Beginner fisherman here,

Looking to pick up some Rapala Deep Tail Dancer's for my upcoming Algonquin trip this August and Sept but I'm at a loss for the best size.

I have a choice between:
- TDD09 in Purpeldescent (which seems to be the favorite around here)
- TDD11 in Blue Flash which is also mentioned a lot.

Last time I checked the water temperature it was around 70f. So from my knowledge, the lakers will be down deep past the thermocline.

I enjoy quantity versus quality/size so I'm leaning towards the TDD09 as I heard that smaller baits will attract more sizes of fish, but I worry that it won't get to the depths the trout will be at in summer (Running Depth 20')

I also have a Husky Jerk HJ10 that I wonder will be the same if I set it up in a 3-way rig with a 2oz weight.

I rarely go on trips outside of the summer months, (June, July, August, and Sept)

Any opinions/advice would be great!

Definitely that Purpledescent color, it is the last color to disappear in the light spectrum. 9 or 11 you can’t go wrong. I’ve used the three way swivel with a weight too. Good setup.

Saw on Gander today this
If you order online it looks like they limit you to 2 but I just called and ordered 6. Delivered after tax was less than $60.

I would definitely go with the 11, as 20' is definitely not going to dive deep enough without lead weights. The 30' might not even be deep enough for fish this time of year. Thermocline is usually at least 25' this time of year depending on the lake. I went to Quetico last year at the end of Sept to target big lakers, and nothing shallower than 35-40' was getting hit (surface temps around 65 degrees). I couldn't even get hit with 250-300' of line out with the 30' tail dancer (UV Pink Firetiger, Blue Flash, Shiner, chrome perch). The only thing that was working was 2-3 oz of lead weight ahead of big spoons and 250-350' of line so we guessed we were at roughly 40'. We could see the thermocline on the sonar at 42-45' where the baitfish and trout were stacked up, but never higher on sonar). Often they will cross that threshold to come up to hit a bait, but less likely with a trolled bait. If you are finding you are not getting anything to chase because you aren't deep enough, switch to vertical jigging a 2-4oz bucktail jig or very heavy jighead and big tube/twister tail/shad soft plastic and use the yo-yo method (Let it freefall, smack bottom 6-8 times, reel back to the surface in quick bursts, then let it fall again 2' below waterline). On that same trip last year I had a 30" laker chase my bucktail all the way up to 2' of water on a retrieve before inhaling my bait right next to the boat after doing the yo-yo-that was without a doubt the most exciting fish I've ever caught. They will cross the Thermocline threshold, but likely not for a bait straight-trolled-usually has to be something more enticing.

Last year in the Q the last week of Sept. 60' was the prime depth for LT. We caught them all day, every day in several different lakes. This was my set up 120' out. Never took it off all week.

Do you bring a line counter reel out or how do you determine how much line you have out?

I use fireline tracer. It's marked every 5'. With snap weights it is also very easy to raise or lower your bait in the water column by varying your speed.

Jim do you lose much tackle pulling that weight? Seems like the weights would snap off, saving your lure but leaving lead in the water.

thegildedgopher: "Jim do you lose much tackle pulling that weight? Seems like the weights would snap off, saving your lure but leaving lead in the water."

I don't think I've ever lost any tackle with this rig. I'll paddle back beyond a snag if one occurs and it always comes loose.

AmarilloJim: "

thegildedgopher: "Jim do you lose much tackle pulling that weight? Seems like the weights would snap off, saving your lure but leaving lead in the water."

I don't think I've ever lost any tackle with this rig. I'll paddle back beyond a snag if one occurs and it always comes loose."

I use a sonar so I always know when shallower water is coming and take actions to prevent snags.

Good to know. I've seen some give advice to use a lighter test line on the dropper so as to lose only the sinker and not the lure. Which makes sense from the $$ aspect but I can't stand to think about the collection of 1 oz lead sinkers that must litter some bodies of water.

Of course I could go tungsten and then I'd be just as worried about losing my investment in weights as in rapalas!

I have a rod specifically for trolling (Medium-Heavy fast action 8' two-piece Shimano Talora) paired with a Shimano Tekota line-counting reel. The line-counters are DEFINITELY worth the money. Not only for the line-counter, but also for the easy one-handed bail release - just a lever on the side that allows me to let line out with the flip of a lever.

This allows me to start shallow with 60-75 feet of line out, and keep letting line out in 10-15' increments until I start getting hits. Doesn't matter how deep I am, if I keep getting hit with 200' of line out, that is what I am going to try to replicate. This information is lost if you dont have a line-counter. you can estimate how much line you had out (ex: 60' cast, then roughly twenty seconds of bail open should probably be about 100' of line) Obviously, if you change lures, it will be a bit difficult to figure out how to get to that same depth, but it is easy to figure it out if the fish are at a consistent depth, which with Lake Trout, they almost always are oriented to a certain depth, in addition to the less active fish almost always being directly on bottom.

