View Full Version : trolling spped for stripers
fishfinder
10-01-2012, 05:38 PM
any-one know, or want to share the optimal trolling speed for stripers right now. the reason i ask is my boat will only troll down to 3mph right now and need to get a kicker for next year, but would like to go try some trolling friday. just dont want to wast my $$$ if i cant troll slow enough. i hate that you cant edit titles
Skyler
10-01-2012, 06:23 PM
You'll want to troll at about half that speed, depending on the lure. I get the best action at about 1.5 mph or so. If you can't slow it down, try dragging something with resistance like a tarp, lol.
I think as slow as you can go would do it, or 1.5 miles an hour.....
dk4885
10-01-2012, 06:46 PM
i trolled at 3mph this past weekend at pyramid and casaic did very well.
cutbait
10-01-2012, 06:49 PM
3 mph is fine!
1.5 in the winter,,
Though Im of the opinion 4-5 is optimum on a good bite, we've got fish at 8 mph on a quick juant to the next point..
Do not over estimate fast and slow speeds. There is no "correct" speed
P.A.W.
10-01-2012, 07:11 PM
I always troll at 3mph +-. When following a moving boil accross the lake with my trolling motor the whole school averages..... you guessed it 3mph by my GPS. That speed is actually kinda slow for a hunting jailbird. Of course to each their own....
fishfinder
10-01-2012, 08:17 PM
hey thanks for the input guys. i thought about bringing a 5 gal bucket and some rope to slow me down. i have a 13.5' gregor with a 20 hp merc on it, and gps the trolling speed at 2.7-3.0 mph. gonna get me a little 3hp for trolling. if the wife is cool with it, i will be on castaic or pyramid friday.
I don't know I'm as slow as you can go kind of a guy but when trolling from a kayak that's probably to conserve energy more than anything else.
pwynn
10-02-2012, 08:38 AM
hey thanks for the input guys. i thought about bringing a 5 gal bucket and some rope to slow me down. i have a 13.5' gregor with a 20 hp merc on it, and gps the trolling speed at 2.7-3.0 mph. gonna get me a little 3hp for trolling. if the wife is cool with it, i will be on castaic or pyramid friday.
just throw a happy troller on it. and it will keep the bow down at top speed also.
cutbait
10-02-2012, 08:52 AM
One set constant speed is not the optimal trolling method.
Just as burning a crank or slow rolling one, trolling is a reaction strike.
Don't hang up on trolling the same speed 24/7 365...
Bites change, speeds should adapt with it.
But feel free to continue doing the constant thang
shinbob
10-02-2012, 09:06 AM
If you want to slow down the effective speed of your lure, then you can also do some s-curves. This also gets the lure to areas that haven't just been run over by your boat.
One set constant speed is not the optimal trolling method.
Just as burning a crank or slow rolling one, trolling is a reaction strike.
Don't hang up on trolling the same speed 24/7 365...
Bites change, speeds should adapt with it.
But feel free to continue doing the constant thang
I will, but thanks for the advice!
fishinone
10-02-2012, 04:12 PM
I start out trolling 3.5 mph most of the time. If I go slower than that, I pick up a pole to be ready to set the hook.
When the bite is hot go as fast as you can to get in them quickly over and over.
Jig-Guy
10-02-2012, 04:37 PM
Good information gang! Thanks for the input and replies:Thumbs Up:.
fishfinder
10-02-2012, 05:48 PM
more great advice. i am now leaning toward castaic for friday. gotta rety some umbrella rigs this week first. i havent fished stripers all year.
trail blazer
10-02-2012, 06:02 PM
any avg trolling speed will work,,,,,all have been mention,d here,,,,,,,,,reading a FF corectly is most often more imp!,,,,,,its a combo of the 2 that consistently puts,m in the boat!