Trolling flicker shads question

[Devan S.]

3 is fast for crappie and frankly I wouldn't target them at that speed. the 1.5-2 mph is a better start. The big problem I have isn't them biting as much as at 3 mph you pull right through their lips on a shorter strike. Every year though I catch some trolling for whites at that speed so it can be done. The other problem when you get up to those speeds is the lure wanting to roll out on you. 

The S pattern is a great suggestion. Another one is to "pump" your rod occasionally especially if you see fish schooled on the graph sometimes that quick burst can trigger a bite.

I have never used snap weights so how do you all control depth in those cases?

[WhateversBitin]

I believe it's about 10 ft per ounce of weight, but that is also dependent on speed, line out, line diameter, etc...  You can pretty much cover anything from 10 ft to 25 ft with 1 oz, 1.5 oz, and 2 oz sizes. Figure half the dive of a crankbait on top of the weight, so a 2 oz weight and crankbait that dives to 8 ft should get to about 24 ft. I'm sure someone much better at this than I am can correct this, if I am misremembering that. I have been using bottom bouncers and weights that I make myself. Bought a bunch of those wire markers with the plastic flags at a home improvement store. I rip the flags off, bend and/or cut them how i want, and JB Weld egg and bullet weights on them. They can get a bit rusty and ugly after some time in the water, but I feel a lot less pain when I lose one of them than had I paid five times more for the pretty ones.

[zarraspook]

12 minutes ago, WhateversBitin said:

I believe it's about 10 ft per ounce of weight, but that is also dependent on speed, line out, line diameter, etc...  You can pretty much cover anything from 10 ft to 25 ft with 1 oz, 1.5 oz, and 2 oz sizes. Figure half the dive of a crankbait on top of the weight, so a 2 oz weight and crankbait that dives to 8 ft should get to about 24 ft. I'm sure someone much better at this than I am can correct this, if I am misremembering that. I have been using bottom bouncers and weights that I make myself. Bought a bunch of those wire markers with the plastic flags at a home improvement store. I rip the flags off, bend and/or cut them how i want, and JB Weld egg and bullet weights on them. They can get a bit rusty and ugly after some time in the water, but I feel a lot less pain when I lose one of them than had I paid five times more for the pretty ones.

Love the make your own for 1/2 !!!!!!!

[hambandit]

We generally run 8 rods and push them off the bow under 3oz at target speed of 1.8mph. May run a couple long lines off the back too, but then turning sucks. It can get lively. 

 

Some flickers, some bandits, whatever feels lucky at the time. 

[Targa98]

2 hours ago, Devan S. said:

3 is fast for crappie and frankly I wouldn't target them at that speed. the 1.5-2 mph is a better start. The big problem I have isn't them biting as much as at 3 mph you pull right through their lips on a shorter strike. Every year though I catch some trolling for whites at that speed so it can be done. The other problem when you get up to those speeds is the lure wanting to roll out on you. 

The S pattern is a great suggestion. Another one is to "pump" your rod occasionally especially if you see fish schooled on the graph sometimes that quick burst can trigger a bite.

I have never used snap weights so how do you all control depth in those cases?

I agree, the only reason I was forced to run around 3 is because my trolling motor battery had died and I was not ready to go home yet. So I was forced to save a little battery and try to run the motor as slow as I could. We did catch a few that way so I'm not going to say it did not work but it's like you said that would pull out of their mouth usually and we just be stuck with the rear hook still in. I don't get to go nearly as often as I would like so when I'm not ready to leave I will do almost anything I can just to stay on the water. LOL

[nomolites]

Trolling with weights is very speed dependent,  more than lead core, and only time on the water will give you a feel for it.  I’ve never used larger than 2 oz snap weights and typically will use a 1 oz 20 ft in front of the bait which will get you essentially 30% deeper.  When I want to go deep I typically use lead core...and that is because when I get snagged 90% of the time I can recover my gear where with snap weights 90% of the time I lose my gear.

Mike

[Devan S.]

1 hour ago, hambandit said:

We generally run 8 rods and push them off the bow under 3oz at target speed of 1.8mph. May run a couple long lines off the back too, but then turning sucks. It can get lively. 

 

Some flickers, some bandits, whatever feels lucky at the time. 

What make and model are those rods?

[Devan S.]

1 hour ago, Targa98 said:

I agree, the only reason I was forced to run around 3 is because my trolling motor battery had died and I was not ready to go home yet. So I was forced to save a little battery and try to run the motor as slow as I could. We did catch a few that way so I'm not going to say it did not work but it's like you said that would pull out of their mouth usually and we just be stuck with the rear hook still in. I don't get to go nearly as often as I would like so when I'm not ready to leave I will do almost anything I can just to stay on the water. LOL

I understand......trolling bags have saved the day for me a dozen times or more.....cheap insurance if a trolling battery dies and you just ain't ready to quit. 

[Targa98]

56 minutes ago, Devan S. said:

I understand......trolling bags have saved the day for me a dozen times or more.....cheap insurance if a trolling battery dies and you just ain't ready to quit. 

Pretty darn good idea and honestly I dont even own any so I've never tried it. I will def be picking some up and give that a shot and keep them in the boat. Any suggestion where or what types work well?

[MrGiggles]

1 hour ago, nomolites said:

Trolling with weights is very speed dependent,  more than lead core, and only time on the water will give you a feel for it.  I’ve never used larger than 2 oz snap weights and typically will use a 1 oz 20 ft in front of the bait which will get you essentially 30% deeper.  When I want to go deep I typically use lead core...and that is because when I get snagged 90% of the time I can recover my gear where with snap weights 90% of the time I lose my gear.

Mike

Try going 50ft ahead of the bait. Unless you're trolling in >50 fow, you should be able to pull up enough line to unclip the weight and use a plug knocker.

I don't have much experience with them, the clips that I have are a terrible design, but I followed the 50/50 method, let 50 feet of line out, attach weight, let out another 50 feet. 

I'm going to get some better snaps, in hopes that it'll be a little less aggravating than lead core.