Too Many Variables

[Dropshot]

I think that the conventional wisdom says that if you are marking fish, and after 15-20 minutes you are not getting any hits, then you need to make a change in your rig. I agree, why tow around something that is not working. But there in lays my problem.....What do you change?

Lets say for the sake of argument you are using the correct colors for the depth and take that out of the equation.

You are rigged with a dodger, a lure and plain corn. Which would you change FIRST to trigger a response? Would you change to a scented corn first? Change lures? Change dodgers?

If your tackle box is anything like mine it is full of options, all have been successful at one time or another or they would not have earned a ride in the boat.

Let's limit this to you are the only one in the boat. I realize that if there are 3 or 4 it is much easier to zero in on what is working.

[Dullhook]

Heck Dropshot, personal bias aside, this sounds like an ideal time to try some vertical jigging. Since you already know the correct colors and what depth the fish are hanging, why not shift the motor into neutral and give it a shot? It's easy enough to switch back to trolling if you don't get any action. Maybe a completely different type of lure and presentation could be the ticket.

[FallRiverGuy]

I remember one day at East Lake. I don't think I have ever gave so many different options water time before without getting even a bump. I dropped one of Aufish's jigs in the water and got hit right away. It turned a frustrating day into a good one.

[ElkTalker]

For what it’s worth I caught several hundred kokanee in the last few years and not even one was on a jig, but fallriverguy said he would show me how this year.

The first thing I change if I feel my color is right is speed. My typical speed is .8-1.2mph but last summer when the fishing was really tough I saw Gary Miralles trolling 2.5mph or faster to try and get a reactionary bit from the fish and it worked.

The next consideration is scent. I personally will never use plain corn again. I feel and have proved to my self that scented corn will always out fish plain corn.

The next adjustment is in my depth. I like to fish 5’ to10’ above the fish but if that is not working I put it right in the fish. I have heard of a few guys fishing below the fish and thinking they had a better success with that, but I have never had much luck with it.

My last suggestion is to shorten the length from your downrigger ball to your dodger. At 10’ deep I fish about 40’-50’ behind the ball. At 40’ deep I fish 8’-14’ behind the ball. If the fishing is tough I shorten the length so I can do tighter and faster turns.

My baseline for trolling is a silver dodger 4” long and a green double hook spinner, (like a wedding ring) tipped with white shoe Peg corn soaked in pro-cure Kokanee Special pulled through the water at 1 mph. This does not mean that I always start out with this set up but this is my base line to start making changes to.

Good luck ET