) to catch fish is when I use the braided line and am going for deeper depths. WRB, that 120' - 150' is probably about right for my cast to cast and a half distance I referred to earlier. If it is shallower water I'll shorten up the distance to get the right depth.

     I have some crank baits that will get down to the 25-27' depth range on the braided line. that would be 8XD-ish in size.   

FM