Lure/ rig depth when trolling

[ztownguy]

When trolling in lake how you know you are at desired depth? Should I use a 3 way with bottom bouncer? Kinda new to trolling with lures and rigs so any help is appreciated.

[kfk]

Bottom bouncers or 3 ways will both work. I prefer bottom bouncers myself but it's personal preference.

As far as how you'll know you're at the desired depth? If you're catching fish or getting bites, you're at the proper depth. You could also be at the proper depth and just in the wrong location also.

[ztownguy]

Do rapalas though run at their depth that's on a package? And do spinner rigs float that you need a bottom bouncer on it? Have some crawler spinner rigs just don't know how to determine depth? New to this so thanks again for the help

[fishadb]

Generally I think they say 1 oz per ten feet of water for a bottom bouncer. I normally just use lindy rig sinkers if I am fishing on a clean bottom 1/8oz <7ft 1/4oz <12ft 3/8oz <15ft and so on. Rapalas vary depending how much line you have out and how fast you are moving you should be able to feel if you are hitting bottom or dragging a weed. For spinners I usually go between 1-2 mph and with plugs 2-3mph. I am no expert but hopefully this helps.

[walleyemaniac]

If your new to trolling the best thing I can tell u is purchase a Precision Trolling book. It's kind of a bible for trolling. I can't remember what it it cost. It will help u figure the depth of your lure by line out, troll speed, and type of line you use. Most depths on the boxes will get you close, but there are variables.

Spinners pull straight behind whatever they are attached to, unless there's is a little float on the rig.

Bottom bouncers are so you can feal the bottom and keep your bait and or rig a little ways off the bottom. Usually about that 6-10 inches off the bottom. The thing with bottom bouncers is you want enough weight to keep your line at about a 45 degree angle, at whatever speed, while trolling. You don't want to drag it on the bottom either, just feal that tick of the bottom every so often. Let it fallow to far back and to much line angle, your bound to snag a lot.

Three ways work good if your trying to stay farther off the bottom then a bottom bouncer will allow, or your trying to pull shallow runners deep. You can tie on a drop weight with however long of line you want to keep your bait at that desired depth. You will run this setup the same as a bottom bouncer, 45 degree line angle and just let that weight skip across the bottom. A lot of times I'll use a 3-way rig if I want to pull shallow running stick baits in beep water. Example: I'll run a 3ft line from the 3-way to a 2-3oz bell sinker and another 4-5ft line from the 3-way back to a stick bait. That usually keeps me about 2ft off the bottom.

Hope that helps a little. You just have to play around a little, change stuff up, keep track of what you do, and when you start catching fish your marking remember that setup.