Imo tru-trips and jets shine on big boards. They pull too hard on little boards to effectively read them. They float at rest so snagging bottom and tangles are greatly reduced. By far the most effective way for large boats to operate.

Tadpoles shine in rough water or when fish are negative and do not want vertical swim. Some times they like swim and in lines shine. I usually start with both and let the fish tell me what they want.

 

im also not a fan of jets/tru trips on inline boards but will run them with spoons

i havent tried any tadpoles yet but my plan of attack is usually inline weights with harnesses and jets/trutrips with spoons

 

Next year my plan is to run BIG boards mainly.. The TT do pull pretty hard on the In Line boards thats for sure..

 

Cleaner crawlers.....you can significantly reduce the mess that goes with crawlers by keeping a small bucket on board. Transfer worms to the bucket (a few at a time) with a few inches of water in it. Swish and dump dirt. Add more clean water and ice to keep chilled. This cleans the worms and the cold water causes them to plump up. Not perfect..... but much better than dealing with dirt or bedding all day. Worm slime washes off in water also....much cleaner handling.

Smaller jets/TT work with inlines and are very helpful in shallower water. Their float keeps baits off bottom when setting boards and raises baits with slowing speeds/inside turns. Some days they have worked great with inline boards..

 

I use all 3. Typically it is inlines or tadpoles behind inline boards. I let the fish tell me what to use. I use jets behind boards in shallow water when my leads are longer than the water is deep. Also jets are helpful if you are making "crazy Ivan" tight turns. When or if the inside lines get slack jets will float. Lead weights will sink snagging bottom. Also a jet straight out the back can be good. Its an easy way to read the line and get a better idea of is happening. With this it has he cleared when bringing in a fish. Tadpoles seem better in rough water sometimes they outproduce the in lines but not always. This last Saturday out of Cleveland they preferred the in lines over the tadpole. Last weekend out of Lorain it was tadpoles.

 

Bob, something I do with Crawlers, is to clean all of them the night before. Then take a stryofoam minnow bucket (find one that fits in a 5 gal. bucket) fill with about 3-4" of water, put crawlers in, then dump a small bag of ice in the minnow bucket. Your crawlers will suck up that cold water and get thick and mean. You will need to grab them between the eyes or they will bite. They will keep all day on ice as long as you keep the lid on the cooler, end of the day, pour out all but 3-4" of water add more ice and clean crawlers and you are good for the next day. If you pour out the water and keep adding ice they will stay good for 4-5 days. I hate worm dirt!

 

Don't they drown in that water??? I would think they would and be limp....

 

I do the same thing, but I keep the crawlers in ice water in a plastic coffee can in my cooler, I've had em in there over 24 hours without any drowning casualties