Erie-Eyes wrote:
All our current high-tech gadgets seem to create more questions than they answer, and one that I now find confusing is trolling speed. I have always started around 1.0/1.5 and worked up to 2.0/2.5. But I now have two speeds - water speed which I usually worked with, and speed over ground which I find is usually .5 higher than water speed.
Can anyone tell me which speed is used for Precision Trolling dive curves or is this starting to get too technical?
The most accurate speed reading is down speed on the probe. Wave action has some effect on it but not as much as the other speed indicators. I have 4 speed indicators on the Grand Slam. GPS (speed over ground) is fine on most days until you get into waves over 2 feet. The up and down rocking motion of the boat affects this greatly. Also if the satellites are not in good triangulation then the readings will also be a bit off. I have 2 speed wheels on the boat and they are only marginally accurate even on calm days. Wave direction will greatly affect these depending on speed and direction. Hull design is another determining variable.
So if you are really serious about catching walleye and you want to be really accurate, down speed is the answer.
I don't use it very often but then again I am not all that serious about catching eyes. The fall on Quinte is like a vacation for me from the high tech & high pressure salmon tournament angling I do all summer.
Al
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Captain - Team ATOMMIK/Rockets