How to Use Trolling Lures: Complete Guide to Speed, Depth and Rigging

Trolling lures let you cover massive amounts of water while presenting baits at precise depths and speeds. Whether you're chasing walleye in the Great Lakes or tuna offshore, understanding how to use trolling lures effectively separates productive days from slow ones.

This guide covers everything from lure selection and trolling speed to depth control and spread patterns. You'll learn which lures work best for different species and how to rig them for maximum success.

Types of Trolling Lures

Different trolling lures serve specific purposes. Matching the right lure type to your target species and water conditions dramatically improves your catch rate.

Diving Plugs

Diving plugs feature a plastic or metal lip that forces them underwater as you troll. The lip size determines diving depth. Larger lips dive deeper while smaller lips run shallow.

Rapala makes excellent diving plugs for walleye and salmon. Their Deep Tail Dancer reaches 30+ feet on a long line. For shallower presentations, the Shad Rap runs 8-12 feet and triggers aggressive strikes from walleye and lake trout.

Diving plugs work best at slower trolling speeds between 1.5-3 mph. The wobbling action mimics injured baitfish. Change your speed by 0.5 mph increments to trigger following fish.

Spoons

Spoons flutter and flash as they move through the water. Their simple design has caught fish for over 150 years. Metal construction sinks quickly and the concave shape creates an erratic swimming action.

For salmon and lake trout, run spoons 40-80 feet behind the boat on downriggers. Popular patterns include silver with blue tape for clear water and copper or gold for stained conditions. Check out our guide on fishing spoons for detailed rigging techniques.

Troll spoons at 2-3 mph for salmon. Slower speeds let the spoon flutter more while faster speeds tighten the action. Adjust based on fish response.

Skirted Trolling Lures

Skirted lures feature a hard plastic or metal head with rubber or silicone skirts. The head creates smoke trails and bubbles while the skirt pulses and breathes. These lures dominate offshore trolling for tuna, mahi-mahi and marlin.

Yo-Zuri Bonito lures run straight at high speeds without spinning. Rig them on 80-130 pound monofilament leaders. The translucent skirts look incredibly lifelike when backlit by the sun.

Troll skirted lures at 6-9 mph for tuna and mahi-mahi. Higher speeds create more bubble trails and cover more water. Drop speed to 4-6 mph when you mark fish on the finder.

Daisy Chains

Daisy chains string multiple small lures or teasers on a single leader. The combined flash and movement attracts fish from long distances. Once they commit to the spread, they often strike the trailing hook bait.

Run daisy chains on your outriggers or straight back from the rod tips. Space each teaser 2-3 feet apart. Add a larger hooked lure at the end of the chain. When tuna or mahi-mahi crash the spread, they usually eat the trailing bait.

Daisy chains shine in offshore conditions. Their visibility in clear blue water brings fish up from depth. Combine them with skirted lures for a complete trolling spread.

Cedar Plugs

Cedar plugs are simple wooden lures with a lead weight in the nose. Their basic design produces a tight wiggle at high speeds. Offshore anglers use them for tuna, king mackerel and wahoo.

Williamson cedar plugs come rigged with wire leaders and heavy-duty hooks. Run them on flat lines or from outriggers. The natural wood finish works in clear water while painted versions produce in murky conditions.

Troll cedar plugs at 7-9 mph. The fast pace keeps them tracking straight and mimics fleeing baitfish. Slow down when you hook up to prevent pulled hooks.

Trolling Speed by Species

Speed matters more than most anglers realize. Too fast and you blow past fish. Too slow and your lures look unnatural. Match your trolling speed to your target species for consistent results.

Walleye: 1-2 mph

Walleye prefer slow presentations. Troll at 1.5 mph with diving plugs or worm harnesses. Speed up to 2 mph in warmer water or when fish are aggressive.

Use your GPS to maintain consistent speed. A 0.2 mph change affects lure depth and action. Most walleye strikes happen during subtle speed changes as lures rise or fall in the water column.

