Trolling raps.....troll frontwards or backwards???

[bmc]

I was out on a local lake last night and was pulling rapalas for 'eyes. The breakline has lots of in's and out's and it's a pain trying to troll it going forwards. Is it possible to backtroll and still get enough speed to keep your rapalas in the zone? How do you guys handle this type of situation?

Brian

[Team Otter]

First off, great photo of your daughter on the home page! That's what it's all about.

For situations like that, I slow down or come to a stop at those in's and out's, adjust the boat and then continue on. Often times, the variation in speed and/or direction triggers bites you normally wouldn't get. The other thing that can be done is to waypoint each of the in's and out's and then stay away from those areas a given distance and run your "raps" behind planer boards.

[Borch]

Sounds like a couple of the lakes I pull cranks on. I still pull going forward though, A GPS really helpsas you lay down a trail to follow the next time through. After a few passes you'll have the breakline traced out quite accurately, even the the sharp turns.

Good Luck!

[shae1986]

This is where i like the leadcore bc on those sharp turns the lure stops and when it starts again is where the walleyes will hit it bc of the change in direction and the sudden burst of speed.

[PerchJerker]

Boats are made to go forward

Try shortening up the line to your bait, either by going thinner diameter, or deeper running bait, or adding some weight.

Like others mentioned, place icons at the ins and outs and follow your plot trail.

Also, running a planer board to the inside with a shallow running bait to stay over the weeds can be a good option.

If you can get it narrowed down to smaller stretches where the fish are, making short trolling passes and covering the same spots many times can be really effective.

[bmc]

Thanks guys. Looks like I'll have to wire a plug in for my GPS in the ol' '79 Lund Pike. On this particular lake, I troll raps after dark after the pleasure boaters are off the lake. Usually 5-10' of water is prime. It sure would be nice if we could use 2 rods when trolling. It's hard to get anyone else to come out with me and fish the night shift, except my lab, Maggie!

Do any of you guys use a jig/minnow or big plastic minnow when trolling for nighttime 'eyes?

Brian

[markkstanley]

I use swimbaits over the weed tops trolling at night. Works great. I use either Lunker City Salt Shakers or Berkley swimbaits. They have enough action that I can use the bow mount trolling motor. Another fun lure is a X-Rap - just pump it as you troll to get the slash action.

[insurance guy]

Depending on the size of your motor you can easily backtroll stickbaits off a 3 way or bottom bouncer with enough speed and follow the twists and turns of a breakline much better than you ever could trolling forward with either a gas or electric motor. I do it all the time and I run a 60hp merc 4 stroke on my 17ft Lund Pro Angler and it slows me down to about 1.4-1.5 on the backtroll in calm conditions which is good speed for stickbaits while pumping the rod by hand to speed up the lure and slow it down. I run either 2, 3 or 4 ounce bouncers and you certainly build up your wrist mucscles working a rod by hand with the heavier bouncers but it's the most effective way to stay in the sweet spot when contour trolling with lots of twists and turns and keep your bait in the strike zone for as long as possible.

[Muddog]

I'm doing the ins and outs all the time. Boy it is nice when the fish are on top of the points.

I too use a GPS to plot a trail. You can't always stay on the trail but sometimes that is a good thing. I also use a flasher for a depth finder when working around steep breaklines and find it much better at showing you what is under the boat right now!

I don't think I could troll a steep breakline with out a GPS and a Flasher .

[Team Otter]

I would be surprised if your motor even has reverse.

[whippingpost]

Hey Mark, How do you rig the Lunker City Shakers? I've purchased a bunch of them, but have not had much luck yet. What colors do you use. In what situations do you use them? Thanks!

[Muddog]

I tried that reverse trolling once, I couldn't see where I was going. I did put a bow mount motor and a battery up in the bow of my boat so I could troll around 2mph. Now with all that weight way up in the bow I can get down to 2.3mph with my 25hp motor and see very little need to place the bow mount in the water. So, it works well, just not the way I though it would.

[Grant Pearson]

I'm almost tempted to try going out sometime with you and trying the nite bite with you.

[Grant Pearson]

Quote:

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Thanks guys. Looks like I'll have to wire a plug in for my GPS in the ol' '79 Lund Pike. On this particular lake, I troll raps after dark after the pleasure boaters are off the lake. Usually 5-10' of water is prime. It sure would be nice if we could use 2 rods when trolling. It's hard to get anyone else to come out with me and fish the night shift, except my lab, Maggie!

Do any of you guys use a jig/minnow or big plastic minnow when trolling for nighttime 'eyes?

Brian

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I'm almost tempted to try the nite bite with you sometime....

[Mike Walerak]

For tight turns I prefer to use a 3-way rig. Depending on depth a 3 oz weight is a good place to start. I fairly long rod will help as you can raise and lower the rod tip to acount for most depth change. I also like a flippin switch on my reel so that line can be let out almost immediatly on a steep drop off For the rod a good long stout one will do as long as it has a long handle. The heavy sinker will wear on you pretty quick if you cannot set it accross your lap.

mw