Trolling setup

[MarkDv]

I know I already asked too many questions and got some really good advises and suggestion but seems like I still didn't get it right as my fishing success is a bit behind my wishes.
So I'd like to ask some specific questions in hope that experienced people would reply.
1. I run a braided line. What length of the line is optimum behind the cannon? I tried it 30-50 ft on lake Ontario and it seems to be Ok. The reason it is so short that I have some 'flashers' (small fake plastik lures) attached to the cannon, so it suppose to attract the fish. But I think most people are saying about much longer distance something like 100-150 ft behind the cannon or flasher. What is then meaning of the flashers if they are way to far from the actual lure? Also, with shorter line it is easy to turn around and change direction if needed.
2. What is the length of the leader (from the braided line to the lure). My setup is that I have metal O ring between braided line and fluro leader, so the length of the leader is restricted to the length of the rod, about 5-7 ft. Any better idea for that?
3. Lures. I have just one downrigger and as such don't have much room for experimenting. I tried white plug (seems to work well at Ontario), gold/blue spoons and light color rapala. Any suggestion on it?
4. Size of the lures. Is there any correlation between the size of the lure and size of the fish which would attack it? I try to employ smaller lures in hope that if not salmon then whitfish would bite it. But if big salmon would ignore small lures I have to change this approach.
5. Depth. I got suggestion from Granpa Jim some time ago that salmon would be at 75 ft. Indeed, 2-3 weeks ago I marked some fish on this depth and got a couple. This week however I didn't mark any and didn't get any as well. So what is good point to start?
6. Speed. I did some research and found that most people are saying that optimum speed is about 2.5-3.5 mph. I later realized that this info is not related to G bay and some people suggesting here 2.3-2.9 Also I read that for laker it should be even slower (I would say for now I prefer laker and whitfish over the salmon). What is the optimum?
Thank you!

[jam1324]

Hey Mark, I'm sure you will get much better advice from others but this is what I do on Georgian Bay (my only fishing place)

1. I shoot for 100 min out with distance down to ball and back to lure sometimes more. 10 feet down 90 feet back. 90 feet down 10 feet back etc. You can run your flasher inline tie it to the braid and put the floro on the other side of it. Works better with some lures than others and on some days than others.

2. 40 pound braid to 15 pound floro leader that is 6-8 feet long, double uni knot 9 loops for braid and 6 loops for floro. Always wet your line before you tighten the knot. Keep your drag a touch light as that braid has zero stretch. That's what I do anyhow.

3. Spoons, white and blue, silver and green. Copper backs can work good. Plugs, try some ladder back patterns or maybe some darker colours. Browns and yellows, think gobies. Also red noses on the plugs.

4. Match the hatch, the later in the year the bigger the Bait fish will be, the bigger your presentation will be. If your going for salmon, 4-5 inch plugs and spoods this time of year, 2-3mph.

5. Your depth sounds good if your in 100 feet of water, if the fish are at 75 feet try putting your lures just above around 65-70. The fish will (have) started staging soon. They will be out deep still and much shallower soon. This weekend looks great out there I hope you get out and get some success.

Also make note of the wind and current, it will push bait up against structure and bigger fish will follow,

[MarkDv]

jamie, thanks for your reply!
I took some time to response hopping someone else would put more comments but seems like you are the best or only expert here now! Congrats on this too!
I was out last Saturday again out of 12 mile bay. 5 hours morning, 3 hours evening troll, ended up 0/0. In the middle of the day we cast for bass and pikes, hooked two descent basses, but lost them too. came back home empty...
I tend to think that salmon moved out from this area , probably toward to South. it seems like there is good fishing now. Not sure about lakers in this area...
I think I'm done now with this beautiful area for this year. Might go one time in South shore of G bay (just to try to put some salmon in the freezer) if I find a suitable public launch.
Thanks again for your info and suggestions!

[jam1324]

I'm no expert, just getting started like you Mark. This is all what has worked for me this season and it took alot of help from others and trail and error to get there.

Your most likely right, no fish are in your area or very few. For the most part when I find the fish they seem to go for what ever you can put in front of them. That was the biggest lesson I learned this season. After a grueling June and early July going out a couple times a week with not much to show for it, I accepted that I was fishing for nothing as the fish where elsewhere. Knowing where to fish and when to fish are probably the most important part of fishing.

Down around Collingwood there's still some decent trolling to be had, most of the fish we got on the weekend were starting to get pretty dark but their meat is still a great colour.