I use a fiberglass rod and i do not notice a pull on my body, but I like to hold the rod, especially when there are three of us trolling.. I have put them in my driftmasters before, but I like to hold the rod, not watch it to twitch, but that is jsut me.

I troll from 2.9 to 3.4 and 850 to 1000 rpm, usually go by my gps speed to be more accurate.

DG-- I have never really hammered the sandbass at Whitney, catch a few surfacing , but know some good areas to troll the petspoon and sack them up, I just never do it there. But as you say, it depends on the lake you fish. On Cedar Creek, there was one day that I could not buy a hybrid on a slab or sassyshad, but every time I hit the back side of this hump I got hybrids. Three passes we had nine, that is three triples and then one more pass we would gt one or two, did that until we got 15 and it was pretty quick. Not all the time, but I can go thru sandbass all day and sack them up and get away from the on a turn and pull a hybrid.

Trolling speed= what the fish want to hit
Rod holders= Yep
Type of rod holder= A good one that will adjust.
Coffee= hot and strong
Beer= Bud
Hay guys, if we all had the same preferances we would all be driving blue Dodge pickups, living in white houses and married to the same women. It all comes down to what you like to do.
Please save the beer till you get home.
Bill

SB: The sand bass action on Whitney that I was talking about was a little before your time. I was in high school, which was 25 years ago. My grandpa and I would go out in his 14 foot flat bottom boat and troll in the afternoon along the Shuler point shore and the island. We would troll Heddon sonics in the afternoon and catch a boat load of sand bass and then go home. At that time, I remember acres of fish, stripers and white bass, would school all over the area from the state park to big rocky. It was unbelievable. We would sometimes throw hot spots with two flea flys tied above them and catch doubles and triples. However, when the stripers hit, they would pull separate directions and rip the line to shreds.

Those are some great memories. My grandpa is dead now. Many times I think of him when I am fishing. I know many talk about taking the kids fishing and I agree that is important. However, if you get a chance, take those older relatives out too. They have many great stories to tell and a whole lot of wisdom to pass down.

Thanks for reminding me of great times past Steve!

The Man is right about the down east rod
holders they are great I have six on my boat
no fear about turning rod slipping out or
plastic breaking. In the absence of agood
rod holder try loosening the ole belt couple
notches and sticking long handled rod in
your belt gives a good hold and feel for
fish while both hands free

------------------
As a general rule, When you step into your boat you are no longer governed by general rules---You are governed
by Murphy's Law

Dennis----Slabshad

Steve,

You mentioned those Driftmasters coming loose, even after tightening the wingnuts. The problem is that you need both left and right-handed threads. The left-hand threads are mounted on the left side of the boat (port) and the righ-hand threaded holders are mounted on the right side of the boat. In this manner they actually tighten with force from a trolled rod versus loosening. I had to order mine from the Driftmaster company direct because those left-hand threaded holders aren't usually stocked at stores. Just my .02

------------------
Ed Utley

Another trolling question. Just learning to troll and I'm doing it with a 101 lb. Min Kota pulling my 22' Red Fin. Isn't that why they call it a trolling motor? :rolleyes
Been going at about 2MPH(GPS) at 50 % power and hope to get 6 hours trolling out of the batteries and use the big enine as a rudder only.
My questions are; Am I going too slow and since I'm much quieter, will that improve my fishing and also allow me to run out less line?
Ed, Never would have figured that out. Thought maybe all the big fish were being caught on the right hand side of the boat causing the rod holders to work loose.
Wayne

I have seen 2 mph being too fast but generally for sandies it is not even up around 3mph is not too fast most of the time
I always said it as a joke but sometines it
seems like you can troll for them with the
boat about half planed out. If you get a
fish at 2mph and your buddy reals in as you
are cranking in the fish ang gets hit also
generally speaking you need to go a little
faster. Trolling with a deep diving crank
you need to go fast enough to get the action
and dive out of it at least. I can't get 2 mph out of my electric but it is only 50 lb
thrust. and the ole 69 Evinrude will idle
to 350 or 400 rpm finally loose enough to
run good I guess, but I generally have to
have it 600 to about 950 rpm for best results, However I am running 15 or 17 pitch
prop, as I carry enough krap in my boat to
keep it weighted down.

------------------
As a general rule, When you step into your boat you are no longer governed by general rules---You are governed
by Murphy's Law

Dennis----Slabshad

Personally, I like the Robert's rod holders. I have 6 of the bases mounted on my rig, and can move the holders around to wherever I need them. They make a small one (non-adjustable angle) and a larger adjustable one thats fits into the same bases. I use the small ones most of the time, and don't have problem getting the rod out with a fish on. I also have two small downriggers that fit these bases, too. Just FYI.........

This is the way I tell the difference in strikes when trolling with rods in holders
A White bass will put more pressure on the
rod so it will have more bend than normal
with an occasional jerk or two and the rod
tip is no longer vibrating with the lure
action. A Hybrid is a little different,
Generally the tip of your rod is clicking
against the rear deck cleat, and the drag
is smoking.

------------------
As a general rule, When you step into your boat you are no longer governed by general rules---You are governed
by Murphy's Law

Dennis----Slabshad

ed, they will if they are the wrong thread, put left hand thread on the left and right hand thread on the right and no prob. Which is what i have, but i hold all mine with the hell/pet. i never put them in rod holder unless i am taking a fish off for the wife

I like to go 2.8, to 3.1 for speed

also, if your rod is wearing your arms out, go to a rod that has some glass in it or all fiberglass.

i use a cranking stick from bass pro and it is very easy.

I have read some good info on this thread. Have a question though...probably a stupid one but here goes. How is good way to gauge how much line to let out to get the lure at the proper depth? I usually throw a 1/4-1/2 ounce rattletrap or a little george.