Home Forums Fishing Freshwater Trolling Rapalas for trout, salmon, lakers deep?

Hi folks:

Wondering if any of you folks troll deep (30'-40') with Rapala stick baits for lakers, salmon, etc.? I'm going to be trying the Jet Diver rigs by Luhr Jensen rather than dealing with down riggers. Curious if anyone has tried this. I'm not sure if its even a thing. Have DB Smelt and Mooselook wobblers as my old tried and true stand by, but I was curious as to which type of Rapala to use to troll down deep. Floater, deep diver, or what? Any input on your setup would be appreciated.

Rich

You have to use the kind that matches the baitfish in the ecosystem. I haven't used Jet Divers, I use Dipsys in my trolling system.

If I was going to do it here I'd start with originals and shallow shad raps. Because they match the baitfish in the lake I'm fishing.

Based on my experience jet divers work better in current. I troll with down riggers or I just use 1 to 4 oz bannana weights based on what depth
Use about 30 inch leader

https://www.amazon.com/CRESCENT-SIN...39936759&s=sporting-goods&sr=1-4

Small rapalas work good. I prefer flatfish for better action. You can find them for around 5 bucks in bait shops

https://www.amazon.com/Yakima-Bait-...9936609&s=sporting-goods&sr=1-18

Small spoons like silver blue little Cleos work well on trout too. Definitely try trolling flies too. I tie my own

https://www.amazon.com/PEETZ-Outdoors-Deceiver-Freshwater-Saltwater/dp/B078KK3H9N/ref=sr_1_24?crid=F0ZATNCPV5SF&keywords=trolling+flies+for+salmon&qid=1639936948&sprefix=trolling+flies+%2Csporting%2C229&sr=8-24

Obviously troll using a depth finder and mark fish. I can troll from 5 feet down to around 40 feet depending on amount of line out and speed of 1.2 to 1.8 depending on water temps etc. If a lure is not producing after 30 min switch out size and color

The other thing you can try is a Brad's Super Bait Cut Plug. We troll with them for salmon using a 4 -10 ounce cannon ball sinker.

jigging on the bottom for lake trout can be vert effective too. Chartruse seems to be the preferred color here

I use delta divers with an in-line flasher and cut-plug or super-bait. I’m sure if the fish in the area will hit a Rapala, a diver would be fine getting to them. Check out Spilt Milt Productions on youtube for cannon ball rigs.

J-13 in Fire-tiger color trolled 25 to 30 ft deep in 50 ft of water. In South Bay on Lake Nipigon first 2 weeks of June. Dipseys will work but I much prefer downriggers.

We used to throw large, silver floaters when night fishing for browns and rainbows on the Upper Delaware.

Logger, tell me more about your setup. I've used Brad's the last couple years on Oahe with some success on chinooks. I don't feel like I've completely cracked the code on it yet. I sometimes get them all tangled up for reasons I can't divine. I'd like to get better with them.