April 2019 • Nebraskaland 55
Trolling Tips
•
Before deploying or re-deploying you r lines, make sure
your crankbait is running true in order to prevent tangles
and to ensure that your lure gets down into the strike zone.
•
Don't be afraid to experiment with diff erent crankbait
types, sizes and colors. Eventually, the fi sh will tell you
what they want.
•
Just because state fi shing regulations may allow you to
use more than one rod doesn't mean you have to. Keep it
simple until you fi gure out a system that works.
•
Crankbaits are manufactured to create irresistible
action under the water. But don't shy away from an
occasional jerk of the rod tip to vary the action and give
your lure some extra life.
•
Maintaining a trolling speed between 2 and 3 mph is a
pretty good rule of thumb. But feel free to experiment with
slight speed adjustments or abrupt changes in speed to
entice strikes.
•
Just because a given crankbait is capable of reaching
a maximum depth doesn't mean the fi sh are at that
maximum depth. Experiment with diff erent depths within
the water column to create strikes.
Trolling app does. Simply enter the
line that you are using, the crankbait
that you have tied on, and the depth
that you want to achieve, and the app
instantly tells you how much line to
let out. Buy it in the App Store. A guy
could make a strong argument that it's
the most important piece of equipment
in the boat.
Quick Clips - Once you are armed
with a line counter and the Precision
Trolling app, you've unlocked the
mystery of your crankbait box. Tie on
as many as you need to until the fi sh
tell you want they want. Better yet,
tie on a quick clip once and snap on
cranks as fast as your heart desires.
Lastly, don't forget your camera.
In the event that you fi gure out the
right depth, the right speed, and the
right crankbait, you're going to have a
pretty cool photo opportunity. In fact,
you may never want to tee it up by
yourself again.
Brett Smith holds this Nebraska walleye close to the camera after removing the crankbait from its sharp jaws.