Speed Kills: Getting Trolling Speed Right

Adapted from Capt. John King's article "Speed Kills Fish Big Time!", written 2000–2001 on MichiganSportsman.com. Read the original.

"Speed sends out your invitation. So, you'd better get it right!" John called trolling speed the most vital part of Great Lakes trolling.

Boat control: sea bags

  • John preferred sea bags (water parachutes) over trolling plates. Spring-loaded plates hamper backing up, and trip-lever plates get bent.
  • Carry two. One bag let him hold dodger speed (1.8–2.2 mph) even in a following sea. He added the second when a good fish was on, to slow to a crawl.
  • Run them amidships or about 3' forward of the stern, off spring cleats. Attach the rear loop to the boat so the bag can't foul the props.
  • Two 36" bags slowed his 28' Cherokee to about 1 mph, Lake Trout speed.
  • Bags also steady the boat in a beam sea and let you run higher RPM for better oil pressure and charging.
  • Michigan charter boats must carry at least one sea bag as an emergency drogue off the bow. Every boat should have one.

What affects speed

  • Wind: a stiff north wind can push you too fast on a south troll.
  • Current: from Point Betsie to Big Point Sable, John found a south-bound undercurrent, especially below 50', up to 1 mph or more after a blow.
  • Idle speed: dealer idle settings are often too high. About 600 RPM should give plenty of oil pressure; check with your mechanic. John was told about 550 RPM can keep a GM small-block alternator charging, depending on pulleys.

How fast are you really going?

  • John had four surface speedometers and GPS, and they all read differently. GPS speed over ground ignores current at lure depth.
  • Watch your cable angles. "Cable watching never breaks and it won't lie to you."
  • Keep cables hanging straight down, like a plumb bob. Cables angling to one side mean current or wind slippage, and your lures are fluttering sideways.
  • Underwater speed/temp probes help, but tie a weakened dropper wire from the probe to the cannonball so you don't lose a $200 probe.

Direction

Fish see out the sides of their heads, so a lure passing from one eye to the other triggers strikes. Note which direction you're catching fish on.

Snippets

  1. Match the speed of boats that are catching when you're not.
  2. Keep experimenting.
  3. Watch your baits in the water to make sure they're working.
  4. Use cannonballs of the same weight so they track together.
  5. Slow down when fighting fish.
  6. Dodgers, flashers and cowbells call for 2.2 mph or less.
  7. Watch the turns: if the outside (faster) rods go off, speed up. If the inside (slower) rods take bites, slow down.

The downwind trick

If all your bites come on a downwind troll in 3'+ seas, keep going until the action stops. Then pull lines, run back about a half mile past where it started, and repeat the same downwind course. John watched tournament winners do this.

More: Surface Trolling with Salmon Buster Spoons · Trolling Cheat Sheet

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