I'm new at trolling so I'm experimenting. I usually go pretty slow; a little less than 1/4 power on a 45# thrust motor; probably somewhere between 1 and 1-1/2 mph.
But here's the weird thing: When I decide to try another part of the lake...gun the motor up past 50%, probably 3-4 mph, I get some great hits! I didn't think a crappie could/would swim that fast.
I've caught more at the slower speeds but that might be because I spend 90% of time at slower speeds.
Am I going too slow?
I troll most of the time around .5 to 1.2 pulling jigs.I dont think your trolling motor is getting to 3 or 4 mph I have a 80 lb thrust and all I get out of it full charged is 2.3.so when you go to higher speeds is more like 1.2 to 1.6 or so and thats where your getting bit get you a gps and you will know how fast your going and what speed there biting at hope this helps you out some.
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We troll with planner boards pulling 1/16ounce jigs with southern pro hot grubs at .8-1.1 mph
.5 to .8 jigs,and road runners, 1.5 to 1.7 crank baits, and as fast as 2 on some days
jig@ .5 -1.2 minnows .3-.5
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Same as MG, all jigs, all the time.
No such thing as too slow for the most part. I like to crawl at .2-.8 while slow trolling/ spidering and .7-1.5 for longlineing with jigs. No advise on cranks.
I aint here to tell you anything. You want to know what Im doing....pm me and meet me on the lake.
a $99 gps will tell you exactly how fast your going, you'll be surprised at the variances based on the wind, current, etc. I have a tracker pt175 w/ a 60hp with a 43lb TM. Starting out in the morning, I can go 1.0 to 1.2, depending on any wind, whether I have the 60 down in the water or out of the water, if going into the wind, it's .8 to 1.0 depending on if the 60 is up/down or inbetween. as the day goes on, I slow down to .7 up to .9. On high or speed 5, the TM will pull mine at 2.2-2.5 in the morning ,as the day goes on, it drops down to 1.5 to 1.7 or so. These speeds are based on a garmin gps. Sometimes a faster speed is what starts the bite, you'll learn different techniques to slow/speed up in small increments.
GO BIG ORANGE !
I meant to behave, but there were just way too many other options available at the time.