Which do you prefer for trolling spoons deeper?

I fish for lakers.

I like to use Sutton spoons, Williams wobblers, flutter type spoons.

Normally go in May.

What weights work the best?

Seems like keel sinkers would be less apt to foul like the 3-way setup.

4 ounce keel sinker for me.

I like snap weights.

I tie a snap swivel in line between my main line and leader. Easy to adjust weight or just take them off for portaging.

Keel sinkers are the way to go. They bounce off the rocks and don’t get caught as much as other weights. I have no idea why people stopped using these, they just work!

Thanks for the intel folks!

4 ounces? That seems really heavy. Where does one acquire such heavy keel sinkers? I found up to 2 ounce at Cabela’s.

I do like the idea of the snapweights for adjusting depth. Might get some of those as well.

Would it be a possibility to run those 2 ounce keel sinkers and add snap weights if the keel sinker doesn’t get it down far enough?

You can run keel weights on the snap weight system. 2 ounces is about as heavy as ill go.

I have never understood the reason behind using 3 way set up in open water. Now a 3 way with a deep diving crank and a flutter spoon trailing above is another story.

Otherwise an in-line weight is preferred. It is far less likely to tangle. I like the walleye trolling weights at Bass Pro. They look much like a fish and run as heavy as 3 oz. The weight becomes an attractant as you imitate one fish following another.

mastertangler: "I have never understood the reason behind using 3 way set up in open water. Now a 3 way with a deep diving crank and a flutter spoon trailing above is another story. "

Hope you don't get pinched on the following regs while hooking up in the BWCA.

2017 Minnesota Fishing Regulations
General Regulations: Tackle and Lines

How many hooks can I use on the end of line?
You may use up to three single or multiple-pronged hooks on the end of one fishing line.
If you use more than one hook, the total length from the first hook to the last hook must be nine inches or less.

How many hooks can be used on an artificial lure or bait?
You may add one additional single or multiple hook on a line as part of a single artificial lure or bait. The hook must be within three inches of the artificial lure or bait. However, on designated trout streams and lakes, you cannot add extra hooks to an artificial lure or bait.

+1 on the snap weights. I add a snap over my line that attaches to the split ring on the snap weight. That way if the weight bangs into bottom it doesn't fall off. Also, I only have to unsnap and let go while I'm fighting a fish. The weight slides down to the top of the lure.

Heavy weights are nice for having your line down to the snap be more vertical. The closer to vertical it is, the less likely it is to become irretrievably snagged on the bottom. I usually start at 3 oz. and adjust from there, and I almost never go lighter than 1 oz.

I really like the look of those Bass Pro Fish In-line Sinkers.

Looks like they don’t have them available online. Any alternatives?

They’re inline sinkers that look like lures. Almost like a blade bait.

MrBadExample: "I really like the look of those Bass Pro Fish In-line Sinkers.


Looks like they don’t have them available online. Any alternatives?


They’re inline sinkers that look like lures. Almost like a blade bait. "

I’ve used them for a long time. Mostly pulling spinners for walleye. They work very well. Replace the hardware for bigger fish. I use the 2 ounce version the most but they come in one, two, and three ounce versions.

As far as what snap weights to bring in May, I wouldn’t bring any, but if your confident in flutter spoons a few extra ounces to bring with isn’t going to kill you.

Mnpat: "

MrBadExample: "I really like the look of those Bass Pro Fish In-line Sinkers.



Looks like they don’t have them available online. Any alternatives?



They’re inline sinkers that look like lures. Almost like a blade bait. "

I’ve used them for a long time. Mostly pulling spinners for walleye. They work very well. Replace the hardware for bigger fish. I use the 2 ounce version the most but they come in one, two, and three ounce versions.


As far as what snap weights to bring in May, I wouldn’t bring any, but if your confident in flutter spoons a few extra ounces to bring with isn’t going to kill you.
"

Great minds think alike ;-)

Indeed the swivel coming off these are rather light duty which is fine for walleye fishing but anything over 10lb line could potentially open up on you. Ball bearing swivel helps with spinner rigs.

I add a large fas snap to tie off to. These are also available in sizes lighter than 1 oz and make nifty rigs for trolling original rap alas when you want to fish them a bit deeper. The perch colored weight followed by a j-11 perch colored rapala can be a deadly combo trolled with light line in 12ft of water. Smack! Oddly enough I am still waiting for mr pike to take one of the realistic fish sinkers away from me.

Well, I found some comparable keel sinkers to those Bass Pro ones that don’t seem to be available.



Sinkers

MrBadExample: "Well, I found some comparable keel sinkers to those Bass Pro ones that don’t seem to be available.



Sinkers "

Good find. I would snip off the belly loop and file smooth as it's not needed. I believe strongly in the attraction powers of imitating one baitfish following another as such behavior is common. Predators often take advantage of prey which is distracted.

The tie off loops look to be rather thick and heavy duty which is fine but I prefer to drop the diameter to insure a better tie off unless you are using heavy material. The best way of bridging the gap IMO is with a fas snap in large or extra large (salt water version). These smallish and discreet clips are very useful for a myriad of applications but excel when trying to bridge diameters. The best knot physics occur when like diameters are joined. The fas snaps achieve this in a very subtle way.

Thanks for the tip!

Just so I’m clear........

Tie the fas snap onto my line. Then connect fas snap onto weight.
Connect another fas snap on the back loop. Then tie on leader and lure.

I feel I should have some sort of swivel also.



Thanks

Ps I have 15 lb braid on my reel and normal use 15 lb floro leader.