Need Trolling Advice

[wakina]

Since you already have the kicker motor I would have it mounted and rigged to what you find convenient for steering and throttle control. I cannot with a clear conscience recommend trolling bags if you already have a kicker motor.

Line counter reels in the mid price range to consider would be Daiwa Accudepth, then up one notch to the Daiwa Sealine or the Okuma Convectors and the Okuma cold water reels. Personally, and if your budget allows you to, I would stay away from the Okuma Magda series of reels. Be advised that the Sealines, Convectors and the Cold Water reels overlap in Price and can sometimes be bought less than either of other other 2 in this category. Lastly the Shimano Tekota series of reels. The Tekota reels are pricey but are worth every penny that they cost, problem is they cost almost twice the price of the other reels mentioned in the second tier of reels, and you either have to buy a power handle for the Tekota 300 reels or go with the larger 500 size if you want a power handle. The 300 can be fitted with the power handle for the Tekota 500 reels and cost around $17.00, they are a direct fit to change from the double paddle handle that comes standard on the Tekota 300.

I personally use the smallest Reels available, but again I only fish in the western Basin and don't have any intentions of fishing for salmon. The smaller reels work better for women and children as they are lighter and handle easier than the larger reels. They also take less line, another cost savings. I have yet to catch a Steelhead in the lake that the smaller reels could not handle with ease.

I would go with a 6 1/2 or 7 foot rod in medium action for trolling. They work fine for board rods either Big boards or the inline boards. Before you plunk down your money for any inline boards I would compare the 2 most popular manufacturers of inline boards and both are American made to boot. I would look at the Church Boards in either TX-22 inline model or the TX-24 inline model (Walleye Boards). I would also look at the Off Shore Boards, I am not all that familiar with the Off Shore boards so I cannot give you the exact model number to look at but I believe it to be the OR-12 Side Planer. Once again compare the boards to their ease of use and to your personal preferences on how they work. Please keep in mind that the Church Boards will pull a heavier Weight than their counter part from Off Shore. I believe Off Shore Makes a Magnum board the OR37 SST Pro Mag Side Planer that would compare to the Church TX-44 boards. The Church TX-44 boards pull really hard so I would imagine that the Off Shore OR37 SST Pro Mag Planer would also be a hard pulling board. I cannot recommend either of the larger side planers for walleye fishing and they would need a heavier action rod to handle them. I hope this sheds some light on what you need just in basic equipment to get started without the purchase of baits/lures .

I would recommend that you learn the use of one method of bait presentation at a time and then once you feel confident in that you move on to the next presentation and continue to do so until you have a full spectrum of presentations in your arsenal that you can use proficiently.

Start with small boards with crank baits in the early spring and then as the water warms move to worm harnesses and spoons with either inline wts , jet divers, Off Shore Tad pole divers or tru-trip divers, with crank baits mixed into the spread as needed. Once the board presentations are working good for you move on to adding a couple of dipsy divers to your arsenal. With some practice you should be able to run 4 small boards per side without any trouble or three small boards and 1 stern planer per side. The more you use a technique the easier it gets, so practice makes perfect.

[Drifter]

All of the above is great for getting the gear, but the suggestion about going on a charter that trolls will help make you productive.

Purchasing the book: Precision Trolling (The Trolling Bible) will increase the slope of your experience curve in getting your baits to the depth where the fish are (or just above them). I see there is an app out now and you can buy only the sections you want like Reef Runners, DHJ's. You will need charts for 2 oz inline weights as well.

As for rod holders, I have a fixed triple rod holder that slides into the gunnel rod holder. Works great for three rods on each side and is much less expensive than the adjustable big john type. I run the last rod out of the next gunnel rod holder behind it.

I run big boards, and three on each side is plenty. 4 puts them pretty close together and causes tangles especially with inexperienced crews. I am now running the 4th rod off a dipsy which gets it down quicker and out of the way of the other three. This took an adjustable big john rod holder mounted on a gunnel rod adapter.

You can't mix big cranks and tru-trips (TT's) on the same side due to the different dive characteristics. Tangles or CF's will keep you away from the fish. All cranks on one side and all TT's on the other.

I do not have auto pilot (AP). I would love to have it but raises the price of the fish per lb. considerable :0). Fishing with 2 people is doable. Three is better without AP. Unfortunately I fish by mylself a lot also which leaves you drifting and relying on the wind.

Spool half the reel with mono and the last half with braided. Getting rid of the line stretch between you and the fish will help in many ways.

Have fun!