Night Trolling Speed

Just curious what speed others troll at when pulling stick baits at night. I’m always around 1.7-2.0. We catch fish, but would we catch more if we went faster, or slower?

walleyevision wrote:

would we catch more if we went faster, or slower?

Yes. I usually troll stickbaits around 2.5 mph and make a lot of S turns, so the fish will tell you if they want it faster or slower if the inside or outside gets hit more often in the turns.

Depends on what the fish want, Try 2.5 then try 1.5 they will tell you what they want. Some people can tell if you catch fish on a turn, inside or outside line that got the fish, inside slower then the outside line faster speed.

This time pf the year 2.5 is a good start.
Start slower in the fall.

In West Central Mn it changes by the hour. Mostly dictated by water temps in my experience. Thursday night in Alex, 74 deg water and fish wanted it at 2.2. Otter Tail Saturday night water was 76. Fish wanted it 2.8-3.0. Guys around me still going 1.5-1.8 and all they got was rock bass. Color and speed changes made a big difference.

Cold water is 1.2 to 1.8

Warmer water means faster.

As stated turns can really help figure out what the preference is.

Are you guys targeting sand or weeds mostly? Looking to give this a try this weekend.

Youbetcha wrote:

Are you guys targeting sand or weeds mostly? Looking to give this a try this weekend.

If I’m on one of the ‘big’ walleye lakes, I find sand flats. Think ML, Red, Leech, etc

The ‘small’ local lakes I’m always in the weeds, over the weeds, or on the edge.

Charlie W wrote:

If I’m on one of the ‘big’ walleye lakes, I find sand flats. Think ML, Red, Leech, etc

The ‘small’ local lakes I’m always in the weeds, over the weeds, or on the edge.

That was probably my issue last night. Trolled areas with little to no weed growth from 13-6feet. Going to try again this week on weed edges. Makes a lot more sense in the metro.