The success of trolling fishing often depends on tenths of a kilometer per hour, which separates active peck from total calm. Many anglers mistakenly believe that it is enough to just swim slowly, but for each predator species and type of bait, there is a strictly defined range of speeds. The correct speed of the boat when trolling allows the wobblear or glitter to demonstrate the maximum game that is attractive to the fish, but not frightening it.
In this article, we will discuss in detail how to adjust the movement of the boat, what technical means will help to hold the course and why it is sometimes necessary to slow down or accelerate depending on fishing conditions, you will learn how the wind, current and hull design affect the real speed, as well as what mistakes are most often made by beginners when setting up the engine.
Speed control is the foundation on which all trolling tactics are built. Without an accurate understanding of how fast your bait is moving, you can't effectively match the wiring horizon and the frequency of the oscillation of the lobe or the tongue of the wobbler.
Optimal speed ranges for different predators
Each species of fish has its own preferences regarding the speed of movement of prey, which directly dictates the speed of wiring. Pike.For example, they prefer slower wiring, where they can view the object in detail and attack with minimal energy, and for this predator, the ideal range is often speeds of 2 to 3.5 km / h, although during periods of active languor they can take faster baits.
Sudak He is a more dynamic hunter, but his preferences are highly dependent on water temperature and time of day. During the day, he can ignore slow-moving objects, requiring an increase in pace to 4-5 km / h to provoke an attack. At night, when the fish focuses mainly on the sideline, the speed often has to be reduced to a minimum, barely noticeable movement.
Salmon fish, such as trout or They often keep the bait on the jet and prefer to move faster, mimicking a runaway fish, where speeds can reach 5-6 km / h or higher, which requires the use of more powerful traction motors or special downriggers to hold the horizon.
⚠️ Warning: Exceeding the optimal speed for this type of wobbler can lead to its "corkscrew" or going into a tailspin, which will make fishing useless. Always check the bait game at the side before starting movement.
It's important to understand that these numbers are averaged. The actual effective speed depends on a variety of factors, including the size and shape of the bait, the depth and even the transparency of the water. In murky water, it is harder for a predator to notice a fast-swimming object, so the pace should be slowed down, increasing the time the fish contact with the bait.
Technical means of speed control on the boat
Modern trolling is impossible without accurate navigation devices. The eye and the sense of speed in the headwind are unreliable assistants, especially in alternating wind or current. The main tool of the angler is the GPS navigation, which shows speed relative to the bottom (SOG — Speed Over Ground), which is critical for controlling wiring.
But relying on GPS alone is also not always true, because it doesn't take into account the bait's removal by wind or current relative to the boat, so experienced motorists use a combination of instruments. Tachometer on the motor helps to remember the speed corresponding to the desired calm, but when the load changes (wave, overgrown screw grass), these readings will become irrelevant.
To fine-tune, you use special apps on smartphones or built-in sonar functions that can display current speed in large numbers. Some advanced systems allow you to set a target speed, and the electronics themselves adjust the engine traction, although most boats do this manually.
- 📡 GPS receiver - the main device showing the real speed of movement above the bottom, independent of wind and current.
- ⏱️ Stopwatch and milestones - old, but working method: the time of passage of a known distance (for example, between two tubs) is detected.
- 🌊 A lag is a mechanical or electronic device that measures speed relative to water, which is useful for understanding the operation of the screw, but less important for wiring the bait.
And with electric motors, it's easier to do this with digital traction regulators. Minn Kota or MotorGuide have modes that allow you to fix speed with an accuracy of tenths, which is a huge advantage over gasoline analogues.
Use the Track or Waypoint feature on your navigator to swim the same area of the body of water at the same speed, which will help you understand how a change in pace affects the peck in a particular place.
Effect of wind and current on wiring speed
Wind and current are the main enemies of steady speed that every troller has to fight. If you're going against the current, the boat's real speed relative to water will be higher than GPS shows, because the flow blows you back. Conversely, as you go downstream, you can have high speed on GPS, but the bait in the water will barely move.
The wind creates drift, which can significantly distort the readings of instruments, and in lateral winds, the boat blows down, and you have to use the steering wheel or motor to keep the course, which also affects speed. Sailing The boats play a key role here: tall windshields and superstructures catch the wind like a sail, accelerating or slowing down regardless of the operation of the engine.
To compensate for these factors, you need to constantly monitor the GPS readings and adjust the gas, so if the wind increased and the boat began to demolish faster, you have to add speed, but if you turned and went under the wind, you need to reduce the thrust so that you do not exceed the optimal wiring speed.
| Conditions | Movement | Impact on water speed | Actions of the fisherman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stilet | Anybody | GPS Speed = Speed of Water | Keep up with the momentum |
| Current 2 km/h | Against the current | Speed of water > GPS speed | Reduce engine speed |
| Current 2 km/h | Downstream. | Water Speed < GPS Speed | Add the bait gas |
| Wind on board | Perpendicularly | Demolition of boat, change of course | Paradise the steering wheel, monitor GPS |
Special attention should be paid to wind gusts: a sharp increase in wind can cause the wobbles to jump to the surface or, conversely, go into a deep tailspin, at such moments it is better to dump gas and wait out the squall than risk losing expensive baits.
Motor choice: gasoline or electricity for trolling?
