Long time listener, 1st time caller

[Madd Matt]

Welcome Ted. Thanks for joining and for your future contributions to the site. Everyone benefits.

Ted, Welcome!

Most of us in here are rookies, I'm the biggest one. If I catch fish and am successful it is because of the help that I receive from others in here and on the water, mostly Skipper9. Many others in here are helpful and have given me good advice too, but I happen to be in the same marina as Skipper9 and he has made me enjoy trolling (which I NEVER thought I would do!)

I have been fishing Lake Erie for over 30 years, my father for over 60, and my grandfather (94) made it out once last year for probably his last time, but he has had a boat on Lake Erie for over 60 years.

These guys convinced me to throw in the towel and "try" trolling about 4 years ago. I figured I'd try it. Now, I like to think that I am pretty good at it but only because of the help and advice I get from this site.

By the way, my grandfather of 94 years old, my father and brother and myself have all caught our personal bests with all of us over the 31-32" walleye now that we caught trolling. And when I see the rod go down, I grab the rod, and I reel in a 32" walleye... It is MY fish, not anyone else's!

-Matt

[penalty box]

Ted you need to get dipsey's divers, probably the easiest to use and the most productive trolling method in water deeper than 30 feet. You can run meat, spoons, and cranks behind them. Easy to bring in and out just make sure you run braided line on your dipsey rods. When I say easiest I mean for beginners, When you run inline boards there is a lot more to learn.

[Walleye_Rick]

I agree, dipsy divers are a really good option for those starting out with trolling. I have very fond memories of fishing with my Dad over 20 years ago and the first time we tinkered with the dipsy divers. Started slow with just two on each side of the boat and still remember the thrill we both had when the the walleyes first tripped those divers with "Fish On". The anticipation and then the strike, nothing better.

I've posted a video on how to use dipsy divers at www.walleye.com . Scroll down half way on the main page and you'll see the video.

[wakina]

Welcome aboard Ted!

There are a bunch of quality people that frequent this forum, they all offer some very sound advice. It won't take you long to figure out which ones are sincere and those that are just blowing on their key board to create some drama.

When things get going this spring and the jig bite is over I would be happy to show you what I know about the small boards. I normally fish just crawler harnesses and spoons and use only the small in-line boards with either a jet diver or a tru-trip diver. Small boards are allot easier to use than you might expect and you should be able to master their use in a couple of hours. But if you go with me we will make it a full day of fishing. The easy part is averting tangles and the hard part is reading the boards and knowing if you are towing a small junk fish.

I dock at Beef Creek Marina on the Toussaint River and run a 23ft Pro-Line.

[Eyezcrazy]

Welcome Teddy!

This group of guys will make you a better Erie fisherman! The wealth of knowledge they are willing to pass to others is amazing and sure as heck shorten my learning time. I predict you will be catching more fish this year if you use what they offer!

Here's to a great year! Look forward to sharing information with you!

Jim....aka eyezcrazy

[Ted]

Welcome aboard Ted!

There are a bunch of quality people that frequent this forum, they all offer some very sound advice. It won't take you long to figure out which ones are sincere and those that are just blowing on their key board to create some drama.

When things get going this spring and the jig bite is over I would be happy to show you what I know about the small boards. I normally fish just crawler harnesses and spoons and use only the small in-line boards with either a jet diver or a tru-trip diver. Small boards are allot easier to use than you might expect and you should be able to master their use in a couple of hours. But if you go with me we will make it a full day of fishing. The easy part is averting tangles and the hard part is reading the boards and knowing if you are towing a small junk fish.

I dock at Beef Creek Marina on the Toussaint River and run a 23ft Pro-Line.

Pleasure to meet you Wakina. When I was a kid we used to stay at Paradise Acres. We would trailer the boat back and forth to Wilkinsons ramp I believe. They were an elderly couple over the beef creek bridge. Don't those Paridise Acres boys own Beef Creek Marina?

[wakina]

Pleasure to meet you Wakina. When I was a kid we used to stay at Paradise Acres. We would trailer the boat back and forth to Wilkinsons ramp I believe. They were an elderly couple over the beef creek bridge. Don't those Paridise Acres boys own Beef Creek Marina?

Beef Creek is owned by Rose Marie Laura she and her husband ran it together before his passing. Now Rose runs it and her son keeps it in order. Really nice people and marina.
Paradise did buy the old Browns Marina that borders on the other side of Beef Creek and made it into a nice marina and some additional campsites.

My offer still goes to take you out and show you the basics of using inline boards. It really is easier than what you may think and/or have been told.