The Off Shore Tackle OR20 Pro Weight System is a kit that contains an assortment of 1/2, 3/4, 1, 1 1/2, 2 and 3 ounce Guppy weights along with four OR16 Pro Clips and split rings. The cool thing about this kit is it allows anglers to fish these trolling sinkers either as an in-line weight or as a Snap Weight depending on conditions.
IN-LINE RIGGING
To use the Guppy weight as an in-line trolling sinker, simply attach the Guppy to the terminal end of your fishing line. Next add a leader and the desired lure to the back of the Guppy. For spinners, crawler harnesses, and spoons, it’s best to add a swivel to the leader to prevent line twist.
Guppy weights are extremely popular with anglers who pull crawler harnesses and other live bait rigs for walleye, crappie and other panfish, but these in-line weights are also handy for trolling up coho, brown trout, northern pike, and a host of other species.
This setup can be trolled as a flat line straight out the back of the boat or trolled in combination with in-line boards such as the OR38 Reversible Mini Board or OR12 Side Planer to gain more lure coverage. Especially useful for pulling harnesses among weed flats. While trolling weeds will momentarily catch on the Guppy weight before it pulls free catapulting the harness and trigger strikes.
By using different sized Guppy weights, trollers can easily stagger their gear, flooding the water column with live bait rigs or lures. When using in-line boards to deploy Guppy weights, it’s best to set the smaller/lighter sized weights on outside board lines, using progressively heavier weights for middle and inside board lines. This setup allows anglers to hook and fight a fish caught on any board without having to clear any fishing lines.
SNAP WEIGHT RIGGING
Using the OR16 Pro Clip and a split ring to position Guppy weights on the line is another popular trolling tactic known as a Snap Weight. This rigging system allows the angler to have more separation between the lure and the weight. This is especially useful when trolling in clear water situations.
To rig as a Snap Weight, simply let the desired lure out behind the boat. For trolling with harnesses, in-line spinners, spoons and stickbaits, a 20 to 50 foot lead is commonly employed. Once the lure is out the desired distance, place the Snap Weight on the line by clipping the OR16 Pro Clip onto the line, being sure to get the line behind the plastic pin located in the center of the rubber pads.
Once the Snap Weight is on the line, simply play out more trolling lead to reach the desired fishing depth. All the popular sizes of the Pro Weight System are featured in the Precision Trolling Data phone app, making it easy to determine exactly what lead lengths and trolling speeds are required to fish specific depths.
When a fish is hooked using the Snap Weight system, the fish and the Snap Weight are reeled in together until the Snap Weight is close enough to the rod tip so it can be easily removed from the line. The fish is then fought to net.
Snap Weights are commonly used to fish live bait rigs, but they can also be used to get a host of other trolling lures to depth including crankbaits, stickbaits, spoons and in-line spinners.
50+2 DATA
The 2 ounce Snap Weight is commonly used to get crankbaits to deeper depths than these lures would run unassisted. The most accurate data for fishing Snap Weights in combination with diving crankbaits is known as the 50+2 Data published in the Precision Trolling Data phone app.
This data involves letting out the desired lure 50 feet behind the boat, then placing a 2 ounce Snap Weight on the line. Additional trolling lead is played out to reach target depths.
Using the app is as simple as selecting the trolling speed from the MPH picker wheel and then selecting the “feet down” picker wheel to the desired target depth. The “feet back” picker wheel will indicate how much total lead (including the initial 50 foot lead) is required to achieve that target depth.
Not all the lures found in the PTD app feature the 50+2 Data. By consulting the “lists” feature on the app an angler can quickly determine exactly which crankbaits feature this invaluable trolling data. More lures are regularly tested with the 50+2 Data and included in annual app updates.
SUMMING IT UP
Off Shore’s OR20 Pro Weight System is one of the most versatile trolling systems on the market. Made from environmentally friendly zinc alloy, investing in a kit is a good starting point, but additional Guppy weights, split rings and OR16 clips are sold separately so you can create your own version and add to it as you care to.
