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Posts: 49
| What options are out there for sub-surface shallow trolling muskie baits? I'm thinking 'shallow-invader' type baits. It seems to me that even the shallow raider baits dive quite deep, 12' according to some specs, I don't consider that shallow running personally.
The shallow invader seems 'ok' but I'm not a fan of the disposable tail and the fact that you gotta modify the back hook to ensure decent hooksets. I'm wondering what other options are out there... |
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| ss shads have caught me many. 5' ish trolling |
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Posts: 1202
Location: Money, PA | I have caught fish on baits of mine which can achieve depths of over 20' in less than 7' of water. Its all in how you set things up, line length and angle of your mainline. Even most deep diver cranks can be trolled shallower by simply raising up the rod tip and shortening your line length. I caught fish this year running my Bero Sledge with 22' of line out with rod tip off the surface about 3'....Like this, the line is pulling the bait upward. This said, you may be surprised that many of the baits in your box that you currently have can be trolled pretty shallow.
I have, this year, started to produce a "shallower" running bait called a Scatter Hammer for lakes that have a lot of floating debris and the rod tip up off the water is not really an option. The bait can be trolled in the upper 7 - 8' with approx. 35' of line out with rod tip in water.....That gives alot of room to shorten up and troll even shallower if need be...like over weeds.
Hope this helps.
Paul Fec |
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Posts: 2097
| You can put a lot of line out on those ss say and still be shallow. Takes shutups advice. Also shallow twitch baits and big games. |
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Posts: 744
| On the Shallow Invader.... My fish to tail ratio is like 1 tail for every 10 fish so I would not let that stop you. As far as the rear hook...ditch it all together and just hang a 7/0 T'd hook on the front. Works like $$$.... |
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Location: MN | Use boards and you can run any bait shallow. The boards get it away from the boat and then let out the desired amount of line behind the board to get the desired depth. |
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Posts: 269
Location: Oregon, WI | Second SS Shads, they have accounted for 25+ fish this year. |
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Posts: 558
| Troll sum bucktails, produce very well. |
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Posts: 394
Location: WI | Krisco. Big profile, lots of action, and runs about 4ft down with 20yds of line out. |
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Posts: 463
Location: Sw Pennsylvania | Mordas MX series, 5.5 and 6" wileys, muskellunch are all great shallow water trollers. As stated though, any bait can be run shallow by the way you set up your trolling spread. |
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Posts: 386
| Big games, cranes, shallow invader are the prime baits dragged behind my boat in shallows. |
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Posts: 360
| Storm giant thunder sticks run about 2 under surface |
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Posts: 1348
Location: Pewaukee, WI | Be sure and check out Paul Fec's "Hammer Baits." Those baits produce well and will probably meet your needs. They're great for trolling on my waters where smaller baits are the name of the game. |
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Posts: 791
Location: WI | X2 on hammer lure. Top shelf quality baits. Just ordered two more this week. |
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Posts: 936
| Muskie Train MX6 run fairly shallow.
SS Shads are a very good one
Shallow Invaders are great also.
Done well on all three in shallow water.
Jeff Hanson
madisonmuskyguide.com |
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Posts: 1197
Location: Walker, MN | What about Believers and Swim Whizz' set on the shallow eye? |
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Posts: 86
| HAMMER LURES are high quality and really stick em here in UT... i run the 5" models with less than 30 ft of line |
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Posts: 815
Location: Waukee, IA | I always like trolling a swim whizz on the shallow eye. |
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Posts: 1185
Location: Iowa | Shallow raiders, Shallow Invaders and SS Shads make up my shallow water trolling arensal with the occasional double showgirl keel weighted to run fast.... |
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Posts: 3
| Lots of good info already given. Other things not mentioned are spinnerbaits as they tend to run shallow and you can adjust the speed you want to run them at by changing out to different blades--willows/fast, colorados/mid-range, fluted indianas or magnum colorados for slower speeds.
Another crank not mentioned is the Custom X KC Special. Big 12" bait that runs shallower than the other big baits out there.
Boards work great and I use them a lot but there are times when flatlines are what work best. Another trick is to mount Folbe rod holders in the back corners of your boat and use an extension post to get some more height. Adjust the rod holder up as much as you can so you can get the rod tip way up in the air. I've had the KC Specials back 150' and have still been able to see the bait under the surface. This also works great for trolling propbaits as it helps keep your line off the water and the bait runs better.
Brett Erickson |
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Posts: 203
Location: Germantown, WI | I have had some success trolling over shallow weeds with spinnerbaits. For the 8-10' depths I use heavier spinnerbaits like the Snowcrest Uncle Festus or Willey's spinnerbaits. For the shallower weeds I typically use the same spinnerbaits I would use for casting such as M&G's, Northland Bionic Bucktails, or Perterson's. If you are not dealing with weeds or you have several feet of water over the weeds, shallow crankbaits and minnowbaits can be very effective too. |
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