t’s the best method for walleye trolling?

There are a variety of trolling methods that will help you score a healthy stock of walleye. One of the most successful methods is an open water trolling technique that targets schools of walleye that reside out in the open or just on the outskirts of open water areas. Years ago walleye anglers borrowed the open water trolling technique from trout and salmon anglers. The basic premise is simple. You lay out a series of planner boards positioned at varying lengths to cover as much water ground as possible without alerting the fish to your presence. Open water trolling methods are preferable because you are not limited to a small pathway behind the boat. You can spread out up to 150 feet on either side of the boat as you move down a channel or river pathway. While doing so, you can experiment with varying depths, lures, color patterns and speed. The ideal speed to maintain in open water trolling is 1 to 3 mph. By doing so, you stick to areas of the water that will productively bring in walleye without wasting resources on unwanted or unused portions of the water. When setup properly, planner boards travel through the waters in much the same manner as a rake scooping up leaves in your front yard. There is a minimization of tangles in the multiple lines which serves to maximize catches. You can deal with a catch on one line without disturbing the placement of subsequent lines. Planner boards work in a fairly easy and consistent manner. The boards are placed onto a fishing line with friction releases in place. Slowly troll down the water and send each board out one at a time. Try to stager the distances of the boards so that a wide depth range is covered. As a walleye strikes onto the line, the planner board will move backwards or bob in the water. Reel that particular line the board is attached on and release the board with a quick thumb and forefinger motion. Place the walleye in the cooler and send the board back out into its place for the next catch. Give it a try - you’ll be glad you did!