Over the past ten years, trolling with lead core line has gained in popularity amongst the walleye crowd. Lead core enables anglers to put any crankbait in the tackle box in front of fish regardless of how deep. This in itself is a huge advantage for walleyes but you can use this same setup to target deepwater summertime trout and salmon. The real advantages to lead core line stem from the fact that you can put some extremely effective lures much deeper than they ever would by flat line trolling. Another advantage comes from the fact that lead core will follow a contour much more effectively than most other presentations. Lead core line seems to snake through the water, mimicking the path that the boat takes. Following inside turns, points and other curves is much more efficient with lead core line. I hope these Lead core line tips will help contribute to your success.

What is Lead core?  It’s simply a line with two parts. An exterior Dacron like sheathing that is woven around a lead wire core. It comes in various pound tests that are calibrated using the outside sheathing breaking strength only.  A spool of lead core or more commonly referred to as a Full Core contains 100 yards. Every 10 yards is defined by a change in color on the sheathing. The more line you let out, the deeper it will reach. Think of it as a weight that runs the entire length of your line. Larger pound tests are generally larger in diameter and contain more lead in its sheathing. The most common pound tests used freshwater are the 27 and 36 lbs tests. You can fish lead core down to 80 feet with no problems.

Use one color of 27 pound for every 4-5 feet of depth that you are making your presentation. The variables in depth are boat speed, leader length and type of lure. A slow boat speed with a short leader will run about 5 feet per color. A faster boat speed and longer leader will run higher in the water column. Diving lures will also run a little deeper than spoons will. Back your reel with a good quality braided line like 30 lb. Power Pro. Spool as many colors as needed to reach the depth you would like to be able to fish at. Finish with a mono or fluorocarbon leader of 10 feet and a good quality cross lock ball bearing snap swivel.

Try to stay away from the ready made lead core combos. They use a Dacron backing that can wear easily and break and there goes your set up. A good quality braid like Power Pro costs more but it will last many seasons. Buy a reel with a retrieve rate of 4.2 to 1 or higher with a capacity of at least 350/30 pound for up to 10 colors.  A six to eight foot medium heavy fiberglass rod will do the job nicely. The rod tips should be somewhat soft with a moderate action for softening the blows of snags and heavy fish. An inexpensive starter rod can be had for about $25 and you don’t need an expensive rod. The total for rod and reel should be about $75. Full core lead $12, great fishing action on difficult fishing days PRICELESS.

Some of your favorite casting or trolling lures will work well for catching fish in 20, 40, 60, or even 100 feet of water. Lead core line is a phenomenal tool to get some of your favorite lures down to the fish. The whole lead core process is simple yet extremely productive.