The perfect spread….YUM!

The perfect trolling spread (cranks mainly) for Lake Pepin (or any part of the ‘sippi river) for 6 lines (or 6 cranks). Also lets say 6-20′ depth too

I have often debated this with other fish heads. For the argument lets EXCLUDE planer boards. I would say 6 lines planer-ed out is prob your best tangle free situation but I HATE screwing around with planer boards.

Long line, 3 ways, lead, and downriggers all game…maybe even hand lining for fair game.

In the past I have ran 2 lead right behind the boat on short 5’6″ rods (pointed at a 45 angle up, straight behind the boat) then 2 long lines on 7′ rods (parallel with water and at a 45 angle from the boat) and then 2 more long lines on 14′ rods in front rod holders (straight out from boat).

This works but this weekend I am debating this. Moving to 3 ways behind the boat on the 5’6″ rods with a heavy weight (4oz). Then running lead on 7′ rods and then long lining on the 14’ rods.

Along with them I am going to try out locking my motor straight and in gear and steering with my xi5. Has anyone every tried this? I figure it would allow me to be hands free from the tiller as we will be manning 6 rods with two guys (yes yes on the WI side).

I am probably way over complicating this and if the bite is on I am sure we won’t be able to run 6 rods and I will probably be on the tiller and not screwing around trying to drive with the bow mount….But getting the perfect trolling spread set up has always intrigued me and I would love to hear everyone else’s thoughts…

Also the 6 line spread could be a snag and tangle disaster with 2 guys ha.

Evan Pheneger wrote:

Also the 6 line spread could be a snag and tangle disaster with 2 guys ha.

5 ft leadcore with a #4 or #5 rap (closest to stern)

10 ft leadcore with a #7 (middle rod holder)

8 ft mono with 6 oz snap weight with lure of choice (farthest from stern)

I have been using my tiller for propulsion and bow mount auto pilot for years trolling. It is hands down the best thing I have ever done for trolling.

gonecribbin wrote:

8 ft mono with 6 oz snap weight with lure of choice (farthest from stern)

gonecribbin, I have only ever ran 4oz on snaps…trolling around 2.7-3.0 what angle does this put your line at? a 45? I like the idea of the short amount of line on the outside but do you ever have trouble crossing that middle lead line or are you so far below it, its not an issue?

There is no perfect spread as each situation is different. If you’re trolling a shoreline, you can run a board on the near shore rod, a longline or another board, and a longline all on that side. However, your rods on the other side are going to be in much deeper water, so running a board might not be putting you in the strike zone etc….

If you’re going to troll a deep flat, you can just run 6 leadcore rods etc…. My spread is determined by what kind of water I’m trolling. Sometimes I just run 6 boards.

I’ve been steering with my bowmount for years and years. Back since the copilot came out for the old school powerdrives, it’s the only way to go in my book.

Also for you autopilot trolling steerers, whats the best way to do it. You guys are the experts, this is all new to me.

Do you just run the trolling motor on a low setting and use heading lock, or do you turn it on and off as you want to steer. I don’t want to troll much fast than my big motor goes on idle.

Run your big motor on auto pilot and drop in the trolling motor and turn it up to reach your desired speed. the more power you use up front the better control you will have into the wind

Same as Erick said, set your speed a few tenths below your desired speed, and use your bow mount to make up the difference. I always like the bowmount to be pushing at least .2mph so it has the power to turn the boat quickly if needed. You can set your autopilot if you’re trolling in a straight line. I usually don’t if I’m trolling a shoreline that I need to make adjustments to a lot. The head turns quicker without the autopilot on for whatever reason.

I usually record my track, just in case it’s good. If it was, I just play it in reverse, or go start over again and replay it. Then no hands needed at all.

I’ll have a 2 or maybe 4 rod spread there tomorrow morning. All I want to catch is enough for a 2 person dinner. Then off to Wabasha on our boating adventure.
My wife and I are spending the day on Pepin.

suzuki wrote:

I’ll have a 2 or maybe 4 rod spread there tomorrow morning.

awesome I will be somewhere out on Pepin this weekend, probably around Stockholm and north…

thanks for all the insight guys…

gonecribbin, I have only ever ran 4oz on snaps…trolling around 2.7-3.0 what angle does this put your line at? a 45? I like the idea of the short amount of line on the outside but do you ever have trouble crossing that middle lead line or are you so far below it, its not an issue?
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6 oz is by no means my “go to”.. Its the heaviest I will run pulling lead, depending on depth I will run 3-6oz.. I run my shorty’s straight back, and my 10s straight out, theres plenty of room to land s fish with the 10 without moving the 8fter, especially if you slightly turn boat into fish when landing.

Fishing was pretty fun. And easy. I’m sure the fishing was better early but between 9 and 3 we had steady action trolling. LOTS of small saug and eyes. Managed a hefty meal for last night and did some boating. It was a busy mess in Wabasha but had a nice time eating at Slipperys. I was pulling Denver rigs with jointed shad raps and jigs with plastic minnows. Many two fish on encounters. Usually one or both were silvers but several times it would be one silver and one sauger. I only fished 2 rods since it was my wife and i. Denver rigs seem to take up the slack using less rods. Also wanted to note I bled the fish before throwing them on ice and the filets were snow white with no off taste whatsoever.

I have a hard time increasing productivity running more than 4 rods when trolling.

A few examples of what I mean.

1) turning around. Either reel them in short or make a long radius turn.
More lines the wider the radius.
If your in the fish catching zone while turning around, then this is not a time loss.

2) any tangle is a loss of productivity… Unless you count the tangle I had yesterday where we reeled in one line and two came in but both lines had fish on lol.

3) boat control. If you are playing with lines your boat control and speed control will suffer…. Some (depending on your abilities) who is in your boat and their capabilities are a huge factor. Boat control is key and anything distracting you from it is a productivity loss.

4) contours. Hard to keep 4 lines in the zone in changing contours let alone 6. Is any one is out of zone your losing productivity.

5) snags, monster fish, etc. Slowing the boat down, depending on your trolling method, can cause lines to run out of the zone and even snag.

Moral, run as many lines as beneficial to you on that body of water to put the most fish in the boat.

I only use my trolling motor to steer. Kicker or main for 75-85% of the speed and kicker for the rest, depending on wind conditions I may run more on the trolling motor.

I control the boat and troll with 4 lines often, only handing a rod to a guest when a fish is on.

Yesterday we probably lost 8 fish because one rod was dragging a fish while we were busy reeling in fish.

Post script, I often run crank baits pounding into the rocks/gravel/sand. Doesn’t take too long before one of the cranks requires tuning. An out of tune lure will snag another line if running too close to another. In this case, longer the line the easier this can happen.

My typical trolling setup in photo. 10′ out each side, 5′ out the back on each side (1 pictured)

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Evan Pheneger wrote:

Also the 6 line spread could be a snag and tangle disaster with 2 guys ha.

Sounds like a disaster.. I don’t think I would ever try running 6 without two + boards… Need those boards!!

When I run 6 lines and no boards when trolling deeper water +15 ft . I’ll make the two at the back of the boat be a deep diver like a husky jerk and then the 4 other lines whatever, usually #7flickershads.

Those deep lines usually have little line out so they don’t cause an issue.

Damn. Thought this thread was about food……