I'm new to downrigging. We caught fish yesterday trolling at 2mph on the fish finder. I saw an earlier post and someone stated they troll at 4mph? Any suggestions?
Also, do you guys freeze your herring and than pull it ou the night before fishing? Will it hold up?
Thanks in advance

I don't have a speedo on my boat that works. So I use the angle of the dangle on the downrigger cable. Since I have two different weight sizes on the riggers I can get a pretty good indication of the speed needed. Basically I try to find the speed my gear starts working and then lower the ball. I then look at the angle the cable is at and keep it that way. When you make the turn to turn against the current you will need to slow down and vise versa.

it the angle of the dangle, so to speak! I have a speedo on my boat, one on my fish finder and one on the gps (when my buddy lets me borrow his) and never look at them when trolling. I watch the cable angle and vary speed so it stay about 40 degrees or so for silvers.
as for frozen herring I only use it for teasers on my hootchies. I like fresh if I am going to plug cut them. I do let them thaw, but don't let them get warm. A brine can help make them a little tougher.

10lb. ball, 40-45 degree angle has worked me- unless I go deep the angle goes out further. Deepth finder speed, 2.2-2.8 for a hotspot - less for a dodger. I fished fresh for years. I now try and always brine. 3-4 big handfulls of rock salt to 3-4 gallons of water, then put cooler in refer over night. Make sure you get good quality frozen. If done right with good frozen bait, you can't even get the scales to come off in your dry hands.

It varies from 1.5 to 3 mph.We've caught lots of king's @ up to 5mph though.Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

P.S. I agree with the mentioned above about the angle of the dangle more then the speed.