walleye general discussion South Wind VS North Wind

1) over the last 2 years I have fished for walleye from mid October until mid May
I have found it to be a waste of time to fish when wind is coming OUT OF THE SOUTH in 55 FOW or shallower
I have found it to be 50/50 when wind is coming OUT OF THE NORTH in 55 FOW or shallower
since I have a small boat I have not gone out deeper at that time of year
when wind coming OUT OF THE SOUTH from mid October until mid May
my 3 choices are 1) fish for trout along breaker walls or river 2) try local lakes 3) stay home
2) I have noticed there is a true strategy to turning my boat at a 45 degree angle for 3-4 minutes
that means once the boat is turned at 45 degrees I then go straight for 3-4 minutes
I have seen other boats making shorter quicker turns
I found that to tangle lines and not to be of true use
3) A QUESTION I use 1-3-5 oz. weights starting at 63 FOW using all Bandits
I troll North at 2.6 MPH I then turn 45 degrees right then go straight for 3-4 minutes
I turn 45 degrees left now I am going NORTH again I go straight for 3-4 minutes
I keep repeating these to turns working my way NORTH NORTH EAST
Facing Towards Back of Boat
I have 3 poles I use 5 oz. on far left I use 3 oz. on middle I use 1 oz. on far right
since I AM working my way NORTH NORTH EAST
the 5 oz. pole on the inside will fall through the water to deepest FOW and go slowest
the 3 oz. pole will fall to middle FOW because of 45 degree turn and go middle speed
the 1 oz. pole will be at shallowest FOW and go fastest
Yes the Bandits all move different because of the 45 degree turn
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE
TO WORKING NORTH NORTH EAST USING RIGHT THEN LEFT TURNS
OR GOING NORTH NORTH WEST USING LEFT THEN RIGHT TURNS
since both times I am simply making 1- 45 degree turn in both directions







i

I think you're over-complicating it. I use inline planer boards, 2 oz snap weights, and the Precision Trolling app's 50+2 data to set my lure depths with a line counter reel. Shallow on the outside, deeper to the inside. Use your electronics to determine what depth the fish are at and run the lures above them. Walleye feed upwards. I always try to fish with the wind no matter what direction its blowing, but a North or East wind is always tough fishing. If the wind is light, fish whatever direction you want. Mark Romanack of Fishing 411 and other pros advocate trolling with the wind. I've had success doing it. There are guys who will say different and that's fine, but I tend to take advice from people who make a living at it versus random keyboard warriors. Every once in a while I'll change speed and/or direction trying to find what they want but I don't run rigid schedule to make turns. When you make S-turns you're trying to see if they want a faster or slower presentation. Once you figure out the speed then you can play with lures and colors to dial in a program.

Check out YouTube videos from Mark Romanack (Fishing 411), and Ross Robertson (BigWater Fishing).

Wind from the North; do not go forth
Wind from the East; fish bite least
Wind from the West; fish bite best
Wind from the South; blows the bait in their mouth.

That's an old proverb and it seems to hold true.

Good Post Fubar1

May I ask why you run your lines “ Shallow on the outside, deeper to the inside.”?
It seems it would contribute to tangles, especially using inline weights.

it has worked. there have been few tangles.
I have to stay with longer 3-5 minute turns
shorter turns cause tangles
it creates 3 different depths until I figure out how deep they are
once I catch 2 at the same depth I change 1 other pole to that weight

I consider using planer boards more complicated and I have a cell phone but not a smart phone so no internet.
I am out there by myself. there is plenty to do for 1 person.
I have bought planer boards but I only expect to use those on local lakes.
I would prefer to use no weights with Bandits every time I try they tangle
I only use Bandits with weight this keeps them from tangling.

The outside planer board runs in echelon to the middle and inside boards. I set the boards up so I can trip the line loose and let it float back and swing behind the boat, then reel in the fish without bringing in the other lines. If I ran the outside line deeper than the middle and inside lines I couldn't do that. The image below is from Chip Gross' book Trolling Big-Water Walleye. It's a good read and I recommend it! Another good reference book is Walleye Trolling by Ross Robertson.

I also recommend watching Fishing 411 with Mark Romanack. He does a great job teaching walleye trolling. I posted a few below but he has more.

The Fall Eyes of Lake Erie - YouTube
Ready for a Fall Walleye Brawl - YouTube

thank you

Thanks for taking the time to reply and for the detailed information.

No problem! Semper Fi

FUBAR1: This is Chip Gross (not Goss); thanks for recommending my book Trolling Big-Water Walleyes: Secrets of the Great Lakes Fishing Guides, Charter Captains, and Walleye Pros. My book can ordered on Amazon. Wishing you tight lines...

Chip

Sorry for the typo Chip. I'll fix that. I learned more from your book than any other out there. I recommend it often. See you on the water in the Spring!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ltracey

Good Post Fubar1

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Thanks! I hope it helps a few folks out.

I spoke my entire life about how people refuse to answer my simple questions.
Instead they have their own conversation ignoring my words completely.
complementing each other along the way.

Sometimes folks are trying to find a nice way to say you're doing it wrong or in an innovative way that doesn't work as well as other methods. I have never in my 30+ years fishing for walleye heard of anyone trolling like you've described. It is an accepted practice that you troll with the wind and waves at your back. With all things, there are exceptions to that rule. Your turns don't necessarily need to be regimented to 45° at specific intervals. If you're fishing October to pre-spawn the fish are in the upper part of the water column and you don't need snap weights. Your speeds should be anywhere from 0.5 to 1.5 mph. 2.6 mph is way too fast for cold water trolling. Also you'll be more successful using stick baits like a deep Husky Jerk that have a more subtle action than a Bandit.

I'm not trying to be rude, or ridicule you, or anything like that. My answers are simply meant to get you pointed to some good information that will help you be more successful. Start with proven methods and then adjust them to suit your preference. Read Chip Gross' book. It will help simplify your approach and you'll have more success. I wish you tight lines and safe travels.

Doug,
I have trolled like you state with deepest inside and shallowest outside. I understand what you are trying to do by minimizing the angles to pull outside over the others. I can tell you the system can work pulling lures, until you hook a FO on the outside and it doesn't want to be dragged up in the water. I have had that fish come through the other 2 lines and cause a great tangle. We got the fish in and untangle the lines, but lost the time doing that unless you have other rods to throw out during those times. It still is frustrating.

Now other systems have the shortest leads inside and longest leads outside. As long as you are using that system, you can make it work within what you are trying to do. Say inside set at 60, then 80 then 100 on the outside. This might give you enough room to make it work. This way that fish on the outside is far behing the other lines until you line him up in the chute. You have to have that 20 feet of length separation or I think the tangles are ineveitable. Unless you just hook the good eating sized walleye.

I think I will buy Chip Gross book also.
Rickerd