While many anglers may get wrapped up in hot colors, secret spots, magic baits, and the time of the moon rise the best anglers are going to be focused on a much less glamorous, but more important aspect of their presentation-boat control. Whether you are bottom bouncing, dragging jigs, casting crankbaits, or trolling crankbaits mastering boat control is critical to success.
When trolling crankbaits for walleye, it’s very easy for anglers to get wrapped up in their baits-size, profile, color, etc. In reality, anglers should spend more time understanding how their boat control is going to impact the baits they put down. When trolling crankbaits, especially with lead core line, the speed and direction of the boat plays a major role in what that bait looks like and where it is below the surface.
To begin, it’s important to understand the nature of lead core line itself. Lead core line is composed of a superline/braided line that has a thin strip of lead in the line itself. “Lead core” is literally as it sounds, a superline that has lead as a core component of the line. This causes the line to sink in the water and still maintain the strength and no stretch properties of the braid.
The slower the speed of the boat, the more the leadcore will sink. The faster the boat is going, that will lift the line and cause the line to sink at a slower rate. This means that if you decrease your speeds, your bait will sink and if you increase speeds the bait will lift up in the water column. Speed and lure running depth go hand in hand.
The most successful crankbait anglers understand exactly how boat control impacts their presentation and this means more than the speed they see on their graph. Many successful anglers will mix in a variety of turns to their presentation, because this will impact the speed of both sides of the boat. The side where the boat is turning towards, the baits will slow down. By contrast, the baits on the opposite side of the boat will speed up as they “catch up” to the boat as it turns.
These turns and speed changes are important because they are excellent triggering mechanisms. Many times, walleyes will follow a bait before deciding if they strike. As they follow, they are feeling the bait’s action through their lateral line and gauging if this is a meal they would like to pursue. As they are tracking this bait, a sudden change in speed or direction will often trigger an aggressive strike. The best way to create these changes is by including a turn as this will result in both a speed and direction change.
Turns and other triggering mechanisms still need to be strategic. If you are fishing along a large flat, turns are easy to incorporate as there is no specific piece of structure you need to stay on. If you are fishing a breakline, point, or smaller flat or reef this is not as easy and maintaining the proper running depth and staying on your piece of structure is more important. This means instead of turns you may need to use your motor to create speed changes.
The other factor that needs to be considered when incorporating these speed changes is the change in depth. If your baits are speeding up, they are lifting up as well. Likewise, if they are slowing down they are sinking deeper. If you are fishing your baits tight to bottom, over weeds or trees, or other areas their depth being maintained is critical; a speed change could spell disaster and maintaining a consistent speed is more important.
Another factor successful anglers consider is wind direction and wave action. When possible, troll with the wind and waves at your back. This will result in a smoother ride, help maintain a consistent speed, and planar boards will operate more effectively. In situations such as current or other factors don’t allow, look for areas where you have the greatest amount of boat control.
The ability to understand the importance boat control plays in their presentation is what turns a good angler into a great angler. Boat control is even more critical when it comes to trolling crankbaits with lead core line. Anglers who understand the relationship between speed and depth, are able to keep their baits in the strike zone, and can trigger bites are going to put more fish in the boat throughout the course of a season. Good fishing!
Photography Credit: Allie Ellingson Photography + Design
Photos for this article were provided by Allie Ellingson Photography + Design, the official photographer of Lip Ripper Fishing. Whether you are looking to capture your fishing trips, need a photographer for a special event, or just want family photos be sure to check out Allie!
