Trolling for Eyes

[Greg]

My buddy who introduced me to Kipawa 15 years ago almost exclusively uses worm harnesses and I have used them several years also.

Your questions - my 2 cents - hook size doesn't really matter - just find a big fat long worm than can stretch from the top hook to lower hook and hook it on good.

The rubber weight is just to make it troll 4 or 5 feet under water (without a weight, it just skims along surface).

Lots and lots of line out - don't be shy - 8 to 12 boat lengths easy.

Lots of fun trolling right down the middle of the lake right at dusk this way.

Good luck.
Greg

[Hodgey1]

Lots of fun trolling right down the middle of the lake right at dusk this way.

So this is good setup for an open water troll? Is there a speed you recommend or just enough to get blade to turn?

[Greg]

 It's a good setup for along a shore line or in middle of lake.  My buddy who showed me this is probably the best walleye fisherman I know - always comes back with his limit.  Standard troll speed - he is the kind of guy who observes colours, weather, depth, etc and finds a pattern and repeats it.  Always good results for the late night fish-fry.

[smitty55]

Hodgey nowadays there are as more variations of worm harnesses than you can shake a stick at. They always used to have 2 blades and 3 hooks with either Indiana or Colorado blades. The only decision was the blade colour and maybe size if you found a choice. Now they even call single blade spinner rigs a "crawler harness" as it has two hooks. Plus there are numerous choices of blade styles that may require different speeds. Assuming two guys trolling, make sure both styles work well at the same speed. For instance a pair of  large round Colorado blades wont run the same at all as a smaller thinner blades. Run them at the side of the boat first to watch them just get a good spin going and make note of the feel and speed if you have it.
I've been a huge fan of rubber core sinkers since I was a kid, and that's a long time hehe. Easy on and off and totally adjustable. I don't think I've ever run a worm harness without at least a 3/8 one on. During the day run deeper. I always use them when fishing back lakes for trout too in front of small gang trolls, it's at least 1/2oz to start, more later summer. So with two guys, run different weights to see what works in open water, and run a lighter weight on the inside line if trolling a shoreline with a good slope. Your line counters can come in handy as well, it's often about finding that right depth, and being able to repeat. I use to use that colour coded trolling line on a Penn levelmatic baitcaster I bought back in the late 80's. Not lead core but a cotton braid I think.

Cheers

[Ozzy30]

I will have to say I'm shocked with your love of Bleue T-Bone that you haven't adopted a proven way of fishing to enjoy alot of them easier.  Trolling does allow the love of a fine cold brew easier.  Maybe that's why I spend so much time fishing lake trout between walleye bites.  Just saying.  Oh and BTW congrats to Mattie hooking into a laker on last trip.  I may have waked the Lake trout fisherman in him  lol

[T-Bone]

I will have to say I'm shocked with your love of Bleue T-Bone that you haven't adopted a proven way of fishing to enjoy alot of them easier.  Trolling does allow the love of a fine cold brew easier.  Maybe that's why I spend so much time fishing lake trout between walleye bites.  Just saying.  Oh and BTW congrats to Mattie hooking into a laker on last trip.  I may have waked the Lake trout fisherman in him  lol

Yeah...but where there's a will there is a way. If anything I believe you illustrate why trolling is not my thing...way too much time between meaningful action other than watching the shoreline go by. With regard to crawler harnesses, there are areas near Alwaki where the probability of snag-up would be lessened...maybe I'll give it a whirl in late-July to see what Crackers is talking about with plenty of 2-5 pounders to be had. And yes Ozzy...you get the credit for putting the lake trout gremlin into Mattie. He's hooked.

[Hodgey1]

maybe I'll give it a whirl in late-July to see what Crackers is talking about

Hmmm, Tbone! I have an idea Me you Mattie and my brother Rob. A case of Blue and a 4 worm harness night of trolling on my boat? What do you think? 

