|
|
Posts: 16
Location: Fond Du lac WI | Well i am new to the boards and was just wondering what everyone thinks about trolling for musky?
I personal have never nor will never troll for musky. I enjoy the one on one hunt. the ole fashioned way ( cast till yoour arms fall off) I know alot are very passionate about trolling and have caught many a fish that way. I just think it is an unfair advantage to cover so much water in so fast a time..
To me it is about getting out and casting , enjoying the outdoors fresh air wildlife and if I catch a musky then that is great if not then I come back the next day and try again..
Not trying to stir anyone up just looking for your view points on this?
Edited by Essox2 2/26/2004 5:01 AM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 216
| As far as trolling goes I don't see it as a [unfair advantage]it is just another tool to help put fish in the boat. I probably cast 90percent of the time but if it is a trolling bite I'll take the unfair advantage. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1438
| I'm not a huge fan of trolling but have done it in the past. And, put nothing in the boat I might add.
I agree with Dave. I cast, probably more than 90% of the time, but view trolling as a tool. You gotta remember, just because you start to troll, you automatically don't have fish jumping in the boat. You still have to have skill at knowing the fishes location and being in the right spot. Your presentation has to match what the fish want or it's not gonna work. There's a lot of skill involved in trolling and I don't know the least of it.
There's guys on the board who can post a lot more of the specifics than I can. Where are you Koepp, Capt. Rich and Capt. Larry?????
Remember, "Just another tool in the tool box."
Scott |
|
| |
|
Posts: 148
Location: DES MOINES, IOWA | Unfair advantage? No matter what system you use, you are not catching many Muskies.If the lake sets up better for trolling than casting, I will break out the rod holders.However, I seldom troll because of a strong preference to casting, and the lake I fish is more suited to casting.I really enjoy the initial hit, and hookset of big fish, which you lose trolling. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 184
Location: Rockford Il 61108 | Laziness is what i think of when talking about trolling. Anyone can catch muskies when trolling. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 3240
Location: Racine, Wi | Like Theedz says, it is just another tool to use. There are times to jig, use live bait and cast. Although many of us I am sure love the thrill of getting that boatside hit, there are times that trolling is a more practical approach. There is alot more to trolling than most think. All of the good trollers on the board have put the time in learing their equipment from rods, to line types to baits. Then you need to learn ALL about what your bait is doing with these different factors. When you put it together, you get success! I think that may be why people think that it is unfair. You see all of these big fish caught trolling, and think, man that's easy. When in reality, the people that are successful have put in the time and effort to learn that tool of musky fishing.
I personally troll some of the time, and cast as well. There is nothing like hearing the clicker on the real screaming as you get a rip trolling. If you ever get the chance to do it, and do it well, you will know what I mean.
I just started doing some serious trolling this past season with pretty good results. But it took some trips to learn what was going on. I got my biggest fish of the year trolling, but also caught some nice fish casting.
Koepp, Capt. Larry etc.... on the board are excellent trollers, as they have put their time in to learn the trait. They don't just get lucky dragg'n baits.
Edited by tuffy1 2/26/2004 8:06 AM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 40
Location: Maryland | I don't know about you folks, but I only fish trout lakes and that means crystal clear water. Catching few, and sometimes no fish, in a day is okay if, and this is the big if, you get to see some. Casting lets me enjoy the fish that just follow plain and simple. Two years ago I saw a 60inch plus fish follow my lure right to the boat with its nose in the hair. A most amazing and galvanizing experience in clear water and full sun. If I had been trolling I would have never seen her. She was a looker but I was still shaking and I still go back to try to get her. So no trolling for me for muskies. I do troll in saltwater for marlin. But they generally take a surface lure and the strike is amazing, or they hit a lure and then we drop back live baits and you get the same rush as casting for muskie trying to hook them up. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1137
Location: Holly, MI | Originally written by JAY SBMC on 2004-02-26 7:40 AM
Unfair advantage? No matter what system you use, you are not catching many Muskies.If the lake sets up better for trolling than casting, I will break out the rod holders...