Choosing the type of engine to troll is an eternal debate, but in terms of speed control, everyone has their pros and cons: Gasoline engines provide high transition speed and independence from charging, but at low rpms can run unstable. Carburetor engines often stall or work in jerks on a minimum gas, which is unacceptable for high-quality wiring.
Electric motors don't have the problem of unstable idling, they allow you to develop thrust at minimum speeds with high accuracy, but their main disadvantage is limited operating time. Full trolling requires a large battery (100 Ah and above), preferably lithium, which is less afraid of deep discharge.
There is a trade-off between using the main gasoline engine and the nose electric motor to adjust course and speed, which allows the gasoline engine to use thrust to drive, and the electric one to adjust speed in a narrow range, keeping the engine from stalling.
⚠️ Attention: Prolonged operation of the gasoline engine at minimum speeds ("stretching") leads to the formation of scorching on candles and in the exhaust system. Periodically let the engine "gass" at medium speeds.
When choosing a motor, pay attention to the presence of a low-speed forced cooling system. Some modern four-stroke engines have a separate water intake pipe even when the throttle is closed, which prevents overheating with long trolling.
The secret to steady turnover
Many modern engines (Yamaha, Tohatsu, Mercury) have a throttle control screw, and by twisting it, you can lock the valve in a slightly open state, providing a stable 1500-2000 revolutions, which often corresponds to the ideal trolling speed.
Setting up the gear at the selected speed
The speed of the boat dictates not only the behavior of the fish, but also the requirements for equipment. As the speed increases, the water resistance increases, which leads to a deeper depth of the Woblers. This physical property should be used: if the Wobler does not reach the bottom, you can add speed, and it will go lower without changing the fishing line or loader.
But there's a limit to this method, and at too high speed, the thin wicker cords start to hum and create a parasitic vibration that is transmitted to the bait, knocking it down. Monophile line It is more stretchable and extinguishes jerks, but at high speeds it can sail strongly, taking the bait to the side.
It is important to consider the angle of attack of the wobbler. Fast models (for example, some Rapala or Halco) are designed for speeds of 5-7 km / h. If driven slowly, they may not start. Conversely, deep cranks with a wide blade at high speed can go into a tailspin or break the leashes due to sharp jerks.
- 🎣 Wobblew-minnow - require an average speed (3-4 km / h) to unfold their snarling game.
- 🐟 Cranky and shady - often faster, operate stably in the range of 4-6 km / h.
- 🪙 Splendors and jigs Their wiring horizon depends on speed; the faster we swim, the higher the bait rises.
To compensate for the change in depth when changing speed, experienced trollingists use retractable leashes or change the length of the vacation. The longer the tackle is released, the more it sails and the more it affects the depth of the dive as the speed changes.
☑️ Checking tackles before exit
Tactical techniques of changing speed during fishing
Monotonous single-speed movement is often less efficient than dynamic fishing. Predator, especially pike and bass, likes to attack runaway prey. So stop-and-go techniques, or just periodic acceleration and slowing of a boat, can provoke an attack even by passive fish.
When you pass through promising places, such as brows, dumps or snags, it is advisable to slow down, this allows the bait to stay in the predator's attention longer, on flat "empty" areas, on the contrary, speed up to cover the distance faster and find active fish.
There's a technique where the boat is intentionally thrown from side to side, changing course, and the external lures accelerate and the internal baits slow down, which creates diversity in the Wobble players' game without changing the engine speed, which often provokes the fish to grip.
⚠️ Attention: A sharp braking of the boat can lead to overload of gear if they are released over a long distance.
Also, you should consider the time of day. In the morning, while the water is cold, the fish can be sluggish, and the speed should be kept at a minimum. By lunch, when the predator is activated, the pace can be increased. Experimenting with speed during the day is the key to understanding the mood of the fish on a particular body of water.
The secret to trolling is to be sure to change speed, and often the difference between zero and a dozen fish is to change the wiring tempo by only 0.5 km/h.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the minimum speed required for the Wobler to start playing?
Most high-quality wobblers begin to work at speeds from 1.5-2 km / h, However, for stable play and deepening, it is recommended to move at a speed of at least 2.5 km / h.
Does the weight of the boat and crew affect the speed of trolling?
Yes, it does. A loaded boat sits deeper in the water, increasing the resistance of the hull. At the same number of engine turns, the speed will be lower than that of an empty boat. It also increases inertia, which makes acceleration and braking more smooth, but requires more power to maintain speed against the wave.
Can Autopilot be used for trolling?
Yes, modern autopilot systems, especially those with a GPS compass, are excellent at keeping their course, which frees the angler's hands, but they don't control speed in absolute terms (unless they're connected to the motor directly), so you still have to manually monitor the gas, focusing on the GPS speedometer.
Why does the Wobler go into a tailspin when speed increases?
This happens when the hydrodynamic forces on the blade become too great and the Wobler loses stability, for reasons such as speeding too fast for the model, blade defect, poor balancing, or using a line that transmits vibrations that is too rigid/thick.
How to measure speed without GPS?
You can use the time-sequencing method between two known objects on the shore or navigation signs. If you know the distance (e.g. 500 meters) and the time in seconds, you can calculate the speed. There are also mechanical lags that are attached to a transom, but they are less accurate.