Also, baitcasting/trolling reels generally have a higher gear ratios, so reeling in when it is time to switch baits or change locations is much easier. It allows for 10-12 hours of trolling a day, constantly changing baits until you find one that works without fatiguing your arm/wrist as much as with open-faced reels. This is especially beneficial if you are trying to bump bottom, which is incredibly benefical for Laker fishing but often results in getting snagged up on weeds, sticks or having your bait get hung up on itself or the leader and constantly having to reel up to fix.

For those of you who fish without sonar, they can also be used fairly accurately to figure out depth of water. Put a heavy 2oz lead weight on the end and drop straight down next to the boat. That will give you a rough estimate of depth if you are trying to locate structure or find the deep hole.

Investing in a trolling-specific setup has really changed the game for me-rather than just adapting one of your spincasting rods, spend a little bit of money and become more precise with how you target trout. The more consistent you can be, and accurate information you can gather, the more fish you will catch. I don't know how many times I've been fishing with a buddy who catches a trout and has no idea how much line they had out. "Wonderful! How much line did you have out?" "I don't know, a lot." Isn't helpful to me when we have limited time to figure out an unknown lake and make the most of our time on the water.

When I start hooking into fish, I can tell the others in my group exactly how much line I had out so they can replicate. If you are targeting Lake Trout trolling, which in my opinion is the easiest method (maybe not always the most productive), Investing in a line-counter reel is essential. For those of you on a budget, a line-counter reel and trolling rod can also be used to vertical jig big lake trout baits.

Agree to an extent ericinely, although there are other ways to be just as precise. I do run the round baitcasters with clickers and great drag when trolling trout, but no line counters. We use line that changes color every 20 feet. 5 colors is 100 feet. Very easy to track. Run flourocarbon leaders. I prefer it to line counter to be honest, less bulky and less weight, and doesn’t need to be calibrated.

I couldn't agree more with ericinely about using a line counter reel for trolling for lake trout.

Tracer line works well to determine how much line you have out, but I switched to using a Tekota Line Counter reel. I like to just take a quick look at the line counter readout and I immediately know exactly how much line is out.

I went with the smaller profile Tekota 300 model. It only weighs 14.3 oz. and it has a lot of line capacity for its smaller size (12 lb mono/275 yards, 30 lb. braid/255 yards). It is a level wind reel so your line lays flat and even. It has a smooth drag that easily adjusts. Great quality and consistent performance. Excellent value for the price.

I pair the Tekota reel with a Cabelas 8 foot telescoping trolling rod. This rod and reel combination has really helped me become a better laker fisherman. I have been almost exclusively a walleye fisherman but I now like to also go out on deep clear lakes and catch lakers.

Its been a real learning experience to catch lakers over the 4th of July and first week of September time frames. I find the key is to where the "thermocline" is on the lake you are fishing and get your spoon or lure right near or just above it. Like ericinely says in August the thermocline is usually around 30 feet and can be 40 feet in early September.

A Deep Tail Dancer TDD-09 will max out at 22 feet deep with 177 feet of 10 lb Berkley XT Mono out and 26 feet deep with 178 feet of 10 lb. Fireline out.

A Deep Tail Dancer TDD -11 will max out at 29 feet deep with 182 feet of 10 lb Berkley XT Mono out and 33 feet deep with 146 feet of 10 lb. Fireline out.

A TDD-11 will like be better for you as it dives deeper and closer to where the thermocline is. You could add a 2 oz. clip on Snap weight and you will be able to get your TD-11 to 41 feet with 145 feet of 10 lb Berkley XT mono @ 1.5 mph.

A Husky Jerk HJ10 will only run 10 feet deep without a 2 oz. 3 way sinker. Better to go with a Deep Down Husky Jerk DHJ-14 with a 2 oz. sinker.

I like to use the Precision Trolling Mobile APP that will give me the diving depths of almost all lures you will use with so much line let out..

Also, I use an older Lowrance X-44 black and white depthfinder to find the deep main lake basins where lakers hang out in the summer.

This year I was on Lac La Croix over the 4th of July and the thermocline was almost 35 -40 feet deep. Ciscoe's were hanging right below the thermocline. Hot temps and clear sunny days had the surface water temp up into the 80's. Crazy hot water for fishing.

Here's a pic of a laker I caught on Snow Bay at 30 feet deep over 80 feet of water with a purpledescent TDD-11 Deep Tail Dancer with a 2 oz. Snap Weight .



sugoiboy ... "go get em" ... let us know how you do.