Well said. The lake I fish the most for Muskies is over 200,000 acres with little structure short of deep weedbeds. I do cast some and like most much prefer the Strike to be with rod in hand, however trolling is an essential tool to find the fish. I have had 8 hour days of trolling with 6 lures in the water and no fish to show for it- Unfair to who?
|
|
| |
|
| Laziness Evar? You have got be kidding. If you consider trolling lazy then you are not doing it right. It took me two years of trial and error to even become average at trolling. There are a lot of things to consider. Speed, depth, structure, forage, lure size all come to mind. Sounds a lot like musky fishing to me. I would rather cast than troll but sometimes trolling is the better option. Try trolling 4 lines over, on the edge, and out from a piace of structure at the same time and talk to me about lazy. It is far lazier to cast and cast a non productive lure to non productive water over and over again rather than really learn a method that will improve your odds. Trolling is just a tool that maybe you are too lazy to learn. |
|
| |
|
| I agree, trolling can be a pain in the arse, between watching the graph, steering the boat, cleaning and setting the lines, etc etc - it is hardly relaxing. It is much easier to blindly cast a shoreline or structure. Trolling takes far more skill than casting in my humble opinion. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 391
| good points so far, but I also think trolling helps in learning a body of water better. This comes into play later when wanting to cast and knowing details and characteristics of a spot that you would not have known without trolling.
kly
the clicker going off is always a sweet sound, live bait or trolling!
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 2515
Location: Waukesha & Land O Lakes, WI | I'm a huge troller for Walleyes, but am "Old School" for Musky. Casting until I drop is my way of doing it, probally ingrained in me since I was a kid learning up in Vilas. My thought is, "Would I troll for bass?"
For those of you who think trolling is easy, think again. It's a hell of alot of work to get dialed in right. And when one thing goes wrong, you can end up with a domino effect very very easy.
Skill wise, I believe that it takes alot more to fish a bait than drag it behind a boat. If they changed the no motor trolling rule up in Vilas, I'd still cast, no doubt.
Musky's are the fish of 10,000 casts, not 1 trolling pass.
Edited by Gander Mt Guide 2/26/2004 10:59 AM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 663
| You know, this whole topic seems a little silly. If you don't like to troll then don't do it. For those who view it as another method in their bag of tools then go for it. Why is there even a debate? I've done both and while I cast probably 95% of the time or more I don't consider a fish caught trolling as less of an accomplishment. There is skill involved in both methods. This would be like saying that only muskies caught on bucktails for example are worth catching and crankbaits or jerkbaits are an "easier" way to catch them and in effect cheating. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 16
Location: Fond Du lac WI | Pete i was not trying to stir things up or get others mad. I was just looking for others input and have a disscusion on the subject.. I come from a long line of musky men. My father his father and so on. My great uncle was a forest ranger in vilas couty and he taught me alot before his death. but i have never trolled for musky all of my family would have disowned me they are ole school and would never do it. To us it was about the one to one confontation between one of the hardest big fish to cath and the man or boy or women trying to catch them.. they told me it would be like driving for deer on a deer hunt using helicopters. So I was just looking to se what others thought of the trolling thing...
Most outdoor sports i do are for the enjoyment of the outdoors catch a fish or shooting a deer is second on that list. fishing with my father or sons or friends is the whole treat only topped off with a musky in the net..
thx for al your comments i am just trying to understand the trollers out there thats all. They are nither right nor wrong just personal preferance i guess... |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1335
Location: Chicago, Beverly | I don't like trolling myself but that is partly do to the fact that of the countless hours doing it I have only caught one fish, and only one other fish was caught out of my boat doing it. I still troll, I've seen to many caught that way not to give it a shot. I also think that at certain times of the year it shouldn't be done..specifically high water temps. I think the fish are more stressed when caught trolling in hot water. What is hot water to me? Over 80degrees. I'm sure they get stressed casting in the warmer temps also, I just think not as bad. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 172
| i really prefer casting, but some years 90% of my bigger fish come trolling. its just plain and simple, i catch better fish trolling. i cast at least 80% of the time, and i always catch the most 40" plus fish trolling. it's not being lazy, it's NOT easy, and it's really is work. it's hardly unfair, i can't imagine why anyone would say that, trust me, we've had far tougher days trolling than casting. casting can get you a few follows on a tough day...trolling on a tough day? haha, you don't even see a fish! wouldnt casting be more "un-fair" because you get to see the fish often and provoke the strike? hmmmmmm....
but like i said...i AM a casting man. but, i wouldnt want to fish the rest of my life for skies only casting or only trolling.
trolling just helps cover water and reach fish better...it's not unfair, it can be more efficient OR less efficient, just depends on the situation.
