What is your preferred trolling speed?

[FLUKEFOX]

I have heard alot of different speeds, what speed has everyone had the best luck with, and does anyone use different speeds for big eye, yellow , bluefin?

[gottaflylee]

I'm not trying to be a smart a$$ here but there in NO such thing as the "Ideal" trolling speed. What you pull, bait or lures will dictate you speed as well as the sea conditions, down sea, down current, up wind up current. Best thing I can tell you is let you spread dictate your speed, if it looks like it your spread is pulling good then your speed is correct. Out of Wrightsville Beach, we some days have a lot of current, going into the current I may be going 4 KTs and the spread looks great, down sea, I may be doing 7 to 8 KTs for it to look right. I will say that, pulling bait look for around 6Kts for speed and go from there. Pulling lures,6 to 9 KTs or more but always let how your spread is working and looking dictate you speed. hope this helps...

[Bert Rodgers]

Are your baits in the water, or tumbling off the waves? Have you used trial and error for your particular boat?

Also, dead bait or plastic? Over structure or along a break?

Questions to ask.

That said as primaily a ballyhoo dragger if I am targetting tuna I start out at about 6.5 knts, 5knts for billfish.

Bert

[reelaxin]

Lee nailed this one. You need to spend a whole lot more time looking over the transom than you do the bow. Watch what is going on back there - keep the eyes moving and focus every bait in the spread, you will know when you have it dialed in. If the baits look natural and good to you they are looking better from below. 5 to 6 knots is where we usually start.

[junior trade]

I agree with the statements above. This game is all about presentation. Go with the speed that makes your spread look best.

[FINRAZOR RODS]

I'm definitely no expert, however, I always start at 6 knots to get the feel of what's happening, how my baits are swimming and go from there. I've found my best bites are, in fact, in that 6-7 range... Take that from a novice.

[gradyfish265]

I agree with all that has been said, I start my troll around 5.5-6kts and work my way up until my spread is working correctly. As you change lures throughout the day or rerig baits, you may have to adjust your speed a little but the conditions and lures dictate your speed. I've had days where slow trolling for bluefins worked very well and boats around us hooked none or very little, it really is trial and error. Also, your pick looks like you have outboard four strokes, run them out of sync when you troll about 300-500rpm's, this will help produce a better vibration and attact fish to the boat. Out of sync will outproduce in sync any day, unless the bite is wide open. Each boat and engine package has a sweet spot, you just need to find yours.

[BlueH20Boss]

7 knots on the rampage

[babalaza]

"The spot" is 6.9

[MAKO19]

5.5-5.8 knots with our boat and that is with twin outboards and lots of ballyhoo in the spread.