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Posts: 69
Location: Pine River MN. | Ive been fishing muskies for over 30 years but I've never really spent any amount time trolling before. My questions is how do you set up your reel. Are you backing off your drag? Are you putting the reel in free spool and using your clicker? If your just using the clicker, how do keep enough tension so the lure can't take out the line. I have Calcutta 400b's, NaCl 60's and 6500's. Any help would be great. |
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Posts: 162
| I don't think it's possible to just troll a musky bait with just the clicker on. Back off the drag to where you can pull out drag but with some tension behind it . You want it to be tight enough for the hooks to dig in bit not so tight that it rips the bair and hooks out of their mouths. Your always better having it to tight than too loose IMO.
Edited by muskyman1122 9/28/2016 2:03 PM
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| I also have some questions. On Labor day I was working in my shop and had an accident with a board kicking back. Lots of stitches involving all five fingers of left hand and a broken bone and cut tendon in one finger. Therapist today said at least six more weeks to normal function and no brace. However, with a brace he thinks I could troll, land and release fish in a couple weeks. The chain I live on is shallow, weedy and very dark. I am thinking I could troll Jakes, Shallow Invaders, Show Girls. Any ideas would be appreciated.
Boat I bought used last year has a 4 stroke kicker next to the big tiller, so I can run that with my right hand. |
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Posts: 1828
| way better trollers around here than me but just to act like I have knowledge to share:
malenurse I usually set the drag to where it slips just a little when I fake a hard hookset with my bait in the water and the boat going at trolling speed. I hardly ever troll, only caught a dozen or so trolling, but have had good results with strikes that way. On my Revo Toros and Saltist, the drag setting I described is like a half-rotation looser than totally locked down. Make any sense? |
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Posts: 69
Location: Pine River MN. | Yes it makes sense. I've done basically the same with the little trolling I've done |
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Posts: 400
Location: Metro | It is definitely easier to troll with a tiller too. I have a hard time hitting those fine points in my boat because of the steering wheel. |
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Posts: 1036
| North of 8. In a lake like you describe, you can short line nicely.
I'm no trolling expert, but short lining is pretty easy.
Let out 10-15 or 20 feet of line. Use Spinner Baits, or floating twitch baits. They should run above those weeds, or right on the weedline. Consider your boat as "casting" the baits and pull them around edges, holes...etc.
If you do it right, you can pretty much watch your baits and see fish come up on them. It is pretty neat. And highly effective.
Some call if prop wash trolling, and it does work.
Oh, and when I do it, I use a 7.5 foot rod as a "down" rod. Get it pointed right down in the water. Then I use an 8.5 or 9 footer as my "up" rods. I put the rod tips in the water about 6 inches so that they collect weeds and not the line that will run weeds to the lure.
You still need to clean rods and you will still get hung on weeds, but that should get you going.
Good luck to you and I hope the hand heals for yah! |
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Posts: 1529
| hi we set drags loose. check drag from end of rod not at reel. sharp hooks. at 3.9mph fish set hooks themselves.. turn clicker on. ,turn off fighting fish.. don't forget leaders are different. we run 5 ft leaders. this allows the baits to have natural action. short leaders impede bait action. |
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Posts: 400
Location: Metro | woodieb8 - 10/1/2016 7:02 PM
hi we set drags loose. check drag from end of rod not at reel. sharp hooks. at 3.9mph fish set hooks themselves.. turn clicker on. ,turn off fighting fish.. don't forget leaders are different. we run 5 ft leaders. this allows the baits to have natural action. short leaders impede bait action.
Does it really have that much affect? Was out trolling after casting all day this weekend and we had a strike. I thought the lures had great action with short leaders. Will have to look into a longer leader. |
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Posts: 162
| The only reason I use the longer leader is for the fish. If they start rolling and get wrapped up in braid it can do some Serious damaged! |
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Posts: 3861
| North of 8 - Slow trolling a good old suick thriller may be a good option for your situation. Very light to fish so easy on your hand. Use the motor to get the lure to depth then slow to the speed necessary to tick (sometimes rip) weed tops with a pull-stall cadence. (If the weed tops are deeper than 8 or so feet go with a weighted suick.) Hold the rod forgrip with your good hand and pin the base of the rod between your bicep and body. Position yourself so the arm holding the rod is between your body and the bait. This way the body, not arm, carries the weight of lure resistance. The pull-stall is mostly accomplished by twisting at the hip and this dance also reduces arm fatigue. Last, you're always ready to spin into a monster hookset.