MNmatt |
|
| |
|
Posts: 26
Location: Carol Stream, IL | I definitely spend most of my time casting. But I must say that when it comes to muskies, you never have an unfair advantage unless you're using dynamite. Even that might not be unfair... 
Luke S |
|
| |
|
Posts: 18
Location: Ashalnd,Ky | I think the first poster was trying to get a feel for the type of fishermen that post here..
I don't think there is anything wrong with trolling but I fish Cave Run.. well.. really.. I fish Lickin river and Northfork..pretty hard to troll there but I never troll and I never use live Bait..
I sometime have a hard time lifting my arms over my head at the end of the day..
Trimmer |
|
| |
|
Posts: 440
| To troll or not to troll, what a silly question. Of course I troll. If you want to capitalize on every chance to catch a muskie you have to. Somedays it is the only way to get them to go. Until you have had a muskie hit going 5 mph you have not lived. If you want personal contact with the fish just hang on to the rod. I probably cast 70 % and troll 30%. It is just a tool in the box, use it or don't the choice is yours. It sure as hell isn't cheating or easy.
Edited by ChadG 2/26/2004 4:52 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 724
Location: Southern W.Va. | Casting 90%
Trolling 10%
Fish caught
casting 75% more or less
trolling 25%
my biggest fish though not large as you people from Wi., Minn., or Canada (45") was caught casting (Thanks again TECK).
My average fish is probably larger while trolling
Later,
Mauser |
|
| |
|
Posts: 20219
Location: oswego, il | Troll with me, I will wear your arse out. Unfair advantage? I think not. To catch fish consistently trolling takes skill. You have to know what you are doing at all times. I have had days on the water most people dream about while trolling. Hearing that clicker scream is a rush and alot of satisfaction knowing I put the right presentation together. I sleep just fine over it.
Edited by ToddM 2/26/2004 9:16 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 3868
|
Boy, like an Everlasting Gobstopper, this is an endless debate.
I do both, cast and troll, casting 90% of the time. Trolling can be very difficult. Persisian trolling the old riverbank within a flowage is real tough, especially with the old stumps and and such. My biggest fish, (see pic to left) came after 6 hours of passes over the same spot in a river/flowage, me trying to put the bait in just exactly the right location within structure and current. Couldn't get a bait there casting; I had to troll the bait into the spot.
Last, read Joe Bucher's book "Crankbait Secrets" and consider his technique of bouncing cranks off the bottom, weeds, rocks and timber. Holding the rod the whole time. No way is that an easy way to fish.
To each his own. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 48
Location: Winnipeg | I do both, and have caught many muskies both casting and trolling ! I would say it's about 50% catch ratio on both. But I will tell ya this My biggest as well as most my pals all came on the troll. Not saying trolling is bettter or worse just my experience! my 2 cents |
|
| |
|
Posts: 25
Location: London | There's aimlessly dragging baits behind a boat & then there's trolling..definitely not the same thing.
"Lazy", "easy", "cheating"! I suspect contributors such as Capt Larry Jones & Steve Wickens who have spent years perfecting their trolling skills are hurting too much from laughing to be able to respond.
Seb Shelton
|
|
| |
|
| I've heard this one for years (trolling is lazy and cheating) but have rarely had these comments directed at me since I'm only allowed to rowtroll up where I call home.
Like previously mentioned, to be successful trolling means much more than dragging baits. I troll nearly 100% of the time, have good days and bad. One thing I have noticed is that when the bite is on, it's on whether one is casting or trolling, and the flip side is true also. Generally speaking, of course.
