Third would be the ability to present countless variations of food. We pull anything from spoons to Divers and even Crawler Harnesses. Lead followed up by Crank Baits, and even plastics that is quickly taking a whole new avenue on Erie 'eyes.  The list can go on and on, with my preference being the action produced by spoons. Here is a brief run down of the program that I use. Keep in mind, your program can change daily or many times in one outing. Just as important, it can be downsized and modified to work on any body of water.

Another note; leave the pack first!

I normally run three Luhr Jensen Dipsy Divers, size 1 with "0 Rings", set at 1,2 & 3 positions and then “Spread our Wings” both directions with Planer Boards pulling up to four Jet Divers off each side, ranging from Size 20 to 40. I know my depth for the Dipsy and Jets by referring to Luhr Jensen's tech sheets and reports available in detail on their Web Site, which explains the depth, distance and speed conversions. An important note about the dipsy divers and the chart on the back of each one.  It is not designed to be read in the manner we are used to.  If your looking out the back of your vessel, which we usually are while setting gear, then it is laid out backwards.  A simple die change, but mentally changed in our minds is in order.  When your looking out the back, point the arrow to the right to go right and the arrow left to go left.  I know to some of us it seems easily logical but I still get emails almost daily as to why the dipsy wants to run under the boat.  That is why!  Another little avenue to your repetition of success would be the addition of Line counter reels to improve my accuracy.

My planer boards are large, approximately 48” long. This will enable them to travel beyond the wake produced by my 30’ Sport and stay there. More importantly is the fact I can now target ‘eyes that are suspended in the water column that are otherwise inaccessible due to shadows and noise created by my boat.  Get out and away from that boat wake, and catch more fish! 

As you can see the releases in the picture, rubber bands are attached to the clip and the line.  It's not as complex as it appears, really!  We add the rubber band for a couple reasons.  One is to aid in vision, to let us know things are performing as planned.  When it stretches beyond that of the others we know something is happening out there.  It could be grass, a fish or just simply a bait not pulling correctly.  The other reason is to buy me some time.  When it is simply a set up consisting of the line pinched into the release I lose more fish.  Once the fish strikes, the release does its job and releases.  I then have a couple seconds to get the slack out or ole' marble eyes is history.  With the addition of a rubber band, I now have that rubber band stretching and stretching, keeping the tension I need to buy that extra few seconds that it takes to get to the fish and prepare to break it free from the release.

Another tool that will aid in your program, especially for novice trollers would be the Precision Trolling Book, with the newest addition of their big water title.  It's built for folks just like us. It covers in great detail all the dive curves, conversions for line diameters and strength, as well as just about all the baits that will hit the water. It is if anything, a great place to start. It can be purchased in many retail Bait & Tackle Shops. I keep one on board at all times. Its like a passport and I refer to it often.

I watch my Color Graph and my GPS like a Hawk. Once I have good marks of target fish and have selected my target range, I begin to fine tune my presentation. Trolling is not a matter of dropping some lures in the water and taking off, its as a customer told me on a trip last summer “ Trolling is a science!”, with a basis of efficiency and accuracy. I am always making adjustments in colors, depth and speed until I have it narrowed down to specific zone. A little fine tuning and multiple fish at once is common! Yes, 10 fish at one time and landing them all! My speed is critical, one minute the fish are taking the spoon at 1.5 mph and the next minute can be wanting the spoon at 2.5mph. Variations in speed are common, so don’t give up. The GPS is important in the fact I want to know where I have been. When I find that Hot Bite, I want to work that bite until either we are done, or the fish have had enough. It also gives me a good place to start the next day if I finished up with a good bite. Don’t forget about the Radio, listen to it! Someone is always letting another know what is working for them. Don’t be a Radio Chaser, just listen. Occasionally there is good information being shared. 

We could go on forever about Trolling. Techniques that work, when and where to use them and so on. Its a course of life lessons.  It takes time and practice to master the science. You will develop your own methods and style and trolling may not even be your cup of tea, but it can definitely put fish in the box when all else fails. The intent here is; change your program!

My customers have said many times, “We're like a big Street Sweeper...!” When there is a change in store and you need to put fish in the box, get away from that pack of boats and go trolling "Lake Erie Style". It can be rewarding, and at the very least, exciting!

Good fishing,

Captain Troy Young