A “G-Force” Trolling Program

Turbo moves are just as important to anglers trolling with leadcore line. Due to the weight of leadcore—combined with the intense speed surges—rod power needs to be heavier than that of a typical trolling rod. A Shimano 8-foot Talora TLA80MRG-2 is one good leadcore rod that holds up to intense speed bursts.

Many trolling rods are made of fiberglass, but the stiffness of graphite works best here. Glass rods are just too soft and sponge out the “zip” that turbo moves deliver through the rod, down the line to the lure. Rods should be just soft enough to absorb some of the shock of striking fish, but fast enough through the lower two-thirds of the blank to keep baits reacting to speed changes. The new 8-foot Mr. Walleye Series rod, which handles superline, leadcore, and planer boards, is another good choice.

Boards are an important tool in trolling applications. Trolling with the wind, add a quick burst of speed just as a board rides the crest of a large wave. The board digs in, then catches air at the top of the wave, crashing back down into the following wave and skidding to a halt. Each part of this little stunt does something different to the lure—surging, stalling, and occasionally ripping it forward. These erratic moves often get fish to eat.

Lures

Crankbaits need to track straight at high speed. A good test for a lure is to run it behind the boat at 5 to 6 mph. If the plug continually pulls right, left, or skips out of the water, tune it so it runs right, or get rid of it.

Durability is important, too, as strikes at high speeds can stress some lures. Two of my favorite options are the Magnum Rapala models CD14 and CD18, sinking lures with metal lips. I like the Magnum’s action during pauses, wobbling as it swims a little deeper—a great triggering maneuver.

The 3-inch L&S MirrOLure Crankbait is another good lure, overlooked by most walleye anglers. Again, it’s precision-tuned and durable. It’s also a jointed bait, providing a little extra shimmy—sometimes a plus for trolling in warm water. Longtime producers like Shad Raps, Wally Divers, and Rebel Spoonbill Minnows are good choices too. So are Rapala Tail Dancers and some of the bigger muskie-style cranks like the Suick Cisco Kid.

I also use spoons like the small Dreamweaver DW, a lure that’s recently been hot on Lake Erie’s Western Basin. Spoons work well trolled behind Dipsy Divers at up to 4.5 mph. Finally, spinner rigs dressed with a 6-inch Berkley Gulp crawler work at speeds up to about 3.5 mph. Indiana or willowleaf blades of a #5 or #7 size excel for high-speed trolling.

Turbo trolling is all about pushing the envelope of speed and direction—a timely jolt here, a timely pause there. It’s all about injecting a little “catch-me-if-you-can” into trolling moves for walleyes.

*Cory Schmidt, Nisswa, Minnesota, is an avid multispecies angler and freelance writer who has worked with In-Fisherman for over a decade.