Speed for Browns

[Oakley]

I'm going to try to put a good effort in on the browns this year and wanted make sure I wasn't going the wrong speed. My boat will run at 2.5 mph on idle so I put out a drift bag to slow down to 1.5 or so. What speeds do you guys usually run for the spring browns? Any advice would be appreciated, especially given the price of gas now.

[Catfishhoge]

Brian,

I keep my boat at an idle most all of the time, that puts me right at 2 mph ground speed give or take. Sometimes going against the wind and waves it needs to be kicked up a notch. Seems like on flat water if I bump it up just a tick it helps.

Rick

[DIRTY DOG]

i have been running 2.5 to 2.8 on the gps all spring beleive it or not and it has worked very well last sunday was the only day so far that we did not get any browns

[Oakley]

Thanks for the replies. If I don't have to mess with a drift bag it makes fishing easier. Hopefully this year I can get a few browns.

[Allies way]

My boat runs about the same as yours for speed at an idle (19' Sylvan). But when I get the planner boards out and riggers down I am around 2.0. I have always had my best luck for browns at a speed of 2.5-2.7 also, and never have to worry about putting out a drift sock. If you can't get anything going, try a little faster or slower or troll in S paterns to speed up and slow down your lures.

For walleye's I do have to put out the drift bags, and even though it isn't that big of a deal I just hate to run them. But the speed I said above has always worked best for me when I am going after brown's. If you look at the picture in my avatare those are all Browns my Dad, a friend, and myself caught in a couple of hours out of Onekama when the brown fishery was better than it is today!!

Good luck, Steve

[Oakley]

Thanks Steve. I'm hoping I can get out tomorrow morning and give it another try.