that when trolling the more line out (to a degree) the better. The thinking is that the tube/lure/live bait is further from the motor? Am I way off base here?
I was out last weekend and I believe I had about 90 yards out there (3 lead core colors plus my 30' mono) Too much? too little?
Of course it's always possible. I let out my line and then hold the line between fingers to feel it. I can sometimes feel it bounce. I also bring it in after each pass to check for weeds.
Also, if I catch Fluke or Skates I know I have too much out.
No...........We didn't give it much time though the wind and rain were really kicking up out there........plus my light went on me so we called it an evening..
I once caught a lobsta on an umbrella rig. Guess I was trolling too slow/too deep.
How much line I let out while trolling is one of the variables I play with. If I'm running 3 lines, I'll run one outside line about 20 yards behind the other outside line. I'll run my third line (center) just outside my prop wash, about 30-40 feet behind the boat. Besides avoiding the obvious issues of crossing lines during a turn, it provides a different presentation to the fish. If one line seems to be out-fishing the others, I'll make some adjustments.
Thanks..........that's another thing. I was going about 2.8 knots.....it seemed slow but anything else seemed a little too fast.........
It is clear to me that I had WAY too much line out then.......
It also depends on what baits you're trolling and as was said already, the depth of water you're fishing. For example, I'll never troll a tube'n worm in the prop wash because even in 15 feet of water it won't get close enough to the bottom. Never caught a striper close to the surface on a tube...blues yes.
If I'm running three different baits, ussually my furthest line will be a tube'n worm, next furthest a medium running lipped bait or storm shad on a jighead, and closest would be a medium to deep running crank bait or other plastic on a jighead.
When you're looking for the pattern, throw as many variables out there as you can until you establish the preferred pattern.
if you're trolling it depends on where the fish are, if the fish are on top, it doesn't really matter how far behind the motor you are....i usually let the line out at least 60-80 feet behind the boat with good success on the top, now if you're on bottom just make sure you let out enough line to get to the bottom, so it all depends on where the fish are feeding in the water column.