On the subject of cheating, when I sneak out on the lake at 2am to take advantage of a lake free of boat traffic to target muskies that haven't been disturbed for 5 hours, beating the morning crew to the deep breaks, taking advantage of a (nearly) sure-bet feeding window, am I cheating? Am I being lazy because I'm hitting a peak activity time where I usually see more fish activity in 4 hours than the rest of the day?
JRS |
|
| |
|
Posts: 663
| Originally written by Essox2 on 2004-02-26 11:15 AM
Pete i was not trying to stir things up or get others mad. I was just looking for others input and have a disscusion on the subject..
Hey, no problem Essox 2. My mini rant was not really directed at you. I just get a little tired of people who take the "my way or the highway" approach to fishing muskies. From my perspective musky fishing is first and foremost about having fun and however an angler chooses to do that within the boundries of ethics and good sportsmanship who the heck am I to tell him he's wrong, lazy, cheating, etc. The way some folks talk I begin to get the feeling that they would like us all to be fishing out of 12' wooden rowboats casting Daredevils and Bucktails with a 5' cane rod and a Plueger Supreme reel. Any fish not caught using this time honored method doesn't count. LOL. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 21
Location: Metro, MN | Since I have only used a kayak or canoe for fishing muskies so far, I troll to where I am going to cast. I haven't caught anything trolling yet, but I am out to fish, so I'll certainly drag a bait to where I plan to hunt. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 78
Location: Pardeeville, WI | I have only trolled for 2 years and I love it. There is nothing better than being in Wisconsin with 3 lines out and cruising up and down the shorelines with a beer in your hand.
Suddenly when you least expect it that line clicker starts screaming. There she is!!!
On Wisconsin!
Trolling rules!!! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2089
| There's a lot more to trolling than throwing a lure off the back of the boat. And NOT a lazy way to fish.Try trolling weedlines and creek channels on a snag (wood)infested lake, river or reservoir with multiple lines. Chad G showed me some finer points last year, but I've got a ways to go. I've casted 99% of my time on the water, but have found there is a time and a place. Tough casting in 20mph winds in December.So many details to put together the perfect run. Different bodies of water will also require varying amounts of activity.One eye on the locator, one ear out for the clicker etc. It can be a lot of work earlier in the year w/ floating weeds etc(put rod tip in the water).Is it Spring yet? Steve |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1430
Location: Eastern Ontario | I guess we can take away your trolling motor and fishfinder as that's an unfair advantage. LMAO Come on muskies are hard to catch and we all need as many tools as possible. I prefer to cast and have caught many 54 inch fish doing it but overall I catch way more big fish trolling. For the guys who have not done it trolling is actually harder then casting but when done right it will out produce casting everytime. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1243
Location: Musky Tackle Online, MN | There’s been a lot of good points here by people that really understand trolling. So I will just add a few things from my own experiences.
I’ve been musky fishing for 14 years. The first 12 years I did some trolling off and on, but was never able to catch a musky with this method. It was pretty frustrating so I wasn’t a big fan of trolling. I just couldn’t figure out how to do it effectively.
Well, in the past two years I finally figured out the trolling game…at least during certain times of the year. There are still a few times of year where I can’t buy a fish trolling. But other times, it is THE way to get on fish.
Lazy? Yeah, it was the lazy way for me to fish in my first 12 years. That’s probably why I never caught one. Since I had the light bulb go off I have learned that it’s much more difficult to troll than to cast. It’s also more physically demanding than casting with the way that I go about it. But when the trolling game is on, there’s no better way to catch fish. I’d rather catch a musky casting top water. But there are simply times where trolling is the way to go.
In the last two years I would guess that I’ve been trolling about 30% of my time on the water. 105 out of 134 (78%) of my muskies over the past two years have come while trolling. I would say that multiple fish days are much more likely when trolling. But I would also say that no fish days are equally as likely whether you’re trolling OR casting at certain times of the year. With every day on the water, you just have to figure out what’s going to make them go on that day. Use all the tools you have at your disposal.
AWH |
|
| |
Trolling or not to troll