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What is the proper speed when trolling for stripers during the winter(i.e. January)? Right now the trolling motor when set on the lowest speed, the down lines are at about a 45 degree angle to the surface of the water. I like to troll slower. How do you slow down the trolling motor below the slowest speed? I have a drift sock, but really want to screw around with that.
What size weight are you using on your down lines? I use a 2 or 3 oz. weight. You may be going slow enough but your weight is too light. But you do need to go pretty slow in the winter.
I'm not sure how to slow a trolling motor down without the drift sock other than troll into the wind.
If you use 1.5 oz weights they will 45 back but if you use 3 oz weights they will not on a low seeting. My boat on 1 click is .3 mph 2 clicks .6 mph.
I use 1.5oz under plainer boards and 3oz on down rods. If you use the 1.5oz on the down rods you will get tangled up sooner or later they swing too much.
If you are at say 45 feet and you see some fish at 30-35 speed your trolling motor up a few clicks and they will 45 back and raise up 8-10 feet to get you in the zone, if nothing happens slow back down.
Another thing that helps is bounce 1-2 rods when over top of fish often triggers a strike on those rods and not the others.
Sorry forget to mention weight size.
This my usual setup during winter:
2 down rods with 3 oz sinkers.
4 rods with offshore planer boards with 1.5 oz sinkers.
4 freeliners. This is a swivel six foot lead and hook.
Guess I will have to try the drift sock.
If you are running a 24volt trolling motor you can link the batteries together to be continuous 12 instead of 24 volt and it will slow your speed down and it will last a lot longer. Running the drift sock will be extremely difficult with the rods out the back.