Lead core or 3 way?

[Wish2Fish]

Hey trolling experts! I'm planning to enter the world of trolling this year--most likely on the St. Croix river. How do I know when it's time to use lead core vs. a three-way rig with a big ol' weight and crank bait. Do I use lead core to reach a specific depth while trying to find suspended fish, and the three way when I want to hold close to the bottom? What conditions determine when I would use which? Sorry for sounding like a neophyte. It's just that I'm a, well, neophyte. Maybe even a pre-neophyte in this case!

Thanks.

[Mike Walerak]

In rivers when I am working tight edges and current breaks I prefer to use 3-ways. Generally, a 3-5oz weight will be needed. It gets to be trick to learn the dropper lenghts and leader lenght for the different styles of cranks. Three ways are also better option if the water is over 20 feet deep. The current puts some extra lift on the lead core and it just doesn't work all that well.

Another plus to 3-ways is you can do more position fishing(barely moving at all). This can be a deadly way to fish the front sides of wingdams. You will also be able to mix up your prentations by adding spinners and floating jig heads to you rigs.

If you plan to fish longer shallower stretches of river the lead core will be the best option. It allows you to do more S curves and cover more water while keeping you lure farther from the boat.

I personally use both and you will figure out very quickly waht works best in your situation.

mw

[IrishZit]

I think this is a good discussion and I wonder the same thing. If you are looking to stick close to the bottom, when do you go with a bottom bouncer for a three way. Do folks fun crank behind bottom bouncers?

Sully

[riverrat56]

I've never fished a 3-way with cranks before, looking to try it this year, do you guys typically troll it basically vertically? or do you run it out behind the boat aways? Also does the sinker drag bottom or do you keep it off?

Thanks for the help

RR56

[PerchJerker]

Try to keep it as vertical as you can, but it will probably be closer to a 45 degree angle than straight down. Obviousely more weight will help keep it more vertical. You don't want to be dragging bottom, just occaisionally in contact with the bottom. They're great for fishing steep breaks and lots of ups-and-downs bumps.

[Jim Hudson]

I have experimented a little on each of these presentations, but am no expert in any means. But here is what I know..

For lead core, I would use it mainly for contour trolling a fairly large break or for trolling suspended fish where you need extra depth with certain lures. Or for suspended fish on contours!!

For three-way rigging,(which I believe is a lot more versatile and would be the way to go for most people) Mike gave some good ideas for that. But you can also use this method instead of lead on contours when you want to stay close to the bottom. And as mentioned, experiment with dropper lengths and also what you use for a dropper and lure. There are a variety of styles and riggings you can employ. Such as using a jig head for a dropper weight, or run one crank behind another (taking the rear treble say off a shadrap and then tieing in a floating rapala behind it), or even tieing a harness behind a crank. Just use a weight specific to the depth you are fishing and use a lure that will stay in your strike zone, if you want to be tight to the bottom, use a shallow running crank, or vice versa. Also, be sure to use the right type of weight for the type of bottom, if it is sand or small gravel go ahead and use whatever, but if it is rocky or snaggy, use a weight that wont get hung up. Run your lines at 45% and then mix and match to what the fish want.

Both have a time and place, but if you experiment and work at both methods they are not that hard to employ. Lead is a bit more tricky then three-waying and I believe three-waying is would be versatile enough for an angler that does not want to spend the money for another set of rods and reels.

Another good option for suspended 'eyes are snap weights and or keel weights.

[bmc]

The latest In Fisherman show had Doug Stange fishing steelhead in the Niagra River using a 3 way rig. They were floating the same speed as the current and keeping the line as vertical as possible. They were using a small husky jerk for a lure and hammering the steelies. They said this technique works awesome for lots of different river fish. I've done some 3 way rigging deep water 20-30' for walleyes and gators in the summer and it's worked, especially with the gators, but then again, what doesn't work for gators?

Brian

[guideman]

FYI,

You may want to check your state regs, before you use any multiple bait setups.

"Ace"