I can't afford to troll, meaning I don't have the equipment or even the right setup on the boat to do so. Main problem is my ignorance of the technique. Past few weekends I've gone out to the islands and drifted with harnesses, Erie deries, ect. Not much success. I read people are doing well east, Lorain fairport ect. Can they be caught drifting? I'm 28, when I was a kid I remember drifting all the time with my dad and fam and we'd always do well. How far out of say hot waters are fishermen traveling to get into the fish? Any help or tips are great appreciated. Dads retired from Erie for the most part and I'm not fairing well this being my first season going out on my own.
The answer is yes. Will drifting produce as many fish as trolling, most likely not, but it's still a great time. The bottom line is, you need wind to effectively drift fish for walleye. I don't know your craft's size, but assuming it can handle 2-4 footers you'll do well. Pick your days right where you have a 10-20 mph wind for best drifting results
Sure you can and you dont need a boat that can handle 2-4 dt waves or 20 mph winds. If your boat is smaller ligher it will drift faster. Drift casting works well on schooled walleye or super shallow rock fishing. Trolling works well if it is dead calm or the fish are scattered. If your boat has an electric motor that can do alot for you it can move your boat when thwre is no wind and you can cast or you can flatline troll with the electric if it will move ya 1-2.5mph. You dont need hundreds or thousands of dollars in trolling equipment to put fish in the box. A couple 7ft rods a clip on line counter and trolling sinkers and you can do some damage. If you dangle a crawler near a walleye whether your trolling or casting it will eat it...as in all fishing finding them is 3/4 of the battle. Do some research on flatline trolling and drift casting the research will get some good techniques on how to effectively get your bait in front of the fish!
We used to do well drifting "years ago, on a completely different Lake Erie ". That lake was not filtered out to gin clear by bi -valves(shell fish). Now the fish shy away from the boat and you have to fish away from the boat to catch them! You simply cannot catch the fish behind the boat that are not there. In my opinion, you have to adapt your presentations to be (more) successful. IE, trolling with dypsys or planners which put the lures out away from the boat in the water the fish went to! As mentioned before, this does not have to put you in the poorhouse. You can be successful without spending a fortune. That being said, there will be days when the conditions are more conducive (or the stars align just right) when you will get a few fish drifting /casting, but these days are few and far between. It costs too much to fish a day on Erie not to score some fish, or improving your odds by adapting to what is required to do that.
Last edited by c. j. stone; 06-14-2012 at 01:41 AM.
I can't afford to troll, meaning I don't have the equipment or even the right setup on the boat to do so. Main problem is my ignorance of the technique. Past few weekends I've gone out to the islands and drifted with harnesses, Erie deries, ect. Not much success. I read people are doing well east, Lorain fairport ect. Can they be caught drifting? I'm 28, when I was a kid I remember drifting all the time with my dad and fam and we'd always do well. How far out of say hot waters are fishermen traveling to get into the fish? Any help or tips are great appreciated. Dads retired from Erie for the most part and I'm not fairing well this being my first season going out on my own.
PLease go to the drift & cast thread in LEgd section
I fish central basin & dont troll. I say the good drifter can do as well as the average troller...cant keep up witht the upper 10%. And flat days are tough.....We usualy do about as well as most based on what we see when back at the dock.
sometimes we do better....A lot of trollers overlook the bottom fish & sometimes thats the best bite.
If you see the board draggers getting them and you are not, try fishing higher in the water....do more cast and retrieve fishing.....also when going for suspended fish, try to fish as shallow water as you can. Its easier to keep your lure in the "zone" when there is less water outside the zone.
I use harnesses, same colors as the trollers, but metalic purple and plain gold are my goto blades. Usualy start the day with these and change if needed.
Oh, and just like trollers circling a small area or figure eighting a small area, dont be afraid to redrift a small hotspot.
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Here fishy fishy fishy....
Here fishy fishy fishy.....
Time to grab a sandwich............
boss302 makes good points.Are you using heavy enough bottom bouncers?worm harness' in the hot trolling colors , fishing high enough in the water column [ 5ft & under for casting] using a drift sock or two to slow your drift on winding days,fishing the swing points on your boat,keeping worms cold & lively,changing colors often on lures,casting crankbaits from the boat / spoons / jigging spoons ?? fishing in low sun light early / late afternoon , using flurocarbon line or leaders? I could go on & on & on . . . . your getting the point by now .#1 though is this you have to find'em to catch'em & that is the hard part . Hit a couple of baitshops in the area your fishing ask for info [they are small business' so buy stuff from them,info doesn't pay the rent]check online here & ODNR too . Good Luck !
I fish central basin & dont troll. I say the good drifter can do as well as the average troller...cant keep up witht the upper 10%. And flat days are tough.....We usualy do about as well as most based on what we see when back at the dock.
sometimes we do better....A lot of trollers overlook the bottom fish & sometimes thats the best bite.
