Strategies on Dead Days
bloatlord
Posted 12/23/2024 9:02 AM (#1031847)
Subject: Strategies on Dead Days




Posts: 111


One of the issues that I frequently run into is what to do when everything goes to hell. Usually, I am a "fish the spots at the right times" kind of angler. My strategy usually goes something like:


1) Identify spots that are attractive before hand, either based on past experience or map scouting if new water
2) Move to spot.

If I get a follow and a hit but no catch, finish the spot and move on.
If follow and no hit, circle back and cast the spot again.
If nothing, move on.

3) If any of these spots produce, move back to the spot during minor/major and hit it again.


But what do you all do on those terrible days where you get no follows on any of your targeted areas? Get trolling and cover water? Not a live scope guy, so driving around picking them off isn't something I will be doing.
Weiseyyy
Posted 12/23/2024 4:21 PM (#1031853 - in reply to #1031847)
Subject: Re: Strategies on Dead Days





Posts: 65


Location: Minnesota
Well, I'm not much help here because 95% of my days are those terrible days you speak of, but once my go-to (baits and spots I like) doesn't pan out, I start to throw things I rarely throw, on spots I wouldn't usually fish. I also don't Livescope or troll, so casting different spots is all I can do.

I may have to take up trolling this next season; just isn't the same "fishing" I like to do.
IAJustin
Posted 12/23/2024 10:45 PM (#1031857 - in reply to #1031853)
Subject: Re: Strategies on Dead Days




Posts: 2017


Don’t think you are …know you are , it’s all part of the muskie matrix
CincySkeez
Posted 12/23/2024 11:15 PM (#1031858 - in reply to #1031847)
Subject: Re: Strategies on Dead Days





Posts: 645


Location: Duluth
Fishing further off of a spot has helped when my first,second passes aren't producing.
mikie
Posted 12/24/2024 8:40 AM (#1031861 - in reply to #1031847)
Subject: Re: Strategies on Dead Days





Location: Athens, Ohio
Every day is a dead day - until it isn't.
I just pop in a cd of the Good ol' Grateful Dead and keep fishing.
m
dickP
Posted 12/24/2024 10:08 AM (#1031865 - in reply to #1031847)
Subject: Re: Strategies on Dead Days




Posts: 327


Always doing what you always do, means you’ll often get what you always got.
Solitario Lupo
Posted 12/24/2024 11:30 AM (#1031872 - in reply to #1031847)
Subject: Re: Strategies on Dead Days





Location: PA Angler
Sometimes I always wonder what I can do myself but I think just keep going until it happens. Trolling can always be something new to try might have better luck. Switching lures(color and sizes) sometimes. Then the days they are sluggish and just looking I’ve found the live bait guys out fish me. One of them gotta finally work haha.
chuckski
Posted 12/24/2024 5:28 PM (#1031874 - in reply to #1031847)
Subject: Re: Strategies on Dead Days




Posts: 1418


Location: Brighton CO.
You'll aways find new spots by trolling to your next spot. (lots of unmarked spots on our maps)
7.62xJay
Posted 12/24/2024 8:21 PM (#1031876 - in reply to #1031847)
Subject: Re: Strategies on Dead Days





Posts: 532


Location: NW WI
So many factors play a role but in summary:
A phrase I have Is "Time to do something stupid. Do what you don't think you should do".

or

If there's shallow structure (Lillies,Milfoil, wicked steep shorelines,) I'll downsize to large multispecies presentations and move in tight and shallow. .


Edited by 7.62xJay 12/24/2024 8:23 PM
kap
Posted 12/25/2024 8:31 AM (#1031881 - in reply to #1031847)
Subject: Re: Strategies on Dead Days




Posts: 558


Location: deephaven mn
success is harder to achieve, stocking is down pressure is up. Fishing isn't luck its knowledge and persistance.
fish make the rules you need to be there when they are ready to bite. like mentioned before keep going keep casting.
after a half a day with no sucess try trolling it has saved the day, or change depth you are fishing go shallow fish slop or shallow weeds. or go two cast lengths out from the edge.or fish backwards put your boat on top of stucture and cast to the depths bringing your lure across in a different direction
mikie
Posted 12/25/2024 10:22 AM (#1031882 - in reply to #1031847)
Subject: Re: Strategies on Dead Days





Location: Athens, Ohio
Somewhere, I read,"If you throw the wrong bait long enough, sooner or later it becomes the right bait. " m
chuckski
Posted 12/25/2024 10:58 AM (#1031883 - in reply to #1031882)
Subject: Re: Strategies on Dead Days




Posts: 1418


Location: Brighton CO.
mikie - 12/25/2024 10:22 AM

Somewhere, I read,"If you throw the wrong bait long enough, sooner or later it becomes the right bait. " m


Put eye bolt on a 2x4 and a couple of hooks see above comment .