Snap Weights?

Anyone pulling them to get smaller cranks down in the open basin? Looks like it would be a great system. Any advice or tips would be great!

Hey Jake,
I pull snap weights just about everytime I am out pulling crankbaits. I love to fish with suspending stickbaits. The lakes that I troll have a lot of whitefish and ciscoes in them so the long stickbaits work real well around here in NW Wisconsin. Not sure where exactly you are fishing but I know that snap weights will work on most bodies of water, just might need to find the niche for that particular lake.

With that said I will tell you a little bit about what I do. When I go out the first thing that I do is try to mark fish with my locator. If I dont see any fish there is no need to fish there. Find fish and find out how deep they are holding. I am assuming that you have trolled before and know the basics so I will mainly stick to snap weights. The snap weights are very speed dependent just like any lead weighting system. This time of year I usually like to start trolling at 2mph and then adjust from there whether I need to go slower by a few tenths of faster by a few tenths.
If I see fish holding around 20 I will throw on a 2 oz. snap weight. With that said I always start with the 50-50 method which means, from the bait touching the rod tip and the line counter at zero let out 50 feet of line. I always use the Offshore tackle red clips as they have extra tension and the “nipple” on them to keep your line from slipping. Make sure the snap weight is hanging from the “O” ring that they sell. After the weight is snapped on, let out another 50 feet and then clip on your board or dead stick the rod.
I like to vary my baits with different lead sizes such as 1,2, and 3 ounces of lead. I always start with the 50-50 method and adjust from there. Usually I dont have to adjust my 50-50. I personally believe that the speed is more crucial. Dont get me wrong, there are times to adjust the dropper and leader line but for the most part the 50-50 will catch some fish as long as you find the right size weight.
If I find that 2 ounces is catching fish and I have other baits with snap weights I will bring in another rod or two and adjust the snap weights. I will put one rod with a 2 oz. weight and then add a 1/4 oz. lead weight so I have a total of 2 1/4 oz. of lead. This will get me slightly deeper if the fish are deeper and then I will also put a 1 ounce weight and then add a 3/4 oz. weight for the fish slightly higher.
I hope all of this makes sense. If you have any more questions feel free to PM me. I am more than happy to help you out. Good Luck
Jordan

That is exactly how I do it as well!
Very well said!

I don’t have a whole lot of experience with snap weights on Mille Lacs, but we have done very well with them. I personally reach for the leadcore to get small baits down, but the system we had working was 100/100 with a 1 oz sinker. I’m guessing the lures were 25 ft. down. Two years ago this method with a stickbait was our best producer for a couple weekends.