If you see the board draggers getting them and you are not, try fishing higher in the water....do more cast and retrieve fishing.....also when going for suspended fish, try to fish as shallow water as you can. Its easier to keep your lure in the "zone" when there is less water outside the zone.
I use harnesses, same colors as the trollers, but metalic purple and plain gold are my goto blades. Usualy start the day with these and change if needed.
Oh, and just like trollers circling a small area or figure eighting a small area, dont be afraid to redrift a small hotspot.
Outdoor Hub mobile, the outdoor information engine
Glad someone isnt afraid to speak his Mind ! My group 4 short of thier limit today ! GOOD Day !
I drift because I'm a sportsman. I prefer to catch the fish, not have them hook themselves and then get dragged behind the boat until netted. Trolling is the same as trawling.
everyone points are great. drifting is a great way to catch fish i agree with everyone comments, except bohanna i have limited fishing chances and am set up for trolling so we troll the sportmans comment is a little out of line imo!!! i know mike does great drifting which is great to hear i enjoy reading his posts. so let me ask you bohanna, do you hunt?? do you use a gun??? because that is like to easy?? fishing is a sport if you eat the fish and supply food on the table why take a low blow and think your better then me because you drift just was a little offened by your staement!!!!!perfect example i caught a walleye two weeks ago foul hooked 25 inch let it go would you have bohanna???
I drift because I'm a sportsman. I prefer to catch the fish, not have them hook themselves and then get dragged behind the boat until netted. Trolling is the same as trawling.
I prefer to drift, and do see it as more of an art than trolling is....However, I am a scientist and the science and formulas of trolling (at the cost of being less of an art) are solid. The fish still have to strike the bait, much different than being picked up in a net.....the best trollers, the 10%, have worked out the science and are in the art zone, the average joe is learning bits and pieces of the science.
Trolling isn't evil, for some it's all they know and for some it fits their personality and style. For others, it's just following the "in crowd".
I've been on a trolling charter, it was a good experience. Just doesn't fit me personaly. If my kids wanted to go fishing with me more, I would consider setting up for it as it would be easier for them to get fish.
As a teen I got into archery. Shot a bare bow, no sights as it fit my personality better....more of an art to shoot consistantly than just lining up a dot and a peep....same with drifting.
__________________
Here fishy fishy fishy....
Here fishy fishy fishy.....
Time to grab a sandwich............
I prefer to drift, and do see it as more of an art than trolling is....However, I am a scientist and the science and formulas of trolling (at the cost of being less of an art) are solid. The fish still have to strike the bait, much different than being picked up in a net.....the best trollers, the 10%, have worked out the science and are in the art zone, the average joe is learning bits and pieces of the science.
Trolling isn't evil, for some it's all they know and for some it fits their personality and style. For others, it's just following the "in crowd".
I've been on a trolling charter, it was a good experience. Just doesn't fit me personaly. If my kids wanted to go fishing with me more, I would consider setting up for it as it would be easier for them to get fish.
As a teen I got into archery. Shot a bare bow, no sights as it fit my personality better....more of an art to shoot consistantly than just lining up a dot and a peep....same with drifting.
I agree with that attitude 100%!!
Trolling does take the fun out of hooking up manually with the fish.
It does make it feel like a commercial type fishing for #'s rather than traditional hands on intimate experience between fisherman and fish....- the bite and the responding setting the hook.
And here we go again....always with the trolling is not fishing. I do both. Both have there place. If you don't like it, don't do it. I drift when the wind and waves allow and if it's dead flat, good luck drifting. Trolling is a skill as much as drifting. If you disagree, you more than likely haven't tried it. I'm not saying anyone who drifts can't troll, I'm saying if you don't know the equipment and different techniques, you won't catch them. Just dragging lures won't do it. It has to be dialed in just as much as drifting. Good fishing everybody.
Ain't technology great? Now I can be distracted by fishing everywhere I go!
__________________ It's okay to sleep on the couch... we're guys... it's like camping... we like that.
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I drift because I'm a sportsman. I prefer to catch the fish, not have them hook themselves and then get dragged behind the boat until netted. Trolling is the same as trawling.
They always say the best way to join enemies is to pit them against another foe. Maybe the trollers and drifters can join forces and pick on the low lifes that anchor or you can even attack the spear fishermen. I wonder what spear fishermen would call trollers and drifters ?
i love drifting and trolling, so what does that make me.
the way i see it as long as its legal why should anyone care how you caught them. drifting has its time and place and so does trolling. there are just some who has trouble catching fish drifting, and there are some who just think trolling is draging a lure around and fill the boat. and those people just dont catch many fish trolling.
i support the drifters and the trollers. whatever it takes for you to catch fish then its right for you. just stay legal catch some fish have some fun and be safe.
sherman
Trolling sure, but can they be caught drifting?
Trolling sure, but can they be caught drifting?
Drifting for IIIIIIIIIIIIIIs
Good Luck !
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