TOPIC:

Curious as to what speed you guys run. I know this can open a can of worms. Not my intention, just curious. I normally run 2.5-3 at the ball most of the year. A lot of the videos I watch in the YouTube say 1.8-2.2. What are your thoughts? I know the fish dictate but what is your go to?

1.6 to 3.4 overall is what I will run.  The low end is greasy and the high end is silver.  Also depends on if your running a spoon heavy program or a flasher/dodger heavy program.  There is no right answer as it changes based upon your program and what the fish want that particular day.  I would say 80% of my time trolling is 2.2 to 2.8.

What Jeff said. All different to day by day or even same day.

2.2 to 3 range most of the time for me. 

2.5 average.  Plus / minus.  I err to the high side unless I want LAkers.  2.7 is a great target speed most of the time for me.  I’ve never purposely trolled below 2.3.

As you can see most of the responses have been in the mid-2s and I agree.  If I had a boat that would only go 2.5, I wouldn't be upset.  

A bit of philosophy might put your mind a bit more  at ease. Speed isn't at all important because "that's what the fish want."  The fish don't have fancy gauges in their head that  registers 2.2 or 2.4,  In fact for a fish that reportedly can swim over 20 MPH, one mph isn't at all important unless they top out at 20 and you troll 21 mph.  Even then, they could catch the bait some of the time if they see it coming. How else do fat linemen ever tackle a fast halfback?  

What is important is the action a specific speed imparts to a lure. So if you are fishing mostly Flicker Shads and another boat is fishing spoons, comparing lure speed is mostly useless. Other factors to consider is the "hardware" ahead of the lure.  Snapswivels or not. How large?  Line test and type.  

One of the reasons certain lures, Flicker Shads for example are popular, Rattlin Thinfish/ThinFins another, is their action is nearly the same at 1.9 as it is at 2.7.  Some lures lose their "fish appeal" when going too fast or too slow.  Other's are appealing over a wide speed range, but their action changes drastically with speed.  J-Plugs are like this as are Jointed Rapalas.  

Ponder this as the rain falls for the next few days!

 

Thank you for all the feedback. It seems like we all pretty much agree on the South End!