Salmon and Lake Trout: 2-3 mph

Salmon and lake trout respond to moderate trolling speeds. Start at 2.5 mph and adjust based on conditions. Cold water typically requires slower speeds around 2 mph. Warmer surface temps let you bump up to 3 mph.

Downrigger fishing for these species lets you control depth precisely. Set your lines at different depths to find the strike zone. Once you locate active fish, stack multiple rods at that depth.

King Mackerel: 4-6 mph

King mackerel cruise at moderate speeds. Troll diving plugs and spoons at 4-5 mph near structure and drop-offs. Increase speed to 6 mph when covering open water.

Kings often follow baits before striking. Maintain steady speed and watch your rod tips. Sharp bends indicate follows. If you see a follow without a strike, try a quick 1 mph speed burst to trigger the bite.

Tuna and Mahi-Mahi: 6-9 mph

Pelagic species chase down fast-moving prey. Troll skirted lures and cedar plugs at 7-8 mph for tuna. Mahi-mahi hit at similar speeds but also eat at 5-6 mph around floating debris and weed lines.

High-speed trolling covers massive amounts of water. You'll burn more fuel but you'll also find active fish faster. Once you hook up, slow to 3-4 mph and work the school.

Depth Control Techniques

Reaching the right depth puts lures in front of fish. Four main methods control trolling depth. Each has advantages depending on your target species and water conditions.

Downriggers

Downriggers use weighted balls to pull lures deep while keeping rods free to fight fish. Set your desired depth on the counter and lower the ball. Attach your line to a release clip that pops free when a fish strikes.

Run 10-15 feet of line behind the downrigger ball. This setback gives lures natural action away from the cable. For salmon, start with riggers at 20, 40 and 60 feet until you find fish.

Stack two rods per downrigger using adjustable release clips. Space them 15-20 feet apart vertically. This doubles your coverage at productive depths.

Planer Boards

Planer boards pull lines away from the boat. This spreads your trolling pattern and lets you run more rods without tangles. Boards work perfectly for walleye and salmon in shallow to mid-depth water.

Attach inline planer boards directly to your fishing line. They slide up the line when a fish strikes, letting you fight it normally. Side planers attach to a tow arm and hold multiple lines at various distances from the boat.

Run boards 50-150 feet from the boat depending on water clarity. Clear water requires longer setbacks. Stained water lets you bring boards closer.

Lead Core Line

Lead core line sinks at a consistent rate. Each color segment represents 10 yards. Count colors to determine depth. A general rule puts you down about 5 feet per color at normal trolling speed.

Spool lead core on dedicated trolling reels. Back it with dacron or monofilament backing and finish with a 20-30 foot fluorocarbon leader. The leader prevents spooking fish near the lure.

Lead core excels for lake trout and salmon. Run 3-7 colors depending on target depth. Let out more line to go deeper or reel in to rise in the water column.

Diving Lips

Built-in diving lips on plugs force them underwater. Lip size and angle determine maximum depth. Let out more line to reach the lure's full diving potential.

Diving depth charts from manufacturers show how deep lures run at different line lengths. Most diving plugs max out at 150-200 feet of line. Adding weight or using thinner diameter line increases depth.

For walleye, diving plugs eliminate the need for downriggers in water under 25 feet. Run a mix of shallow and deep divers to cover the water column. Learn more about this technique in our crankbait fishing guide.

Setting Up Your Trolling Spread

A proper spread pattern covers different depths and distances from the boat. Varying your presentation triggers fish that might ignore a single lure.

Basic Four-Rod Spread

Start with four rods: two on downriggers and two on flat lines or planer boards. Set downriggers at different depths (20 and 40 feet for example). Run flat lines at 50 and 100 feet back.

This pattern covers multiple depth zones and distances. If one rod produces consistently, adjust other rods to match that depth or setback.

Advanced Six-Rod Spread

Add two more rods on side planers or additional downriggers. This expanded spread increases your chances of finding active fish. Run a mix of lure types and colors.

Shallow planer board lines catch suspended fish. Mid-depth downriggers target the main strike zone. Deep riggers pick up bottom-oriented fish. The variety ensures you're always showing something to nearby fish.