Hope that's helpful. |
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Posts: 400
Location: Metro | Never heard or thought of trolling a Suick. Interesting. |
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Posts: 63
| malenurse - 9/28/2016 12:09 PM
Ive been fishing muskies for over 30 years but I've never really spent any amount time trolling before. My questions is how do you set up your reel. Are you backing off your drag? Are you putting the reel in free spool and using your clicker? If your just using the clicker, how do keep enough tension so the lure can't take out the line. I have Calcutta 400b's, NaCl 60's and 6500's. Any help would be great. I put the rods in the 'Down East' rod holders that are the best in my opinion and made in the USA.They are adjustable to fit most any angle or mounting method and also come in a black powder coat.I usually put a large lipped deep diving crank bait that gets down to 30+ feet on one line and a smaller lipped shallow diving lure that stays at about 8 to 10 feet on the other line.Summer trolling speeds are usually at 6 to 8 mph and in the fall I'll back it off to 3 to 5 mph as the water cools down.Follow the structure if any keeping the lures close to any drop-offs or shallow to deep water transition areas especially where healthy green aquatic vegetation is present.
In oligotrophic lakes I will do some open water passes over depths of 100+ feet and sometimes use a down rigger to send the baits in the 50+ foot range as I have found that the large females like to feed on the deep running forage fish such as shad, cisco,alewife,lake trout,etc..
Down-East Sportscraft Inc. - http://www.down-east.com/website_003.htm
(North Bay September 21-28 2013 007 copy.JPG)
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 North Bay September 21-28 2013 007 copy.JPG (348KB - 527 downloads)
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Posts: 7036
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | Lake Of The Woods - 10/4/2016 4:11 PM
malenurse - 9/28/2016 12:09 PM
Ive been fishing muskies for over 30 years but I've never really spent any amount time trolling before. My questions is how do you set up your reel. Are you backing off your drag? Are you putting the reel in free spool and using your clicker? If your just using the clicker, how do keep enough tension so the lure can't take out the line. I have Calcutta 400b's, NaCl 60's and 6500's. Any help would be great. I put the rods in the 'Down East' rod holders that are the best in my opinion and made in the USA.They are adjustable to fit most any angle or mounting method and also come in a black powder coat.I usually put a large lipped deep diving crank bait that gets down to 30+ feet on one line and a smaller lipped shallow diving lure that stays at about 8 to 10 feet on the other line.Summer trolling speeds are usually at 6 to 8 mph and in the fall I'll back it off to 3 to 5 mph as the water cools down.Follow the structure if any keeping the lures close to any drop-offs or shallow to deep water transition areas especially where healthy green aquatic vegetation is present.
In oligotrophic lakes I will do some open water passes over depths of 100+ feet and sometimes use a down rigger to send the baits in the 50+ foot range as I have found that the large females like to feed on the deep running forage fish such as shad, cisco,alewife,lake trout,etc..
Down-East Sportscraft Inc. - http://www.down-east.com/website_003.htm
I gotta ask...what baits do you run that wont blow out over 6MPH? |
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Posts: 162
| Slamr - 10/4/2016 4:40 PM
Lake Of The Woods - 10/4/2016 4:11 PM
malenurse - 9/28/2016 12:09 PM
Ive been fishing muskies for over 30 years but I've never really spent any amount time trolling before. My questions is how do you set up your reel. Are you backing off your drag? Are you putting the reel in free spool and using your clicker? If your just using the clicker, how do keep enough tension so the lure can't take out the line. I have Calcutta 400b's, NaCl 60's and 6500's. Any help would be great. I put the rods in the 'Down East' rod holders that are the best in my opinion and made in the USA.They are adjustable to fit most any angle or mounting method and also come in a black powder coat.I usually put a large lipped deep diving crank bait that gets down to 30+ feet on one line and a smaller lipped shallow diving lure that stays at about 8 to 10 feet on the other line.Summer trolling speeds are usually at 6 to 8 mph and in the fall I'll back it off to 3 to 5 mph as the water cools down.Follow the structure if any keeping the lures close to any drop-offs or shallow to deep water transition areas especially where healthy green aquatic vegetation is present.
