This is particularly true when trolling tight inside corners along weedbeds. Contrary to popular belief, it's easy to troll lures into tight inside corners; it's just about impossible to troll them out again, however, without fouling. If you realize that you blew it, are trapped amidst the weeds, and are about to snag big-time, simply stop the boat, let the lure float back to the surface, and slowly creep back out to open water. Then start trolling again.

Whether you're forward trolling spinners or cranks, one person should fish off either side of the boat. A third person has to fish directly behind the outboard motor, pointing his rod tip over the transom. Ideally, the driver should troll on the inner (nearer) edge to structure or weeds, in order to make quick adjustments in the boat path, because he sees, feels, or senses changes in the contour first. If the driver is fishing on the outside or over the transom, trolling more in open water, communication is essential. The person fishing off the inner side should relay information as he feels increasing bottom contact and weedgrowth.

If you work as a team, the whole team wins. Sometimes you're on the inside, sometimes the outside, but always in or near the fish zone. And who knows? Sometimes when you troll off the edge of structure into deeper open water, something big and nasty may be suspended out there as well. Muskies and pike like speedy tactics, too.

If the fish prefer modest speeds, think spinners. For higher speeds, think shad baits or rounder-bodied crankbaits. In between, try simultaneously running a spinner on one rod and a thin minnow-imitating crankbait on another rod, because each lure style performs correctly within an intermediate speed range, around 2 mph. But when walleyes clearly prefer either the higher or lower speed echelons, don't mix lure styles; choose the one that works best.

PICK UP THE PACE
The nice thing about quick trolling spinners or crankbaits in summer is that strikes are not tentative. It's either bang, fish on, or something heavy has fouled your lure. And walleyes, often maligned as not being hard fighters compared to bass or pike, will put on a show when triggered on artificials in shallow, warm water. A big one will spin you around in your chair on impact. Compare that to the gentle sucking in of a leech or crawler.

Your biggest challenge when quick trolling natural lakes in summer will not be the speedboats, skiers, or personal watercraft so common at this time of year; you can maneuver around them pretty effectively, and they'll tend to steer away from you as well, since you're a potential oncoming threat rather than a sitting duck. The challenge instead comes from trying to maneuver along those same weededges and breaklines where other boats and anglers are slow dancing livebait rigs and jigs. Skim along slightly outside them, say howdy as you pass, and jerk a fish out from under their boat as your lures pass below their transom. Then get the heck out of there -- quickly -- before they know their pocket's been picked.

Drawbacks? Sure. Those same anglers might be plucking walleyes out of a pocket in the weedline that you can't reach with a long line and quickly trolled lure. Sometimes, precision and stealth can't be beat. If so, switch back to slow. But the point is, you have options. If slow isn't working, consider a quick fix. Just because everyone else is moving in slow motion doesn't mean you shouldn't pick up the pace.