Anybody here troll?

[TN_Explorer]

Most of my past experience has been in the ocean or trolling for trout in South Dakota. Down here I don't see many folks trolling. I've been considering trying to troll for walleye; the problem is my electric trolling motor isn't big enough for all day trolling & the 75 Yamaha won't go slow enough. I've been reading about "boat brakes," or drogues to slow the boat to a trolling speed with the main motor.

Anyone down here tried that or know anything about it? It'll cost $100 or so to get a set of bags -- I hate to waste the money if there isn't any payback for trolling the lakes.

I'd be interested in your advice and opinions.

 

[NRG]

I used to troll for Walleye and Musky in WV and Pa .. but since moving to Tn Ive not found it to be as productive , but have had days when trolling lake points on Chick would pull in some big bass over 5lbs when nothing else here would... I used a 9.9 kicker to troll on a special mount on back of boat next to the big motor just for trolling, A 75hp will troll just fine ( I used a 85 hp Erude in WV ) .. unless your slip fishing with live bait .. then a electric motor is what we used. I trolled baits at just above Idle.
For Musky , sometimes even faster .. you would be surprised how fast you can troll and still catch fish. You could even back troll to slow it down .. using back troll plates to keep water from surging over your transom.

 

[Fuzzy]

What if you back troll? Slows the boat and easier to maneuver. Used it for walleye, had a 125hp on a bayliner and used dipsey divers to get the lures down and out.

Fuzz

 

[Bubbakat]

I use a 5 gal bucket with several 1 inch holes drilled in the bottom and next to the bottom on the side to help brake my big motor. I let it out about 30 to 50 feet and that will hold the boat back when the motor is at idle and I need slower speed.
I troll for walleye my self down here at Rock Island

 

[TN_Explorer]

5-gallon buckets! Thanks, Bubbakat! I will give that a try & see how it works. Never have caught a walleye, but it's way up there on my list of things to do this fall.

 

[SpurHunter]

I have used an 85HP and a 115HP to troll DD22's on the points and breaks for bass. Works like a charm. I never saw any problems with speed, actually I used to crank the speed up a little too.

 

[pikemaven]

Mostly I troll. I have a 4 hp kicker that trolls me all day on a 1/2 gallon of gasoline.

 

[pikemaven]

Mostly I troll. I have a 4 hp kicker that trolls me all day on a 1/2 gallon of gasoline. Besides it acts as auxiliary power in case the big motor konks out. That happened to me in Lake Erie, 8 miles out. Took 2 hours to get in on a 19 ft Cobalt Boat, but it saved my butt.

 

[foodsaver]

send tarheel a PM he is a troller now and I think you will find him to be super helpful.

 

[BackOnTheWater]

My ex-wife was a troll, but I couldn't catch a darn thing with her!

 

[dryhorn2]

I've trolled for walleye at center hill with a 75hp but i had to install a flow plate on the foot of the motor.
See link below. It worked great..


http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...parentType=index&parentId=cat21370&id=0029931

I still may have it if you want it for half price...

 

[Jerry]

I troll about 75% of the time, no matter what I'm fishing for. In spring, summer and early fall, big crappie love a 1/4 ounce Bomber or Deep Wee R trolled about 16-18 feet deep. Speed is not a problem, I've caught many using my big motor. Sauger, bass, catfish, drum all hit trolled crankbaits. I use 4 trolling batteries hooked with pairs in parallel and the two sets hooked in series so that I get 24 Volts but double the life.

 

[xlr8]

Yes, I used to troll for walleye quite a bit on Center Hill, but that was several years ago. Back then, I had a 14' Alumacraft with a 25 HP Yamaha and it did just fine trolling at idle speed. We always had our best luck trolling Storm Hot 'N Tot's in a Perch or Tiger pattern on points in the middle to lower portions of the reservoir.

 

[mallardecho]

Has anyone tried a Ky river rig over there? We used them on the Ky river, and we caught several sauger on them, would also catch bass as well they should work down here. I may have to give them a try this week.

 

[bent rod]

What is a Ky. river rig?

 

[mallardecho]

bent rod - 2/19/2008 7:19 PM

What is a Ky. river rig?

It is simply a DD22 with the rear hook removed and a 24"-36" leader with swivels on both ends and a small Roostertail on the leader. I have caught two sauger at a time on this rig, as well as two hybrids in Taylorsville Lake at one time. It is a poor mans downrigger emoLaugh It works pretty good, I have yet to try it on our lake yet BR. But I will try it some this year. We actually caught a couple walleye trolling this summer, we were using shad raps at the time. It was one of those spur of the minute deals.

 

[Nickajack Angler]

Trolling is a solid way to pick up some walleyes when they are sparse... Shad raps have always been my main artificial bait for that species, but you will pick up bass and an occassional bold crappie.
The BEST way to troll sauger/walleye is a bottom bouncer. 1 1/2 oz weight. Look them up online like at Bass Pro or I know Cabella's. You should be able to idle UP river current and use the bottom bouncer's effectively, but up on Mille Lacs and Lake of the Woods, we just wind drifted. Works like a charm, and when it's 30mph, use a wind sock. But wear your rain pants, you'll get soaked pulling up a wind sock all day. VERY much worth the money and effort to get a windsock. In my esitimation, the lake is not big enough to utilize a sock here on Nick. But could work well on larger bodies of water.

 

[bent rod]

Thanks ME, That is a cool idea.

 

[BigFishGuide]

Ive seen the 5 gal. bucket used many times. Also have seen drift socks used to slow a boat speed down.

 

[Hal]

We have trolled the Mississippi River with an 88 HP motor with no problem. Fish can swim faster than you can troll and like someone said You'll be supprised at how fast you can troll and still catch fish.
I spent a lot of time dragging Bandits on the Chick this last summer when the temp drove the Crappie deep. It's lots of fun,emoSmile emoThumbsup and you can catch some real slabs fishing that way, emoThumbsup I have found that it's easier to go too slow than going too fast, fast meaning you still have control of the lure. Good luck, emoToast