How fast should you troll for catfish?

But the starting point and often the sweet spot for most slow trolling catfish hunters is . 5 to . 7 mph. "The fish tell me how fast to run," says Matt Davis, owner of Whisker Seeker Tackle.

How fast do you troll for catfish?

"You move your catfish baits at a precise speed in precise areas of the lake." Just how slow you troll is crucial. Anglers trolling conventionally for walleyes, wipers and other species often run from 2 to 5 mph. Slow trollers rarely troll faster than 1 mph.

What speed should I drift for catfish?

For cooler water temperatures most experts prefer a 0.4- to 0.6-mph drift rate. Boat control is essential to making a good presentation of the bait. Even if all the other factors are in place, a boat that is improperly positioned or moving too fast or too slow catches fewer fish.

How fast should I troll fish?

In general, trolling speeds between 1.5 and 2.5 mph, as measured by GPS, are a good starting place for most species like walleye, trout and salmon.

Do people troll for catfish?

Since catfish are most productively targeted on or near the bottom, trolling for catfish may sound like an invitation to retie often and cuss a lot. To counter this, veteran catfish anglers employ a homemade trolling rig that places baits within reach of the bottom, yet still resists snags.

How to Troll/ Drag for Catfish

What time do catfish bite at night?

Fact: Catfish are active at all hours of the day and night, this includes all three species of catfish. Catfish can easily be caught throughout the day regardless of the season. Catfish eat when they are hungry, not when it gets dark. Myth: If you want to catch flathead catfish, you have to fish at night.

How far behind the boat should I troll?

Bait Position and Distance Behind Boat

Proper distance for most boats will be anywhere from 20 feet to 150 feet behind your boat. Whether you have inboard diesel or outboard gas engines, your power dictates the distance you troll your baits and lures.

How much line should you let out when trolling?

Let out 50 feet of line and clip into the release. If that's not enough distance to prevent your lake's wary walleyes from seeing the ball...then let out 150 feet of line! Just remember, the flat-line diving depth of your crankbait still applies behind the ball!

Should you troll with or against the current?

7. When in an area with current, troll crosscurrent as opposed to with and/or against the current. Going crosscurrent, you don't have to worry about how the current is affecting your lure's or bait's speed through the water. Plus, fish generally swim into the current.

How deep should you fish for catfish on river?

Conclusion. The best depth for catching catfish is between 15 and 20 feet deep in lakes. This is known as the catfish zone because they reside within such depths in most lakes. However, depending on the time of the year and the temperature of the water, they can also reside in shallow areas.

Does trolling speed affect lure depth?

Trolling slightly faster or slower, the wind pushing the boat sideways, waves rocking the boat (tugging back and forth on the lures), underwater currents, water temperature, line diameter, variations in the lures (even though they look identical) and other factors all combine in very complex ways to affect a lure's ...

Should you troll with or against the wind?

When trolling in large waves, obtaining the best boat control boils down to two things: Always troll with the wind, and, use accessories to take the surge out of the boat. Trolling with the wind is the most important.

How do I make my lures deeper when trolling?

If you need to go deeper, just let out some backing until your target depth is reached. On the lure end of the line, remove a short section of lead as before and tie on a size 18, or smaller, barrel swivel. Now use a 10 to 15 foot mono or fluorocarbon leader to tie on the lure.

What is a bumping rod used for?

It was a specialty rod optimized for light weight with a power and action that allows an angler to lift and control 3-ounce weights and bait in current up to 700 feet from the boat.