In oligotrophic lakes I will do some open water passes over depths of 100+ feet and sometimes use a down rigger to send the baits in the 50+ foot range as I have found that the large females like to feed on the deep running forage fish such as shad, cisco,alewife,lake trout,etc..
Down-East Sportscraft Inc. - http://www.down-east.com/website_003.htm
I gotta ask...what baits do you run that wont blow out over 6MPH?
Also curious |
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Posts: 400
Location: Metro | muskyman1122 - 10/5/2016 8:59 AM
Slamr - 10/4/2016 4:40 PM
Lake Of The Woods - 10/4/2016 4:11 PM
malenurse - 9/28/2016 12:09 PM
Ive been fishing muskies for over 30 years but I've never really spent any amount time trolling before. My questions is how do you set up your reel. Are you backing off your drag? Are you putting the reel in free spool and using your clicker? If your just using the clicker, how do keep enough tension so the lure can't take out the line. I have Calcutta 400b's, NaCl 60's and 6500's. Any help would be great. I put the rods in the 'Down East' rod holders that are the best in my opinion and made in the USA.They are adjustable to fit most any angle or mounting method and also come in a black powder coat.I usually put a large lipped deep diving crank bait that gets down to 30+ feet on one line and a smaller lipped shallow diving lure that stays at about 8 to 10 feet on the other line.Summer trolling speeds are usually at 6 to 8 mph and in the fall I'll back it off to 3 to 5 mph as the water cools down.Follow the structure if any keeping the lures close to any drop-offs or shallow to deep water transition areas especially where healthy green aquatic vegetation is present.
In oligotrophic lakes I will do some open water passes over depths of 100+ feet and sometimes use a down rigger to send the baits in the 50+ foot range as I have found that the large females like to feed on the deep running forage fish such as shad, cisco,alewife,lake trout,etc..
Down-East Sportscraft Inc. - http://www.down-east.com/website_003.htm
I gotta ask...what baits do you run that wont blow out over 6MPH?
Also curious
I wasn't going to say anything but I am curious too. Doesn't look like he is going 6-8 in the picture. |
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Posts: 752
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I gotta ask...what baits do you run that wont blow out over 6MPH?
Also curious
Cowgirls, Super Models, A Sledge can handle close to 7MPH... |
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Posts: 162
| Never have thought of going over 4.5 trolling musky. Anyone have success going over 5 mph?? |
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Location: Around | I have caught a few caught trolling 6 to 7 mph.
Wileys, DKs, Scubas, Perchbaits, Supernaturals, can all be run at higher speeds.
Also pulling a musky from 50' depths is not going to be good... |
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Posts: 162
| Agree on the depth. Not good on the fish... |
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Posts: 251
| Musky952, you may already do this, but do you have your bow mount down when you are tolling? I have a tiller but a friend of my told me to have my terrova down and pointing straight ahead, turned off. I got much better boat control when I started doing this. If you already do that, it may help others as I have only trolled outside of green bay 4 or 5 times. |
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Posts: 400
Location: Metro | kdebell - 10/5/2016 1:19 PM
Musky952, you may already do this, but do you have your bow mount down when you are tolling? I have a tiller but a friend of my told me to have my terrova down and pointing straight ahead, turned off. I got much better boat control when I started doing this. If you already do that, it may help others as I have only trolled outside of green bay 4 or 5 times.
Do you turn it and turn it on when you want to make sharper turns or..? I am definitely interested in the idea and have also seen people doing this. |
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Posts: 4269
Location: Ashland WI | Musky952 - 10/5/2016 3:17 PM
kdebell - 10/5/2016 1:19 PM
Musky952, you may already do this, but do you have your bow mount down when you are tolling? I have a tiller but a friend of my told me to have my terrova down and pointing straight ahead, turned off. I got much better boat control when I started doing this. If you already do that, it may help others as I have only trolled outside of green bay 4 or 5 times.
Do you turn it and turn it on when you want to make sharper turns or..? I am definitely interested in the idea and have also seen people doing this.
I actually lock my tiller in place and use the bow mount to steer. That way I can be anywhere in the boat. It's really helpful when I troll 4 lines for salmon/trout/walleye with one of my kids. Keeps the hands free for clearing rods, netting, etc. |
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Posts: 400
Location: Metro | 14ledo81 - 10/5/2016 6:03 PM
Musky952 - 10/5/2016 3:17 PM
kdebell - 10/5/2016 1:19 PM
Musky952, you may already do this, but do you have your bow mount down when you are tolling? I have a tiller but a friend of my told me to have my terrova down and pointing straight ahead, turned off. I got much better boat control when I started doing this. If you already do that, it may help others as I have only trolled outside of green bay 4 or 5 times.