Staggered Setback

Vary the distance behind your boat for each rod. Short lines at 30-50 feet, medium at 75-100 feet, and long at 150-200 feet. This staggers lures both horizontally and vertically.

Fish often prefer a specific distance from the boat. Clear water usually requires longer setbacks. Murky or stained water lets you bring lures closer.

Color Selection by Water Depth

Water absorbs light colors differently at various depths. Matching lure colors to depth and light conditions improves visibility and triggers more strikes.

Shallow Water: Bright and Natural

In the top 15 feet, use bright colors and natural patterns. Chartreuse, white and chrome work well. These colors remain visible in sunlight and mimic common baitfish.

On sunny days, reflective finishes like chrome and silver create flash that attracts fish. Cloudy conditions favor solid bright colors like chartreuse or hot pink.

Mid-Depth: Transition Colors

Between 15-40 feet, colors start shifting. Blues and greens stay visible longer than reds and oranges. Use blue chrome, green and purple patterns.

Mix UV colors into your spread. These colors glow under low light and remain visible at depth. Many salmon lures incorporate UV finishes for mid-depth trolling.

Deep Water: Dark and Contrasting

Below 40 feet, dark colors create the best silhouette against available light. Black, purple and dark blue outproduce bright colors in deep water.

Glow finishes work exceptionally well at depth. Charge them with a flashlight before lowering your downriggers. The glow remains visible for 30+ minutes and attracts fish from distance.

Rigging Trolling Lures

Proper rigging prevents lost fish and ensures lures run correctly. Use quality components that can handle your target species.

Snap Swivels

Snap swivels let you change lures quickly while preventing line twist. Use heavy-duty ball bearing swivels rated for your target species. Size 1-3 swivels work for walleye and salmon. Bump up to size 5-7 for tuna and king mackerel.

Attach the swivel to your leader with an improved clinch or uni knot. Snap lures on and off as needed. Check swivels regularly for wear and replace damaged ones immediately.

Wire Leaders for Toothy Fish

King mackerel, wahoo and barracuda have razor-sharp teeth that slice through monofilament. Use single-strand wire or heavy fluorocarbon leaders rated for 60+ pounds.

Williamson makes pre-rigged wire leaders with heavy-duty hooks. Haywire twists create secure connections that won't pull apart. For a more natural presentation, try 80-100 pound fluorocarbon leaders. They resist teeth better than standard mono.

Leader Length

Run 6-10 foot leaders for most trolling situations. Longer leaders work in ultra-clear water where fish are spooky. Shorter 4-6 foot leaders suffice in stained water or when targeting aggressive fish.

Fluorocarbon leaders remain nearly invisible underwater. Use 20-30 pound test for walleye and salmon. Increase to 60-80 pound for tuna and mahi-mahi. The extra diameter prevents break-offs on hard strikes.

Target Species and Techniques

Different species respond to specific trolling approaches. Match your setup to your target for the best results.

Walleye

Troll diving plugs and spinner rigs at 1.5-2 mph. Focus on contour changes, points and underwater structure. Run planer boards to spread your pattern and cover shallow flats.

Pre-spawn walleye stack in 12-20 feet of water. Post-spawn fish scatter across main lake basins at 25-35 feet. Adjust your depths seasonally and let your electronics show where fish are holding.

Salmon

Downrigger troll spoons and diving plugs at 2-3 mph. Target water temps between 50-55 degrees. Salmon suspend at specific temperature breaks, so finding the thermocline locates fish.

Run a mix of spoon sizes and colors. Small 3-4 inch spoons work for coho while king salmon prefer larger 5-6 inch versions. Stack multiple depths until you establish a pattern.

Lake Trout

Lead core line and downriggers keep baits in the strike zone. Lake trout hug bottom structure and deep reefs. Troll tube jigs and large spoons at 2-2.5 mph.

Target depths vary by season. Early season lakers cruise 20-40 feet. Summer fish go deep to 60-120 feet as surface temps rise. Fall turnover brings them back to shallow water.

King Mackerel

Troll diving plugs and spoons at 4-6 mph along beaches, drop-offs and wrecks. Kings patrol the edges of structure looking for baitfish schools. Use planer boards to cover wide swaths of water.

