Speeds?

[mattym22]

What are ideal trolling speeds for salmon,steelhead and lakers?

[motoman]

if ur talking down speed 2.4 to 3.0 for salmon and rainbows , and laker's 1.6 to 1.9 MPH off of a down speed unit . Top speed always changing with all the currents in the lake , temps are very importiant also .

[mattym22]

What does "down speed" mean? I have been using my gps to track my speed.

[FX]

Downspeed is "speed at the downrigger ball" measured using a unit such as a Subtroll, Depthraider, Fishhawk etc. GPS speed is speed over ground which is very useful, but usually differs from downspeed due to currents. Make a note as to what gps speed and direction you are catching fish so you can duplicate it. Keep an eye on the angle of your rigger cables and bend in dipsey rods as these are a good indicator if there are down currents.

Shawn

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[ray koziatek]

1.9 tp 2.2 was almst too fast this weekend in mexico bay area , your speeds need to match your presentation ,water temps ,fish ,moods.............but 2.1 to 2.4 has been pretty constant this year for my trips....

[Gray Fox]

Saturday out of Oswego best speed for us was 1.7-1.9 on Sunday best speed was 2.0-2.2. We usually start slow and speed up until we find the right speed.

[jason1704]

I have caught salmon trolling at 2.5 to 2.9 knots, and yes the current and winds does matters, usually the best time would be slack tide(little to no current), I have caught kokanee at that speed in lakes too.

[YodaMage]

It depends on time of year and what I happen to be pulling. I try to avoid lakers, but agree that slow wins that race. I tend to pull Spoons, Dodgers and Spinners at 2.6 to 3.0 depending on the day all summer for Bows and Salmon. Browns I tend to slow down to 2.2 to 2.6 for, especially if using planer boards and sticks. This time of year, I step it up to 2.8 to 3.2, lose all but the fastest running spoons (NK Mags) and most dodgers and sub in Plugs to run with Spinners for Kings.

[YodaMage]

I have also been known to play with the throttle after watching a video 15 years ago showing Kings in Alaska trailing lures for quite some time. I tend to 'bump down' .5 MPH every so often looking to make the lure act erratic and run the fish up into the lure and have on occasion had a big hit immediately upon the bump. Does it work? Who is to say...wonder if others do it at all?

[Kingpin]

We do that all the time , and yes it does work , in fact we have caught quite a few fish that way .