Do you turn it and turn it on when you want to make sharper turns or..? I am definitely interested in the idea and have also seen people doing this.
I actually lock my tiller in place and use the bow mount to steer. That way I can be anywhere in the boat. It's really helpful when I troll 4 lines for salmon/trout/walleye with one of my kids. Keeps the hands free for clearing rods, netting, etc.
Wish I had a tiller for this reason unless that's a new feature on console boats. I can't let go of my steering wheel or the boat will start doing circles. |
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Posts: 4269
Location: Ashland WI | Musky952 - 10/6/2016 9:37 AM
14ledo81 - 10/5/2016 6:03 PM
Musky952 - 10/5/2016 3:17 PM
kdebell - 10/5/2016 1:19 PM
Musky952, you may already do this, but do you have your bow mount down when you are tolling? I have a tiller but a friend of my told me to have my terrova down and pointing straight ahead, turned off. I got much better boat control when I started doing this. If you already do that, it may help others as I have only trolled outside of green bay 4 or 5 times.
Do you turn it and turn it on when you want to make sharper turns or..? I am definitely interested in the idea and have also seen people doing this.
I actually lock my tiller in place and use the bow mount to steer. That way I can be anywhere in the boat. It's really helpful when I troll 4 lines for salmon/trout/walleye with one of my kids. Keeps the hands free for clearing rods, netting, etc.
Wish I had a tiller for this reason unless that's a new feature on console boats. I can't let go of my steering wheel or the boat will start doing circles.
My buddies tiller has a lock feature. My does not, but I rigged up a bungy cord system that works. Possibly you could do something like that? |
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Posts: 400
Location: Metro | 14ledo81 - 10/6/2016 10:22 AM
Musky952 - 10/6/2016 9:37 AM
14ledo81 - 10/5/2016 6:03 PM
Musky952 - 10/5/2016 3:17 PM
kdebell - 10/5/2016 1:19 PM
Musky952, you may already do this, but do you have your bow mount down when you are tolling? I have a tiller but a friend of my told me to have my terrova down and pointing straight ahead, turned off. I got much better boat control when I started doing this. If you already do that, it may help others as I have only trolled outside of green bay 4 or 5 times.
Do you turn it and turn it on when you want to make sharper turns or..? I am definitely interested in the idea and have also seen people doing this.
I actually lock my tiller in place and use the bow mount to steer. That way I can be anywhere in the boat. It's really helpful when I troll 4 lines for salmon/trout/walleye with one of my kids. Keeps the hands free for clearing rods, netting, etc.
Wish I had a tiller for this reason unless that's a new feature on console boats. I can't let go of my steering wheel or the boat will start doing circles.
My buddies tiller has a lock feature. My does not, but I rigged up a bungy cord system that works. Possibly you could do something like that?
I am definitely going to give it a try. Would be nice to move around the boat and adjust things without having to be in the drivers seat. |
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Posts: 431
| North of 8, if they will work on your boat and you want to give them a try, I have 2 rail mount salty's you can use in exchange for good karma. Let me know and Ill ship them over this weekend. |
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| tackleaddict - 10/6/2016 3:16 PM
North of 8, if they will work on your boat and you want to give them a try, I have 2 rail mount salty's you can use in exchange for good karma. Let me know and Ill ship them over this weekend.
Thanks, that is very generous of you. However, the used Lund I bought last fall has built in sockets and the former owner threw in the rod holders that fit in them. I am set and hope by next week to have enough flexibility and strength in my hand to get out on the water (right now I can do just about everything except unhook a fish). The therapist I saw on Monday expressed his surprise at how well I was doing, so I am hoping the progress continues. I see him next Tuesday morning and hope to be on the water in the afternoon. I have had several PMs with suggestions on lures and tactics, so have spent some time going over lake maps, assembling the lures I can use, etc. Was on the pontoon for a couple hours today enjoying the sun and cruising. Found a couple spots I have never fished that looked promising, including a mid lake structure the map does not show. |
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Posts: 983
| North of 8 does that have anyhting to do with north of Lock 8? |
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