Wire leaders prevent bite-offs. Run 30-40 pound wire with 7/0-9/0 treble hooks. Add a small split shot 18 inches above the lure to help diving plugs reach depth.

Tuna

High-speed troll skirted lures and cedar plugs at 7-9 mph. Target temperature breaks, current edges and underwater structure. Tuna cruise the open ocean following bait and warm water currents.

Run a spread of 4-6 lures at staggered distances. Mix colors until you find what they want. When you hook up, keep other lines in the water. Tuna travel in schools and multiple hookups are common.

Mahi-Mahi

Troll at 5-7 mph around floating debris, weed lines and current edges. Mahi stack under any floating object. Skirted lures and swimbaits produce consistent action.

Once you hook a mahi, slow down and work the school. Keep the hooked fish in the water near the boat. Other mahi will follow their hooked buddy. Cast jigs or poppers to visible followers for additional hookups.

Common Trolling Mistakes

Avoiding these mistakes saves time and increases your catch rate.

Running Too Fast or Too Slow

Speed matters tremendously. Too fast and your lures spin instead of swim. Too slow and they look unnatural. Use a GPS to monitor and maintain proper speed.

Make small 0.5 mph adjustments when searching for the right pace. Watch your rod tips. Proper lure action creates steady pressure and regular pulses. Incorrect speed shows in erratic rod movement.

Ignoring Your Electronics

Fish finders show where fish are holding. If your screen is empty at 30 feet but loaded at 50 feet, adjust your downriggers. Trolling at the wrong depth wastes time.

Mark productive areas on your GPS. Return to spots that produced fish. Pattern recognition speeds up the process on future trips.

Using Worn Terminal Tackle

Snap swivels, leaders and hooks wear out. Check them before each trip. Replace frayed leaders and bent hooks. A $3 swivel costs less than a lost trophy fish.

Carry spare terminal tackle in your boat. Retie leaders when they show wear. Sharp hooks penetrate better than dull ones. Touch up hooks with a file or replace them entirely.

Not Varying Your Presentation

If one pattern isn't working, change something. Try different colors, speeds or depths. Fish preferences change throughout the day.

Run a test spread with varied offerings. Once a pattern emerges, switch other rods to match. Flexibility and willingness to adjust separates successful trollers from frustrated ones.

Advanced Tips for Better Results

These advanced techniques help you catch more fish once you've mastered the basics.

Speed Bursts

Short speed increases trigger following fish. Bump your throttle for 10-15 seconds then return to normal speed. The lure's sudden acceleration mimics fleeing prey.

Watch your rods during speed changes. Many strikes happen as lures slow back down. The rise and fall in the water column triggers aggressive responses.

Turning

S-turns change lure speed and action. Outside rods speed up while inside rods slow down. This varies the presentation and often triggers strikes.

Make gentle turns rather than sharp ones. Aggressive turns tangle lines and pull lures out of the strike zone. Smooth gradual turns maintain depth and lure action.

Scent Application

Add scent to trolling lures in tough conditions. Fish oil, shrimp oil or commercial attractants mask human scent and add appeal. Apply scent every 30-45 minutes.

Scent works better in cooler water when fish feed more by smell. In warm water, visual presentation matters more than scent.

Moon Phase and Time of Day

Fish feed more aggressively during new and full moons. Plan trips around major feeding periods. Low light conditions at dawn and dusk produce better than midday sun.

Troll deeper during bright sunny days. Fish move shallow in low light. Adjust your depths based on sun angle and light penetration.

Conclusion

Mastering trolling lures takes practice but the payoff is consistent catches across multiple species. Start with basic setups and gradually expand your spread as you gain confidence. Monitor your speed, control depth precisely and vary your presentation until you find what works.

The combination of covering water efficiently while presenting multiple baits makes trolling one of the most productive fishing methods available. Whether you're targeting walleye in shallow water or tuna miles offshore, these techniques put more fish in the boat.

Get on the water, experiment with different lures and speeds, and develop your own patterns based on local conditions. The fish are out there waiting.