Trolling lead core for walleye
Lead core is a sinking, colour-segmented line used to troll a presentation at a selected depth. It’s cheap and exact. Each color of lead core set free (i.e. 10 yards) interprets to roughly 5 or 6 toes of depth, give or take a foot or so, at typical walleye trolling speeds of roughly one and a half-to-two miles-per-hour (2.4-3.2 km/h). Attaining exact depth management is as simple as counting colors and doing a bit of math. 4 colors and worm harness will run round 20 to 24 toes, for instance. A diving lure will get you extra depth.
“A Down Deep Husky Jerk goes to run at the least 30-plus toes down on 4 colors,” mentioned Greg Amiel, a Nice Lakes multi-species fishing information. “However trolling lead core isn’t a precise science and there are a whole lot of variables that come into play. Letting out backing, for instance, goes to make that crank dive deeper.”
Trolled core takes distinctive path
One other advantage of lead core is it offers a presentation a unique trajectory than different trolling strategies. As an example, a snap weight clipped on the road places all of the sinking mass at one place on the line. Lead core does the other, spreading weight alongside everything of the road. Consequently, the vertical swim traits of lures trolled behind these two set-ups varies.
In wavy situations, or when turning the boat, a snap weight causes a lure to have fast, sharp directional modifications. Lead core, alternatively, acts like a buffer, step by step main a bait up and down. There are days when lead core’s vertical swim signature is irresistible for walleye.
A slower response to waves and pace modifications additionally makes lead core wonderful for contour trolling. Within the fingers of a grasp, it may be used for spinner rigs, spoons, stickbaits, and different lures by the strike zone of bottom-oriented walleye with incredible precision. Amiel recommends usually verifying baits are clear of particles when trolling near backside utilizing a sinking line.
Ideas for turns
Lead core situated on the within of a flip will gradual and sink. Catching a walleye on an inside line is a cue to run lures a bit deeper, decelerate, or each.
One other turn-related tactic Amiel deploys is attaching a one- to two-ounce Off-Shore Snap Weight to guide core after letting out two-and-a-half colors or so. Doubling-up on lead causes the road to drop on a steep angle behind planer boards and permits tighter turns when trolling. This maneuverability is useful when fishing areas crowded with different boats, following faculties of bait and walleye, and dealing a selected construction.
Starter set-up pointers
A preferred setup for walleye is spooling a reel with 4 to 6 colors of lead core. Add a 25-foot, 20-pound fluorocarbon chief at one finish and loads of 30-pound braid backing on the different. Being a multi-species information, Amiel spools up his Shimano Tekota reels with 27-pound lead core as he makes use of the identical trolling setups for walleye, in addition to salmon and trout.
Line-counter reels nonetheless useful
Since counting colors makes it simple to manage a bait’s depth, you don’t want a line-counter reel. Amiel nonetheless makes use of one, nevertheless, noting the information the counter supplies helps maintain planer board spreads organized, and makes replicating fish-catching patterns simpler.
He’s fast to level out, although, that lead core’s bigger line diameter throws off the counter’s calibration, which is often tuned for 10-pound mono line. Regardless of the doable inaccuracy, the numbers stay related for apples-to-apples comparisons of comparable lead core set-ups.
Tie good knots
Breaking-off lead core is extra expensive than dropping metres of mono. An improved clinch is quick and simple to tie. Amiel additionally likes a Loopy Alberto. If desperate to develop your walleye trolling prowess, give lead core a strive — or mud off a uncared for set-up you already personal. Whereas it’s not a bulletproof trolling answer, it presents distinctive advantages.
Strains
A ten-colour spool of Sufix or Tuf-Line (10 yards per color) lead core prices round $30. For walleye, 12- or 18-pound is an efficient alternative. Spooling six colors with ample braid as backing will match most 600-sized reels.
The fast-sinking Sufix 832 Superior Lead Core is manufactured from Dyneema and Gore fibres, and dives 30% deeper and is far stronger conventional lead core.
Rods constructed to core
To keep away from the danger of carrying a groove in your rod’s guides and inserts, get a rod constructed for the job:
- Daiwa Nice Lakes Collection Leadcore/Copper Wire Trolling
- Rods and new TwiliTip Leadcore fashions (Stainless-steel guides)
- Rapala RSC Wire/Leadcore Rods (stable ring, black nickel guides)
- Shimano Telora Copper/Lead Core Trolling Rods (chrome steel guides)
- St. Croix’s Eyecon Trolling Rods (aluminum oxide information rings)
Reverse spooling
To take the guesswork out of how a lot backing to placed on a reel, fishing information Shawn Banks recommends spooling up in reverse.
The tactic requires two equivalent reels.
He explains: “Begin with reeling in your fluorocarbon chief. Then connect your most well-liked size of lead core, and at last your braid or mono backing.”
After filling the reel to capability, tie the backing to the second reel and proceed to wind the road. You’ll be left with a wonderfully stuffed spool.
Initially revealed in Ontario OUT of DOORS’ Fishing Annual 2024
