Lead core trolling questions

[Avid Angler]

Hi everyone.

I am looking at doing some lead core trolling for the first time and have some questions.

1.) When measuring how much lead core being put out, do you end when the last full color is completely in the water? So if I want to troll in 20 ft of water and I let out 4 colors, does the fourth color need to be completely in the water?

2.) My big motor trolls pretty consistently in the 2.5 to 3 mph range, which is a little fast for what I have read. Is there a chart or rule of how deep I would be trolling at those speeds with 4 colors. Most lakes I fish set up a thermocline in the 18 to 22 ft range.

3.) If I know I will be only trolling in the 25 ft or less depths, do I need all 10 colors spooled up?

Thanks for your help.

Avid

[TruthWalleyes]

Not enough information to give you a straight answer.

1st question, is what size of leadcore do you have?

Other factors that change leadcore depth are: Lure, Speed, and Leader length/diameter.

It's easiest to put leadcore on a line counter reel, but it should be easily enough to figure out your diving depth by trolling in a 20' flat and letting out line until you hit bottom.

[Avid Angler]

I will be using 18 lb lead core.

10 ft leader

Mainly trolling # 5 SR Rapalas and Flicker Shads

[Vexipro]

I would say you wouldnt ever need more than 4 colors, so you could probably go segmented if you wanted as well. i think i found my sweet spot in 23-24 fow was 3 colors, the change between the 3rd and 4th color at my first guide from the reel on my rod. It changes from yellow to blue so theres about 4" of green in between that i line up on that first guide. This is also at 2 mph, 10' fireline leader pulling #5 shad raps..

also truth is right- if your in a consistent water depth, you can just keep slowly letting out line until you start feeling bottom and then reel in 10-20 feet of lead. remember you dont want to run on the bottom, i'd guess 3-4 feet off is optimum.

[PerchJerker]

The lb strength of the leadcore you're using doesn't make a difference, the sink rate is the same.

The best / easiest rule of thumb is that each color of leadcore gives you 5 feet of depth at 2 to 2.2 mph. Slower speeds and you'll run deeper, faster speeds and you'll run shallower. If you are running other than 2 to 2.2 mph you'll have to test to see how deep (or shallow) you're running.

Turns cause the leadcore to slow and sink on inside corners, and speed up and rise on outside corners.

Length of the leader will make a bit of a difference, especially for a deep running crank and/or a long leader. Add the depth your crank runs on that leader length, to the depth you're getting with your leadcore.

I try to run full colors, or 1/2 colors. The important thing is to be able to repeat what you're doing, and adjust it if necessary. If you want to run 4 full colors, let it out until the color change between the 4th and 5th colors hit the water. If I'm running 1/2 colors then I just eyeball it.

Hope that helps and good luck.

[Avid Angler]

Thanks everyone for the input. I appreciate it.

[Northlander]

Do yourself a favor and get a good leadcore rod like the ones Limit Creek makes. Its the best leadcore rod I have used. Also a good 47 series linecounter reel makes it a lot easier to repeat what your doing. Diawa makes some real good ones at good prices.

[Borch]

The leadcore quetions appera to have been answered. If you'd like to drop the speed a bit drop the rear electric motor and it'll drop a few tenths of a mph. Run it in rerverse and you can go pretty slow. You just need to remember to bring it up before you take off or bad things can happen. Another option would be to drag a small drift soft off the front of the boat. But given the time of year you current speed should work under most situations.