Hi Folks,

Here's a question that has vexed me for several years now. Does anyone know how deep particular weights will bring a lure when dragged at a particular length? For example, if I troll a 1/2 oz spoon and let out 100 feet of line, how deep will it run? What about 1 oz? In other words, does anyone have a reliable formula for determining depth based on weight and length? In my case I use 6 lbs mono, leisurely paddle speed. This spring will be my fourth year going up for lake trout, and although I've always caught some fish I've also always thought that I would be more successful if I knew how to adjust depth systematically. Hopefully somebody here can chime in with their knowledge and experience. Thanks.

This is about the best info on trolling depths

quote AmarilloJim: " This is about the best info on trolling depths"

Wow, great site. Thanks for sharing!

Great site for trolling data, thank you!

Even without knowing the depth of your lure, I think your question is more "how can I change the depth of my lure to catch more fish?"

I don't often change sinker weight. I usually tie on a 4 oz keel sinker with a 3' leader behind to my spoon. Let out line to the bottom and start paddling. Vary speed and direction often. Wander about, have a cup of coffee, head for an island, go to the middle, speed up, round a point, go deep, stop/start, take a bathroom break. I find the more I dink around, the more luck I have.

Also, if you see a loon on the water... paddle over there.

I use fireline tracer to determine line length now. Before I would just count rod lengths.

This is how I add and subtract weights. Makes it easy to remove during portaging.

Thanks for the responses. Despite my efforts I've never caught any lake trout on crankbaits, but I will continue to try. So the Precision Trolling info is helpful. In the past I would hear reports, for example, that fish are 20 feet deep, but my method for getting the lure to that depth has always been just a best guess. That's what prompted my question. It'd never crossed my mind before but following a loon also makes sense.

A few thoughts......I like deep diving crankbaits such as a rapala Tail dancer (large size, trout finish) pulled on green 8lb XT during August. I pull over main lake basins in Basswood and do pretty well. The fish are very likely to come up for a bait.

But if your fishing early in the year you might end up trolling beneath them and they seldom go down for baits. I also like to troll a bit on the slower side and have the bait pretty far back. I angle my rod towards the lure to make up for any stretch.

A line counter reel is nice but certainly not a pre-requisite. Crank baits will catch them, just put your time in.........but so will spoons. For spoons I like an in-line weight of up to 3oz later in the summer. Kerry does well on snap weights and Sutton spoons (that would be a hint).

Dr Spoons also account for catches. Worry a bit less about exact lure placement as lakers will rocket out of 50ft to 20ft if they like what they see. And they see very well indeed.......walleye on the other hand have a much narrower strike window and precise placement is often key.

Having spouted off I offer my disclaimer......I am no Laker Guru and despite consistent success on Basswood I struggle at other places including a grand total of zero lakers caught at Musclow lake in WCPP this past summer despite putting in lots of time. So take my advice with the appropriate grain of salt ;-)