Tips for trolling, boards, and downriggers

[whateverisbiting]

I am on a large lake with little structure and would like to try something different during the upcoming summer dog days to target wallyes. I have a lot of experience with fishing boards and downriggers for salmon on lake michigan, but have never used these techniques for walleye. The lake has a large basin that is a flat 28' that I would like to explore. My plan for starters is to put a stick bait on a downrigger near the bottom (unless I mark fish higher) and to try a bottom bouncer with a spinner/worm and probably use a board to cover more ground. Worst case is I just end up going for a nice boat ride!

Anyway, I would appreciate advice from anyone who has done this before. What type of board should I buy? What are the pros/cons of bottom bouncers vs snap weights for the board? How much weight is typically used for a bottom bouncer in 28' going 1-2 mph?

[whateverisbiting]

- forgot to mention, it is lake Reno near Alexandria MN -

[Northlander]

Your speeds for sticks/cranks and spinners will be different so I wouldnt run them at the same time.

I would run sticks on the downriggers and then cranks on the boards. I like offshore boards they can handle many different baits and leadcore real nicely.

For spinners on boards I like snap weights rather than bouncers so I can get the weight farther away from the spinners but many people use inline weights as well. I like inlines better than bouncers. Unless your not fishing suspended fish and are fishing bottom.

For sticks /cranks I like 2-3mph and spinners .9-2.0 depending on size of blades.

Another option Im going to play with is a spoon blank with a spinner tied behind it rather than the hook that comes with it. I see many use that rig on Erie.

[tacklejunkie]

At 28 feet, I'd go with snap weights or deep diving plugs as opposed to downriggers. No real reason, just a preference.

Small diving disks would work and I use them when trolling deep.

I use bottom bouncers from time to time but I also prefer inline weights or snap weights.

I have some small Church trolling boards that are a hoot when a fish bites

[whateverisbiting]

Thanks for the tips.

What are good cranks for walleyes and at 28' do you need weight with them or can you buy ones that run deep enough without a weight...and how do you know how deep you are running?

Same with the snap sinkers...how do you know how much weight to add?

[JohnMickish]

There is a book called "Precision Trolling" that has all the answers you seek. If your going to troll cranks, this is the book to have.

[hanson]

Another way to know how deep you are running is to let out enough line to start pounding bottom, note the depth and how much line you have out. Do this at a bunch of different depths and you'll know where you are at with a particular lure.

[Northlander]

In that depth range I like Reefrunner 600's and the Taildancers. Otherwise any bait will work with a snap weight in front of it.

[Hoffer]

Bagley makes some great walleye cranks that get down to 28 feet. if that is all the deeper you need to go - I would stick with straight out trolling them on thinner diamater line - you should have no problem getting down dep enough. Remember the line diamater will play a big role in how far your cranks will get down - unless of course you are using a downrigger. But you can troll cranks easily with just a rod holder, the right dimater line and the right deep diving plugs. For me - its alot more fun that way becuase you dont have to mess around with anything else. If you need to go deeper than 30 - then try all those other methods like dipsy divers, lead core, downriggers etc...

By the way - what do you guys mean when you refer to "snap weights"???

Do you mean the simple oblong weight that you tie one end to the line and the other has snap that you attach the leader and lure to? or is this something different all together?

I would like in some cases to try and get my favorite lures that i know go 20 feet or 28 feet down to get an additional 5 feet or so...without interfering with action or having to mess around with alot of other stuff.

[hanson]

By the way - what do you guys mean when you refer to "snap weights"??? Do you mean the simple oblong weight that you tie one end to the line and the other has snap that you attach the leader and lure to? or is this something different all together?

Check out Off-Shore Tackle, they sell a kit of "Snap Weights". Off-Shore as in the planer board company. Its basically a planer board release that different size weights are clipped to. You then clip the release onto your mainline. Gets your cranks deeper.

[tacklejunkie]

Thanks for the tips.

What are good cranks for walleyes and at 28' do you need weight with them or can you buy ones that run deep enough without a weight...and how do you know how deep you are running?

Same with the snap sinkers...how do you know how much weight to add?

I use 2oz snap weights whether I'm trolling 3 feet or 33 feet. Same with Bottom bouncers. I don't do the one ounce for 10 feet, 2 oz to 20 thing. Keeping it simple.

Try thoses Lil Jon diving disks. They are dirt cheap and easy to use and perfect for walleye depths

[whateverisbiting]

Thanks everyone for the great tips and info. I'm off to buy some more takle, which is almost as fun as catching a fish!

[tacklejunkie]

I'm off to buy some more takle, which is almost as fun as catching a fish!

You are on your way to becoming a tacklejunkie

[stifler51]

ahaha i think im a tacklejunkie.... i love havin the options and endless possibilities, but always find myself falling back to the old favorites.