Detroit River Tactics RCL Style - Part 1

Handlining is a simple way to catch fish once you are set up correctly. The most important factor in handlining effectively is boat control. Boat control is going to mean the difference in the number of walleyes you are going to put in the boat. Handlining looks to the average person like a fisherman working slowly upstream chugging a heavy weight in a front to back sweeping motion with his arm. Well the person viewing this technique isn't too far off, however there is a bit more to fine tuning the technique of handlining. Handlining can be done on many different types of bodies of water. The most common bodies of waters on which you will see this technique done is large river systems. This will be the primary focus for tonight's class.

The first thing we are going to look at is a good map or nautical chart of the area that you will be fishing. Look for key areas that look like potential walleye spots. This could be on drop offs or ledges leading from gravel flats or weed flats that fall off into deeper water clay flats or boulder fields. The key element in keeping the proper boat control is the forward crawl. The idea is to keep the boat moving upstream just slightly faster than the current is trying to take you downstream. You want to essentially be creeping forward making progress against the current but not too fast. The best way to control your speed is by reading the shoreline as you troll against it. If you're matching the speed of the current you will be essentially hovering over the same spot at all times. You need to increase your throttle slightly faster until you see the boat making progress up the shoreline. Spend some time your first time out just motoring against the current with your kicker motor , try to pick a spot and get the feel of hovering over it. Then spend some time actually making forward progress against the speed of the current. Try getting comfortable controlling your vessel before you ever put your rigs and lures in the water. Now that you have mastered the forward crawl it is time to get lateral. Perfecting your speed for the forward crawl is going to get you started in the right direction and you're going to start catching some walleyes. However, if you really want to start catching some serious numbers of fish you need to learn the lateral control of your vessel. This is what really turns the fish on. Why does this trigger more fish than a straight up the river technique? The answer is the baits are more erratic instead of uniform in a straight line at all times attaining the same speed and action. Erratic action triggers fish everywhere no matter what body of water you are fishing. What gives these lures the erratic action? The lateral movement of the boat slipping side to side causes the lures to speed up and slow down(Fig. B).

This is done by the baits on the inside of the turn slowing down and on the outside of the turn speeding up. How do we prepare for perfecting the lateral movement of the boat? Once again it would be best to start practicing without any of your tackle in the water. Start by first hovering over a selected spot and begin to slide in one direction, then come back to your starting point. Do this a few times until you feel comfortable and then slip over to the other side of the initial starting point and do the same. Next begin to do the lateral slide back and forth and start making progress upriver. What you essentially are trying to accomplish is to quarter your way back and forth up the river and in addition you learned how to hover over a key spot when necessary, such as the front side of wing dams or slightly ahead of boulders or depressions on the bottom of the river. The best thing to do is get out and practice controlling the boat until you are comfortable with your ability to work the current. Then it's time to get out your gear and pull some wire!

Questions and Answers

1. Why do we need a good map or nautical chart? A good map or chart is going to help you eliminate much of the guess work and target key areas that will be holding fish that particular time of year.

2. What does the term "forward crawl" mean? It means to move faster against the current than the current is trying to move you backwards. You must achieve forward progress.

3. When you talk about "reading the shoreline" what exactly does that pertain to? Speed is going to vary at each location you fish. You need to match the current speed and be able to move into it achieving forward progress at all times. A great way to match your speed is by referencing the shoreline and landmarks on it to be sure that you are continually making progress up the river.

4. Get Lateral. Huh? When we talk about getting lateral we mean to maneuver the boat side to side slipping across the current yet still achieving forward progress. This allows the baits to cover a large area sweeping them right across the waiting walleyes' faces. This also cause lures on the inside to slow down and the lures on the outside to speed up. These speed changes trigger many strikes.