Ive tried trolling a couple times, but not very effectively or efficiently (basically just throwing lures out behind the boat) and seeing how certain situations are better trolled I need to learn how to do it. How do you know how deep your lure is running based on the amount of line out and the speed of the boat? I know it depends on the certain lure but is there a formula you can follow for that specific lure or is it just based on experience? Also, do you first check to see if there are baitfish before even putting a lure in the water? We have a really old graph that doesnt really help out too much, does anyone have a recommendation for a good graph or graph/gps for 200-300 bucks? Thanks in advance for the help.
Jason on the graph I can't help you in the 200 -300 $$ range. I picked up a good Lowrance that I can put a chip in. And make my own lake maps at home. On testing your lure's to see how deep they run, I went to a clear lake with a sandy bottem. You need to know that some lines run deeper them other becuse of lb and size more drage in the water. Then I would put a weight on the line and my leader and start letting out line till it hit the bottem running at 8 ft depth. Them right it down in my log book for that lure. So like if a 7 inch Slasher with 60 lb mono and 4 oz weight and 6 ft leader with 43 ft of line out at 4.3 mpr started to hit bottem then I would right that down. Then go out to deeper water ad test their. and right it down in a log book. Ya it took a hole day to get the data and its one day you can't fiah. But to me the data is worth it. I do the some thing with my long range shoot and just aply it to my fishing. I start makeing hooks at 8 ft I start running lures 4, 5 and 6 ft. and I can put fish in the net. I works for me. Need any more info?
LeMay OUT
Kid their is that book and a new one is due out sometime. But the one I have only has 4 types of line in it. Its a good starting point but their are so meny diff kinds of lures out their it does not cover them all. Like Mike's Slasher's Tim's Hogenater's and on. It you realy want to see how that lure works you need to test it out your self and wright it down. Every boat and lure work different.
LeMay OUT
Ill second Jims statement on the Lowrance. I go overboard but it pays off. Even on my Jon boat I have two units . An older X-71 graph which is a great unit. under that one is a Global 4800 with mapping chip. I use Icons and waypoints to mark the weed edges and breaklines. This takes once around the lake zig zagging over the breakline . I mark most lakes at the 10 foot mark all the way around the lake. This gives me a clear picture of where I can run a spread of 4 lures or planer boards. This keeps me out of the weeds and running clean lines not clearing fouled lures all the time. With my little Jon (tiller handle steering) I can absolutly stay on the edge tight to the weeds with 4 rods all day without weeding the baits more than a couple times and its just the rod that is tickling the edge that catches a weed. This helps tremendously in being precise. This system of marking the edges out also lets you see what the lake structure really looks like when the points and inside turns come to life on the screen. Ill zoom out and see the entire lake make up and this even determines where I troll open water and when I have to turn to stay away from snags and shallow flats. I would recomend buying two units because if you get a combination unit and it fails you are all done. I have had my GPS fail and still had the Graph. I have had the Graph fail and still had the GPS with all the waypoints to keep me in the zone. Your depth finder is the least in importance. I would get a Lowrance 4800 GPS and skip the Chips at first. You can map out your lakes just fine with the software on the 4800. use the graph you have or upgrade to a X-96 Lowrance. But trust me you need two separate units and hand held GPS screens are too small for me. The 4800 is black and white the color version is another hundred bucks. I have the color version on my big boat. It is nicer with the Chips to have color . The Chips are not that acurate though so dont waste your money on them until later. The lowrance 4800 has all the toys you need to be very precise and acurate. Rods, rod holders, lines and lures. So many variables. It has taken me years to get where we are today. All trial and error. Waypoints and Icons show you where you marked baitfish concentrations and Fish, logs and bouys, channels and drop offs. Buck perry did it with a lure(spoonplug) finding bottom. We are way past this method but the principle is the same . Knowing the structure and exactly where it is shows us how to approach it with various presentations. Take the top off the lake and look inside , You will be surprised what some of the lakes really look like under the surface. Mike and Michelle
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