I will have to have a Quebec made double IPA, in lieu of Blue 

[Hodgey1]

I have never used a worm harness. Just as some background of my fishing experience, I grew up fishing a massive pond next door as a kid. My gear was a Garcia 300 with a bail that would never trip on its own, a rod missing the tip, Kmart brand 25lb test line and a mister twisters missing part of its tail. I caught many fish including a 39" Northern Pike on that honey of a setup. I moved after graduating and only fished remote streams in PA for trout throughout my years. There was a very short stretch before marriage and kids that my dad had a boat and we would troll Lake Erie, but he had a way of worrying about spilled beer dirtying the boat that made it no fun. I grew up idolizing my late uncle, whom made annual treks to the Gouin, he more than anyone stirred my love of all things outdoors. Boy do I miss him...….. His brother is who I'm trying to help this year trolling at Kipawa

Kipawa is my first real push into exploring fishing past anything beyond the pond and streams of 40 years ago. I am learning a lot and enjoying the ride but still green. Here's a couple more questions

Look what I came across in my Google photos album! This ain't the 39" incher, but man I forgot I had that much hair ever 

[crackers42]

Just got back from a week:

Jigging zero

trolling caught quite a few fish biggest 32”

Trolling will locate fish and target Inactive fish also

[Hodgey1]

Just got back from a week:

Jigging zero

trolling caught quite a few fish biggest 32”

Trolling will locate fish and target Inactive fish also

32" walleye is a beauty! I assume you were trolling with a worm harness?

[T-Bone]

Jigging zero

trolling caught quite a few fish biggest 32”

Hmm. To be fair, if you didn't try jigging and caught nothing that way it's not a true assessment. If you did try jigging and caught nothing, well...something must be wrong with where you're jigging or how you're doing it. I would guess the former is true given your experience on the lake. So, we typically catch 500 plus 'eyes jigging and none trolling. Which is better? 

And to be fair myself...I would never contend that trolling is not a good tactic. It just takes too long to catch a number of fish. So in truth, I'd rather catch nine 2-pounders than three 6-pounders. Just keeps me interested better. Like most things in life...to each his own.

[puckster_guy]

I just wanna throw out (up? a different perspective on tactics and fishing in general. As everyone knows I came here as a troller and learned to still fish, usually jig and drift. I've had times where I was tired of catching fish jigging and just went for a troll just for the quiet, so to speak.
Fishing for me has often been an escape from the world, Just me in the boat cruising around G Bay catching smallies. I'd get out any chance I got just to be out on the water. I didn't care if I got a fish or not. Largely still don't. For me it's getting away from a stressful job and city and enjoying the quiet alone.
Having said that if you want fish in the boat I'm at the stage where I can do that. A funny thing happened the last few yrs. now that my place is nearly done. I'm just as content now sitting by the shore with a cold one as being out on the lake.

[Hodgey1]

I just wanna throw out (up? a different perspective on tactics and fishing in general. As everyone knows I came here as a troller and learned to still fish, usually jig and drift. I've had times where I was tired of catching fish jigging and just went for a troll just for the quiet, so to speak.
Fishing for me has often been an escape from the world, Just me in the boat cruising around G Bay catching smallies. I'd get out any chance I got just to be out on the water. I didn't care if I got a fish or not. Largely still don't. For me it's getting away from a stressful job and city and enjoying the quiet alone.
Having said that if you want fish in the boat I'm at the stage where I can do that. A funny thing happened the last few yrs. now that my place is nearly done. I'm just as content now sitting by the shore with a cold one as being out on the lake.

That all couldn't have been better put Puckster.

I couldn't agree more with

I'm just as content now sitting by the shore with a cold one as being out on the lake.

I spent as much time my last guys trip, on the porch with coffee in the morning as I did fishing and loved every second of it and can't wait to do it again soon.

[johnny walleye]

99% OF THE TIME I TROLL  WORM HARNESS SOME TIMES CRANKBAITS ,I START OUT IN 10 FEET AND WORK THE POINTS AND SECONDARY POINTS.ADJUST IF THE FISH HIT ON THE DEEP SIDE GO DEEPER 12-14 OR SHALLOW 7-9 IF NEEDED WE START EARLY 4;30 AM -930AM AFTERNOON 6PM-930PM  OVERCAST OR RAIN ALL DAY

[Ozzy30]

I agree puckster, I live on a nice quiet lake and I may put the boat in and fish it once or twice a year.  I will travel to fish but when i'm home I like to relax and enjoy the peace and quiet.