I fishing for inland Red Fish in Central Texas. They want fast trolling speeds 5.5, 5.7 or 6.0 mph is common. If I want shallow diving plugs (2-3 ft) Bomber 17 Long As or Magnum size plugs, to run at 25, 20 and 15 feet how many colors do I need with 30# test or better?
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With 27# Leadcore at our big lake trollling speeds (1.5 to 3 mph) we are getting 4 to 5 feet depth per 10 yards (or color). In that case
20 Feet approx. is 4 colors or 40 yds. 15 Feet approx. is 3 colors or 30 yds.
At those speeds I would expect the depth to be reduced - not sure what the ratio would be though. We do run cores as fast a 4 mph here but I have no data to refer to for speed affects on depth.
I would seriously look at using 45# 7-strand copper wire - you get about 2x dive to length ration so 20 ft would be 20 yds. etc... whcih keeps it closer to the boat and you get the feel of copper - jsut need a rod with stainless guides - no rollers required.
I'd be very interested to hear what y'all find as you do your testing.
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Are the Red Fish you're targeting spooky? Lead core is generally thought of as a stealth technique here.
I think you might be better off with another method as I'm guessing at those speeds, the thickness of the lead core line would be working against you. Like Greg mentioned, copper might work better for you.
A few other thoughts on the problem. First, a downrigger might be just the ticket here. Saltwater guys use them and they troll even faster than your target speeds. You would have better control of depth with a rigger too. At just 15-25 feet target depth, a manual crank model would be adequate. Used ones can be had cheap too. Second, are there saltwater plugs available that dive that deep at those speed that might suitalbe to red fish? Third, you might consider a small dipsy diver without the ring on super braid. Not sure how they run at those speeds but I think you would be okay, this is more of an aggressive approach.
Lastly, welcome aboard. Even if our suggestions don't work out, maybe they will get you thinking in the right direction.
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I fish for 10-30#, 22" to 40" Red fish, stocked in inland Texas lakes. These are trophy size Red Fish down on the coast.
We down rig troll for them, 10# torpedoes, two Bomber 17 Long As on each, one stacked, no more than 20ft leaders, down 15 to 35 ft. Then one 20-25 ft diver on a 50-125 long line out the back dead center. At the speeds we troll the cables pull back as much as 67 degrees. This is why I asked what lead core would do. I really need so lead core depth data for this kind of speed before spending to set myself up. The speed of the boat nor the short leader nearness to the prop wash seems to bother Reds that are already in a feeding actions.
I am a bit rigger green still finishing my first season, have some great teachers, but not quite confident enough that I can make the big bulls produce. Not confident to invite some of you down for a try. If somebody wants to risk bringing 2-4 lead core rigs down for a trial I'll be happy to drive us around. The Lake is 2 hours from DFW airport. Trolling season will end sometime in early December. After that we drift fish and cast large plugs at schools at or near the surface. Make an trolling or gas motor noise during that season and fishing of that school is over!
All but one lake in Texas is man made, most are shallower than 50-65 ft. Those old river bottoms drained N-S so they get maximum wind wave action. Our Red fish lakes are power plant cooling reservoirs, with thermoclines no deeper than 20 ft. Here is an article on them and a bit about the lake I am fishing http://www.tpwmagazine.com/archive/2006/aug/ed_3/
Trolls are shallow by GL methods, trolls above and below the 8 to 20ft thermoclines and fast, 5-6 mph. We troll big plugs Bomber 17 Long As, Magnums and Deep Divers, and get those big hooks bent on occasion and have to replace them with 3X 3 to 5s. Because it is a power plant lake the thermocline is almost constant.
These fish are farm raised and stocked here, they never saw the fishing habits of their parents. They eat Threadfin and Gizzard shad, Tilapia, Perch and probably a few crawfish they can find. Most of this prey survives above that thermocline. The Reds do not "Tail" like they do at the coast.
There is nothing like being physically shaken and spun around the boat by a newly mad Red Fish for five minutes in 20 feet of water depth. My favorite expression for my newbies after the initial hook up "Who is in control back there?" It may be the first time a fish has ever taken control of that persons fishing experience. Even with heavy boat rods, and 30-50# test lines, after that initial hook up period you are NEVER in control, you are just along for that ride!
I'll loaded album pictures of my buddy's personal best, business end of my mentor's boat and mentor, business end my boat, and my personal bests that were photographed. My personal best (38" long, 22" girth scale was left in the truck) next nearest was 24# on a terribly sun burned and blurred Polaroid, so I have to catch one larger than that.
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Awh, these fish will spook under the right conditions, should I be demanding BFG's picture before offering an invite??
PS to my prior post. We are getting fish within 9% of the Inland Sate record fish, and within 40% of the record weight.
I am not sure if full metal line will qualify me for the state record when and if my boat lands it. I'll have to check the state record requirements to see if metal strand line rod and reel caught fish would qualify.
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Oh Paul.....are you catchin' this bro????? I SMELL ROAD TRIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Is there a "non-toxic metals" restriction in Texas? I would think that a wire-rig with a pound ball (or two pound) under a Jettison release with the Bomber back 50' would be KILLER...when the fish strikes, the weight is dropped out of the release (which then slides down the line to a bead/swivel where it stops a few feet in front of the fish) allowing you to fight the fish Mano-e-Fisho. We can no longer do such things in the Great Lakes, but for YEARS that method was used to pound the bottom 1/3 of the water column for lake trout.
You could run them off each corner of the boat, or off very long/stiff diver rods. For that matter...outriggers would be a good way to get 'em out as well.
Hmm....just thinkin' out loud here...
Amazing to hear that you run Bomber Long A's at 5mph!!! That is smokin'!
Oh...and what I lack in good looks, I make up in ballast and charm.
BFG
Official Ohio Delegate to Team Heavy Super-Sized Fishing Specialists bfg@educatedangler.com
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