Trolling Choice - Outdoor Gear Forum - Outdoor Gear Forum

I use snaps and have not had a problem… though I usually tend to go smaller rather than bigger depending on what I am targeting. If I am trolling for Northern, I will go a bit bigger. If I am trolling for Walleye, I stay small. Reason for using the snaps is it is a bit faster to change up presentations and get them back down there. If you are noticing a lot of “taps” without “takers”… they may be hungry, just not intersted. Using a snap, I can reel in, change out, and get my lure back down there fairly quickly. On the slow days, I think it would keep one a little more sane. I just can’t imagine retying 15-20 times in a 2 to 3 hour period. You would end up spending more time in the boat than out.

Here is another option that would probably work better for you. I requires a little more prep work before you go trolling, but is also worth it on those longer and more thought out trips. First,I would direct tie leaders to the cranks/presentations that you will be using. tie a snap to the rod end of the leader, use about 12 to 18 inches, and direct tie to the lure. Set up your rod with a large weight (1 oz or so) and a swivel below it. This sinker will skip across bottom a bit. In weeds, raise it up to skim across the top of the weeds. In effect, this keeps your lure down when trolling, and also provides for quick change up… all at the same time as not having a snap at the nose of your lure. I always have a few of these styles rigged up in my box on the chance that they REALLY seem a little spooked or apprehensive.