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Posts: 1100
| So my old father have an old canon easi troll downrigger laying in the family cottage, that he doesn't use on his old row boat up there.
He suggested that i could mount it on my Rig if i wanted.
Now my question is do any of you use one of these for targeting deep muskies?
The lake there have a lot of open water between 100 and 130 feet deep, with a BUNCH of bait fish suspended 50-70 feet down.
Tight lines, |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | When I switch from salmon to muskie fishing the downriggers are removed from my boat. I will not target muskies below 30 feet. I know of 2 four foot muskies caught 90 feet down by salmon fishermen in Georgian bay and although not targeted it equals 2 dead muskies. |
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Posts: 1100
| Are you saying they died form the pressure difference or the long fight or?
I am located in Europe, so no muskies just big pikes, and have never had a problem with releasing fish coming from 65-80 fow, But the muskies might not have an open swim bladder like the pikes? |
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Posts: 504
Location: Ludington, MI | Interesting conversation. I know when they did some telemetry studies on salmon in Michigan they found that the fish would go up and down 60 feet or more in the water column several times a day. I wonder if there's similar information out there for esocids?
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| never a good idea to musky fish deeper than 30 '' have killed many walleyes in the 40 '' range. we can't take our times for musky like we did for the other fish. musky are too fragile to long fight |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | Muskies in t the St Lawrence (where I fish) seem to be especially susceptible to barrotrauma Mark Thorp always maintains that the condition is worsened buy the current. Guys fishing for the trophy Quinte walleye coming in from Lake Ontario are also saying 30 feet is the limit of easy successful release. |
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Posts: 1100
| We have the same "safe" depth for zanders (closest we have t walleyes) of about 30-35 feet of you want to do CPR fishing, because of their closed swim bladder (also includes perch), but as mentioned its not the same issue for fish with pikes open swimm bladder.
Beside that, the target with the down rigger was to be able to troll baits at around 10 meter (33 feet) down, but at a decent speed, and not have a king size egg sinker weight on the line when fighting the wish.
I think i at some point read about Dhallberg using a talon with a downrigger clip on it to run baits behind to avoid the weight. |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | The only way I would consider a downrigger would be to put a double 10 under my propwash and close to the boat. Not something I have done but have often thought about. |
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Posts: 2309
Location: SE, WI. | No real need for down riggers...I build 5,6 and 8 ounce spinnerbaits. Down rigger is My Bait!!! Knew a guy that ran Mepps down 20' on down riggers. He caught fish!!! JD |
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Posts: 386
| Like others have stated, targeting any fish with a physoclistous swim bladder, deeper than 30', is a big no-no unless you're keeping them. Muskies are included in this. Ipso facto, down riggers are not needed in 99.9% of trolling applications. |
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Posts: 1100
| And i agree with the concept of not targeting fish with a closed (physoclistous) swimm bladder, deeper than 30 ish feet.
But with fish that have open (Physostomous) swimm bladders i have never had any issues, Pulled pikes from 80 feet and they release just fine, as they let out air on the way up.
It was my understanding that muskies had Physostomous swimm bladders like the pike, unlike the walleye/zander that have a physoclistous swim bladder. |
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Posts: 386
| It was my understanding that muskies had Physostomous swimm bladders like the pike, unlike the walleye/zander that have a physoclistous swim bladder.
Whoops my bad, you are correct sir. |
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Posts: 1100
| I will Also add that I generally don’t target fish that deep, but have caught a decent handfull very deep and have not had any issues, I would me say more concerned about water temperature en the summer.
the goal with the down rigger was primarily to fish in the 30-40 feet range but at greater speeds, I might give it a go some day and make a intermediate mount for it in the boat to test out, now that it is just laying in the cottage and collecting dust. |
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Posts: 360
| I’ve heard of guys using downriggers in lakes with lots of floating weeds. Not necessarily to get the baits down supper deep but the downrigger cable catches the weeds before it gets on the line. And if any get on the line it doesn’t ride down the line to the bait |
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Posts: 20248
Location: oswego, il | Lake trout and salmon can regulate their bladder to move u and down the water column quickly. Lakers often burp when we catch them.
I would use a downrigger if I had one to troll bucktails but not deep just to keep a proper depth. |
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Posts: 504
Location: Ludington, MI | On St. Clair they used to clip large weights to the line to get to different depths with spoons. Back before the crankbaits were popular. I, too, have considered running my muskie spinners behind riggers so that I could deal with my lake's ridiculous amount of floating chopped eelgrass. |
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Posts: 267
| I think they would work good for bucktails or big spoons. Also might work good if your lake is full of floating weeds. Might keep your baits week free. |
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Anyone use Downrigger for muskie ?