Trolling Question

[Herkimer]

Novice here asking a question about trolling. My buddy and I troll 4 lines with 2 being Offshore planer boards. When we hook a larger walleye (example-5-9lbs.) my buddy mentioned putting the kicker in neutral, allowing for less strain on hooked fish and line. I prefer to keep trolling (moving), keeping lines from sinking, tangling, unwanted drifting of boat. I've used the "keep moving" equation with success on several 8lb+ walleye. Any opinions here? I use 16# test line.
Thanks guys

[Capt Eric]

90% of the walleye we bring in are landed with the boat moving the same as when we hooked them up.... trolling big boards, this also helps the fish center up between the other lines. However - when I know we've got a trophy coming in, I have been known to neutral up to help that fish come in.... but still bump forward enough to keep the boards and the other lines running right. I'll usually neutral up right as that fish approaches the back of the boat, especially if he is on the prop wash side (whichever engine I'm running....). Once in the net, forward we go again.

[sherman51]

90% of the walleye we bring in are landed with the boat moving the same as when we hooked them up.... trolling big boards, this also helps the fish center up between the other lines. However - when I know we've got a trophy coming in, I have been known to neutral up to help that fish come in.... but still bump forward enough to keep the boards and the other lines running right. I'll usually neutral up right as that fish approaches the back of the boat, especially if he is on the prop wash side (whichever engine I'm running....). Once in the net, forward we go again.

i troll erie and never stop the boat to bring fish in. but have been known to slow boat down to less than 1 mph then bump in and out of gear as needed to get a big fish boated.

[Herkimer]

Sherman,
I'll adopt your technique. Thanks for your reply.
Makes sense.

[itsbob]

Captain Eric, sounds like your clips are same as pooh bear.Yes,the way they work are better than anything else ive seen and very few problems with them getting stuck on tow line or having beginners having problems.I eventually was able to construct that clip with components I found online.

[Capt Eric]

Captain Eric, sounds like your clips are same as pooh bear.Yes,the way they work are better than anything else ive seen and very few problems with them getting stuck on tow line or having beginners having problems.I eventually was able to construct that clip with components I found online.

Oops.... I think I responded to this in the other thread about Dipsy's..... Sorry - need more coffee!!!

[Hoytman86]

What size swivel did you have to use to get it to fit on the carabineer? I can't find a single size chart online that shows the inside dimensions of the eyes, only the lb test and overall length of the swivels. I'm also curious, are you putting the keyrings through both eyes of the pilgrim clips or just one of them? The keyrings I have are only 1" and hold the clip open.

[Herkimer]

Thanks Captain Eric, good points here. Appreciate you sharing your years of expertise.

[wajski]

Thanks for the info

[Capt Eric]

Just to be clear - I'm never actually stopping the boat.... just bumping in and out of neutral, bringing her to a crawl if necessary. When we get a big one hooked up, we REALLY REALLY want that one in the net!