Guys who troll know that it's all about the speed of the lure through the water and depth. In a powerboat, speed can be measured by rpm(s) on the tachometer or an actual logmeter, which is a little paddlewheel device, that is an accessory to most fishfinder systems. In a self-propelled watercraft getting that speed exactly right can be guesswork. You can't use gps because speed made over the ground has no direct relationship to the speed of water molecules moving under the hull.
In days ago, an angler in a rowboat could get his lure speed just right for striped bass, by trolling with a #19 Tony Acetta spoon on one rod and regulating his speed by rowing fast enough to keep the spoon wobbling side to side. Too fast the Tony rolls over, too slow the Tony doesn't wobble. This corresponds to about 2 1/2 mph, which is the correct speed for most striper trolling. Bluefish like it at 4mph and seatrout like it at less than wobble speed. The perfect speed is fast just slightly less than causing rollover.
So, it may be that this olde school method of dragging a #19 Tony Acetta spoon, while paddling the kayak, has great value as an indicator of speed and large stripers are well known to hit big Tony spoons. And It doesn't have to be part of your spread out behind the yak. It could be on a short line held a couple of feet off the boat, but such that the Tony is completely submerged.
Maintaining the proper speed, while trolling, is a big stride towards successful fishing. The more randomness that can be taken out of one's fishing methodology improves the catching.
In days ago, an angler in a rowboat could get his lure speed just right for striped bass, by trolling with a #19 Tony Acetta spoon on one rod and regulating his speed by rowing fast enough to keep the spoon wobbling side to side. Too fast the Tony rolls over, too slow the Tony doesn't wobble. This corresponds to about 2 1/2 mph, which is the correct speed for most striper trolling. Bluefish like it at 4mph and seatrout like it at less than wobble speed. The perfect speed is fast just slightly less than causing rollover.
So, it may be that this olde school method of dragging a #19 Tony Acetta spoon, while paddling the kayak, has great value as an indicator of speed and large stripers are well known to hit big Tony spoons. And It doesn't have to be part of your spread out behind the yak. It could be on a short line held a couple of feet off the boat, but such that the Tony is completely submerged.
Maintaining the proper speed, while trolling, is a big stride towards successful fishing. The more randomness that can be taken out of one's fishing methodology improves the catching.
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