SwedishFish

Steelydan - thanks for the breakdown of the rig and the picture. Lots of new things to try tomorrow and this season! Started talking to the wife about a bigger boat.... Didn't go so well.

Does sound simple. I had to search the forum and YouTube to find out what a spin and glo was. Pardon my ignorance. How much of a leader on the 8oz ball and how long of a leader to the business end of the rig from the 3-way? And I couldn't find anything about a peanut. Is it like a spin and glo?Man.... I work in the tech field. This must be how other people feel when I start talking computer nerd to them and their eyes roll back in their head and they just nod. [emoji13] Thanks for the help!!

I'm interested.

Getting the boat ready for tomorrow. Looks like it's gonna start cold!

Been looking at an inexpensive manual one. Keep checking craigslist and I've seen a few just never grabbed one yet. This is all leading me to need a bigger boat to be able to handle all this new gear! I've wanted to stop at suttons in Naples but the last few times I was there they were closed. I'll keep my eyes out for 44's. Yes! I love the lake! Thanks for all the tips and advice!

Nautitroller - thanks for the advice! I've been using a 5-6 foot leader after my dipsy not 15. I do have a spin doctor and some blue/green flies that I've used. I don't think I've ever put the diver that far down. I guess I was thinking I didn't want it to hit or be that close to the bottom. I'll check but I think my leaders are right around 30" after the spin doctor. This is probably a dumb question but how would you land a fish with almost 17 feet of line after your dipsy?

Thanks I'll check it out!

Yes I will definitely give the smaller baits a try and try the south end. Thanks for the encouragement. Every time I go I feel like I'm learning more but also I haven't had the positive reinforcements of catching fish! But that's fishing I guess. Thanks again to all of you for your helpful advice and comments! - Steve

Now that sounds like an idea! I do have a st croix set up with full sinking line. Now that would be a fight on a 5 weight rod!

I didn't think so but wasn't sure. Is a lhur Jensen "jet diver" similar to a dive bomb? My local field and stream has a huge clearance section of them I was looking at yesterday

I have been using larger spoons with no luck so I'll switch to some smaller ones and see if that helps. I've also been looking at planer boards. It seems like there is an endless amount of "stuff" you need for trolling!! I think I might try the south end tomorrow morning to switch it up. Thank you for all the help and advice!

One more question. I've always launched from the north end. Has anyone launched out of the south and found that to be more productive?

I thought the depth might be a problem. I've thought about running lead on my diver rod to go deeper in the summer but not sure how that would work. I'm hoping that the spring fishing will be more productive for me. I've also toyed with getting a small cannon downrigger to get me lower in the water column. I do not have a decent fishfinder for this type of fishing. I have a small lowrance with down-scan imaging that I used for perch and bass fishing. It doesn't have gps. It gives me decent depth readings and surface water temp. I haven't been able to figure out the adjustment so I can see the thermocline. Thanks for the info and your suggestions!

Darkwater1 - I am very new to leadcore so It's been all a guessing game. I'll try the fluoro and shorten up my leader a bit. The GPS in my phone usually pegs me around 1.5 - 3 MPH. If the wind is blowing up from the south and I'm running south my little 30# Minn Kota struggles just to keep it moving forward! Thanks for your help!

I'm new to the forum and very new to trolling! I'm in need of help. I have spent the past 20 years fly fishing and spin fishing for trout in the streams around Rochester (Mainly the Oatka). A few years ago I built a small wooden skiff that I mostly take out on ponds and small bodies of water. 2 years ago I "Discovered" Hemlock lake and fell in love. I started out fishing for panfish, perch and bass with the occasional Pike for good measure. After my first trip I found out there Lakers, browns and Salmon in there! I did my research and I decided to try trolling with a dipsy diver and spoon. I have a 30lb trust electric trolling motor so I bought a low end okuma trolling rod with a line counter reel and gave it a shot. I probably spent more time adjusting the diver and adjusting speed then fishing. The diver tripped one time that I thought was a strike but no hookup. I tried changing speed and direction and lures but I really only kind of know what I'm doing. It's all so new to me. I met a guy at the north end launch as I was pulling back in and he was fishing lead core without a diver and had caught a nice salmon. Soooo like any skunked and depressed fisherman I went out and bought another pole and fitted it with a 10 color lead core with 30# backing and #20 mono leader. The next time I was out I ran the diver on one side and the lead right down the chute. After a hour or so I had a hit on my diver rod on a spoon. I was very excited to finally have a fish on but surprised when I netted a 19" smallmouth. The next trip was the same. A few tripped divers and possible bumps on my lead core. No trout but a very nice Smallmouth. The next TWO trips had no hookups and maybe one strike. So lots of trips and no fish and I am at a loss. I have run a flasher fly setup. A dodger and spoon. a bare spoon. This is getting to be ridiculous and I'm ready to throw in the towel. I am thinking about torturing myself with a trip on Saturday morning as long as the wind isn't blowing hard. Just wondering if any of you much more experienced fisherman can give me any advice or thoughts on what I'm doing wrong? Or advice on a rig or setup that has worked for you there? Also I've never fished hemlock in the spring, only summer and fall. Should I target a specific depth? Thanks in advance for your help! -Steve