This site also participates in other affiliate programs and is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. 2. He fishes many bodies of water in the Redding area, but also guides the Sacramento River and Feather River during certain times of the year. Unlike when fishing for Rainbow Trout where the average speed is over 2mph, speeds for Kokanee range from .8 to 1.8 mph. Try … Lead core line comes with colored markings in 10 yard intervals to help gage distance and approximate depths, which definitely makes it easier to duplicate success. Without boat electronics, accurately locating the thermocline requires more experimentation and guess work. Trolling speed with crankbaits for lake trout are between 2.2 – 2.8 mph. In some cases, divers can achieve depths beyond 90 feet. The most common way to fish for rainbow trout and kokanee salmon is by trolling. 20-30 pound test braided line has the equivalent diameter of 6-8 pound mono. If you don’t have a line counter for your reel, just find a repeatable method to play out line. On small to medium lakes we just go around the lake over and over. It’s not really a huge deal what type of rod you use since you can catch fish on pretty much anything but I do have a preference. The right depth is going to change all the time. Having the right rod and reel setup for the fish species you hope to catch will make the task much more affective and fun. Sometimes I’ll use a spinning rod, sometimes I’ll use a baitcasting rod, and sometimes I’ll use a standard trolling reel. Another consideration when choosing a reel is spool size. Line twist is hard to avoid with any rod and reel setup when trolling but spinning reels can be a real headache. A lot of people want to keep things as simple as possible and not spend a fortune on gear so, in this post, I’m going to be talking about how to troll for trout and kokanee without having to use downriggers. As you let out more line, your gear will descend to the desired depth. Few trolling rigs are as simple and effective for kokanee as the sliding dropper rig. Many lakes go through something called “turnover” twice each year. If you don’t have any, try getting your hands on a contour map of the location you fish. You can add lead weights to the line or use a diving device. Using them is straight forward. You’ll want to use the lightest line you can get away with and it’ll all depend on the size of fish in your lake. The largest can reach depths over 90 feet. Continue reading or watch the video below for the full details. Sunrise for pike or bass. For instance I’m trolling one rigger at 53’ and one at 33’. Establishing the correct trolling speeds is necessary when it comes to Kokanee fishing. Trolling is by far the technique of choice and using down riggers is the way to catch large feisty trout. It is especially beneficial to find the thermocline as the weather gets hot during summer months. Lure Depth (feet). The basics of downrigger trolling for trout and landlocked salmon are pretty simple and straight forward. The basics of downrigger trolling for trout and landlocked salmon are pretty simple and straight forward. These lead weights are simply tied to your mainline in front of your tackle. Dispsy Divers, Deep Six will work like a dream. Every lake is going to be slightly different and the fish might prefer something else. Trolling is the way to cover a lot of water and using down riggers gets your lure or bait down to the right depths. There are specific types of baits and lures that provide better results when trolling. However, for those of you with small boats or kayaks, it may not even be feasible to use them. Back trolling is a technique used later in the salmon season in rivers and bays where the current is enough to add action to your trolling setup. I normally use a 12-15 lb mono/fluoro line because I don’t want to lose my stuff if I get snagged but you can use whatever you want. By far the least expensive and simplest method to reach moderately deep water, are lead weights. Go out to a deeper section of water and turn up the sensitivity of your fish finder. Here is what I look for in an ideal trolling rod for most fish species. In both cases, the weight or diver is attached to the main line with the lure or bait tied to the terminal end using a leader that is lighter than the main line. Much slower speeds are used when trolling for Kokanee. I like to use heavy weights attached to 8 lb mono line or (at least) leader, allowing you to fish depths trout tend to hide out looking for easy snacks in cooler, deeper water. Here are two of my favorite types for trolling. Most anglers will tell you that the ideal depth to troll depends on where the thermocline is. This article will outline how to be successful at trolling for trout on lakes. 16 if they’re being picky, 12 if they’re not. Keep in mind these diving planer devices pull hard on a rod, so it's best to use a stiff rod and have it secured in a sturdy rod holder. Having a reel that holds a sufficient amount of quality line will pay dividends when fighting feisty fish. While back trolling for salmon is typically done without a downrigger, we thought it was worth mentioning just so there wasn’t any confusion. A line counter on your reel is another key for fishing at consistent depths. Getting old, don’t know how much longer I can kayak, had to get a boat, don’t plan on stopping fishing as long as I’m upright. Real world tips and information about all things fishing. You can use smaller lures with a more natural presentation. The first thing I look for when selecting a reel is the sensitivity of the drag. best trolling speeds for many popular gamefish. When dead-drifting and trolling light for trout, a depth finder lets you see where the fish are at and what depth you're working with. https://betterfishingtoday.com/trolling-speed-for-lake-trout-easy-guide-and-tips He guides year round for salmon, trout, steelhead, Kokanee, and bass on Northern California rivers and lakes. Hopefully, this guide will help you see that trolling for big fish in deep water is possible on a modest budget with several simple strategies. Trolling speed with a dodger. Braid is also incredibly strong with a super thin diameter that cuts through water with little resistance. This site is where I test out different gear and techniques to see what actually works. eval(ez_write_tag([[468,60],'backcountrycariboo_com-leader-1','ezslot_9',121,'0','0']));One of the more important things to know is that you should lower your line super slow. First, let out 50 feet of line and snap on the weight. Mike Del Rizzo Lake trout: Snap to it Trolling For Trout Tip 1: Covering Water The main factor in catching more fish is the ability to fish deeper and cover more water. Shot with a Mavic Air drone If nothing is biting, you can try changing the weight (or change lures). These in-line divers dive at steep angles, which get you deeper with less line. Again, this doesn’t matter too much but I almost always use a braided line with a monofilament or fluorocarbon leader. I’ll use the Uni knot to attach the line to my swivel.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'backcountrycariboo_com-banner-1','ezslot_10',123,'0','0'])); After that, you’ll want to attach your monofilament leader to the other end of your flasher/dodger. However, there are a couple basic rules of thumb to follow when trying to find the right depth to target. Jeff Goodwin is a full time Northern California fishing guide. You’ll then attach a swivel which will keep the weight from sliding down and prevent line twisting. We’ll cover how to set everything up next. Because lakers favor water colder than 50° they are often found on or near bottom in deep water. Like I said before, I always try to go the same speed to keep that variable consistent but the one thing I’ll change is the amount of weight. The main benefit with this type of line is its ability to simplify your setup. If you are trolling too fast your dodger will start rotating which will twist up your line and you will lose the ideal motion on your lure. If you've ever wanted to fish in deep water from a boat, a downrigger is a must. Snags, repetitive bouncing motions and hard fish strikes all take a toll, so the rod needs to be durable. Is the way to fish for Kokanee and plan out your turns well in advance or pike and using riggers!, hollow braid fishing line Color actually matter that your terminal tackle creates additional when! Pound test braided line offers the advantage of smaller diameter with incredible strength Kokanee. 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