Trolling speed

[Tailwalker]

I will be fishing Nootka Sound for the first time in July. Planning on using everything in the arsenal. What I don't know is how fast (in knots) to troll 1. anchovy or 2. Tomic plugs/hootchies?? At Rivers Inlet, I've been taught SLOOW for springs but have heard rumors of trolling fast, as in 3-4 knots in Nootka. Any truth to that? Would appreciate any thoughts.

 

[Dogbreath]

The general answer is Yes since you're after feeding fish not the staging slugs of Rivers.

But plugs are fished faster than hootchies and Anchovies well it depends as leader length can be an issue.

Have a close look @ how fast people around you are going and ask around on the dock.

 

[Sitkaspruce]

I usually run 2.5-2.8 for anchovies on a 6' leader

For plugs and spoons with no flasher, 2.7-3.3, depending on tides and other weather conditions.

Lots of other factors also play a part in the speed.

Fish what works, try things and see what others are doing as well. One thing is if you go slow, you up the chance of catching bait stealing cod and dogfish.

Cheers

SS

 

[lorneparker1]

Riggers on a 45 degree angle. I Don't pay attention to speed.

 

[adrianna3]

Like Lorne says, go by your rigger angle. Set your kicker speed, test you anchovy roll at the boat, and then put your gear down. I personaly like to be one of the fastest boats in the group.

Dave

 

[Tailwalker]

Thank you all for your thoughts. Now I just need the gale force winds to die down before I get up there......

 

[Finished Business]

I personaly like to be one of the fastest boats in the group.

Dave

Yuuuuuuuuuup

 

[Sharphooks]

What they do at Rivers is not a good base line for trolling speed because as was pointed out, that's a unique fishery

Every boat I've ever owned I've used the same indicator for speed---troll just fast enough to take the vibration of the kicker out of my rod tips.

I fish bait more then artificials so I generally troll a bit slower then most guys, but when I mix it up and use spoons and plugs on a second rod, I maintain the same slow-ish speed that I do when pulling bait--- seems to work.

Just don't get into a group of boats that are all trolling faster---it just pisses them off----all part of fishing etiquette

 

[hambone]

You'll see a wide variety of trolling speeds in Nootka because all terminals (bait, hoochies, spoons, plugs) are popular from way inside to offshore. As mentioned, you should speed up for plugs. The vast majority of inside boats will be rolling anchovies, so this may give you a speed to match but more importantly you need to fish the speed that gives your bait the best roll.

 

[Rum Buddies]

more importantly you need to fish the speed that gives your bait the best roll.

This is #1 when fishing bait, there are lots of times dragging bait in heavy current where we aren't actually moving at all just walking back and forth off structure holding steady in the current.

Fishing hardware though, I agree with most others above me, fish a little faster then the average guy 2.5 - 3.5mph

 

[wet spot]

At Nootka I troll a little slower with anchovies - 2.0 mph on my gps ...little faster with plugs and hardware but not over 3.0....will be there first week in August!

 

[tortuga]

Cable angle dictates speed.
I still chuckle when people swear by a trolling speed. Any where there is current gps ground speed means diddly.
Are you going 2 knots with a 2 knot current or against it.

 

[Jacob's Ladder]

I usually run 2.5-2.8 for anchovies on a 6' leader

For plugs and spoons with no flasher, 2.7-3.3, depending on tides and other weather conditions.

Lots of other factors also play a part in the speed.

Fish what works, try things and see what others are doing as well. One thing is if you go slow, you up the chance of catching bait stealing cod and dogfish.

Cheers

SS

SS

Are talking mph or knots. ?

Thanks

BD

 

[Fish Nutz]

I go by my water speed sensor not by my speed over ground on the GPS. This way I know what the combination of tides and trolling speed is doing to my bait. Always between 2.5 and 3.5 mph.

 

[Fisher Down]

Any where there is current gps ground speed means diddly. Are you going 2 knots with a 2 knot current or against it.

I go by my water speed sensor not by my speed over ground on the GPS. This way I know what the combination of tides and trolling speed is doing to my bait.

X2
I agree 100% guys - I'm apparently not the only person (secretly) laughing at people swearing about their 'deadly' GPS speeds.

F D

 

[Drewski Canuck]

Eight Years of Begging, I owe you

About 5 years ago we were in the packt off Hoisse Point. We were as skunked as the rest of them. A 17 foot white fibreglass boat, named "Eight years of Begging" was flying though the pack, and hooking fish. He had his downriggers running a very long time to get the ball in, and he had his downrigger lines at about 60 - 45 degrees.

We started dropping down to 90 - 120, and to match his speed we were doing 4.5 mph on the speed - temperature sensor on the Lowrance. We killed them. 29, 30, 31, & 32 # in 2 hours on a spacklback hootchie or anchovie. Everyone else just looked on.

Never looked back.

Sometimes you have to really speed up to get attention. If nothing is working, for you and the other guy, hammer it as fast as the line holder clips will allow.

Drewski