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Posts: 550
Location: So. Illinois | I was out this past saturday and put a full day in without seeing a fish. I think I threw everything in my tackle arsenal. I have typically been working shallower areas near weedbeds and breaklines adjacent to deeper water. I know from reading this board that alot of people will switch to trolling until the fish turn on. When trolling, do you guys head out to open water or are you working shoreline and working structure. Is it ever worth the time to just head out an try open water trolling over deeper areas? Would appreciate your thoughts.
Chief |
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| Dude, find schools of baitfish deep and troll over them; they will often hang in deep water around channels or islands, etc. At times they will be near the surface, then you can cast to them. Works on rockfish, w/ an occasional 'ski caught in this manner. You can also try the mouth of a cove, especially if there is current coming in... |
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Posts: 229
Location: Willoughby, Ohio | As Sponge said, find schools of baitfish and run you lure just underneath the bottom of the school. Muskies will attack from the bottom and pick off fish on the outer edge of the school. Also, determine what depth the thermocline has set up and work that depth. Tempature will play a role as well. The fish will move to areas that most fall within their comfort zone yet still have sufficient oxygen. |
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Posts: 20281
Location: oswego, il | What has been said is good info. I will add, troll near but off of good structure spots too. |
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Posts: 364
Location: in the white boat | As usual, the great, yellow, porous one summed it up pretty well.
Paul Klein is one of the masters of open water muskies and wrote a pretty detailed article on his techniques in Esox Angler mag a couple years ago. Should be back issues available if you'd like to read it. Check the EA website. |
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Posts: 550
Location: So. Illinois | Thanks to all who responded. I appreciate the feedback and pointers. I decided to purchase a few back issues of EA magazine and went ahead and got a subscription. Still have alot to learn. Thanks again....
Chief |
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Posts: 1137
Location: Holly, MI | Match the hatch (forage fish), go fast (you can't out run them with a trolling lure), Spread 'em out (boards, out rods, sliders), cover some water, run some high/some low (clip on 8 or 10 oz lead), After all lures are set and running..screw around (this always seems like the time a musky will hit), and most of all..have fun! |
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Posts: 1189
Location: Bagley,MN 56621 | I caught a 35 1/2 last tues nite trolling right through the middle of this deep clear lake.
We were targeting along shoreline breaks, then decided to cut across to the other side. The fish hit right out in the middle, no humps or any other structure for a longggg ways. We were in 52' of water, it hit a depth raider running at 10'..we weren't marking baitfish out there either, but were along the shoreline breaks but didn't get a rip.....go figure.
I was real surprised to get a fish of that size too out of that location, thought it would have been well over 40, this was a trophy lake...these things keep you scratching your head. |
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Posts: 229
Location: Willoughby, Ohio | "go fast (you can't out run them with a trolling lure)" Usually, that works but there are times and places where they aren't interested in fast lures. I've also heard a theory (don't know if it's right or wrong) that the really big girls usually won't put out the energy to chase a fast moving prey, especially if they can find a big, slow one. Planer boards might be helpful if you want to cover a wide area. They aren't necessary to get the lure away from the boat like in walleye fishing. Muskies are definitely not boat shy when trolling! I caught two ealier this year with nothing more than the 5' leader in the water. That reminds me, trolling right in the propwash with just a few feet out can be extremely effective. Talk to a few locals on the lake you are targeting. I try to tailor my presentation to each body of water. Sometimes, I catch fish, sometimes, I don't and sometimes, the seagulls just crap on my head......but that's muskie fishing! |
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Posts: 1137
Location: Holly, MI | Lake St Clair has been a "Bust" lately for down rods and prop-wash rods. The fish are suddenly boat shy for sure. An aquaintence boated 5 on tues eve then 6 on thursday evening. I trolled the same area on wed from noon until 9:30 pm for one fish. I was using down and wash rods and ALL of his fish came off his planer boards. It is best to run a little of everything until you see what is working that very day. On our long day of trolling for one fish (yes that was two of us)we saw about 6 or 7 musky in the water in front of the boat (and one huge Gar Pike) but they would quickly swim down and away from the approching boat. It was a strange day. |
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Posts: 105
Location: Kawartha Lakes, Ontario | Some good advice has been offered here. Start with deep water near shallow structure - fish are often suspended off shallow structure over deep water. By only fishing the shallow structure you are missing these fish. One to two cast lengths away from the structure is a good place to start. You don't always have to troll deep (20+ feet). Try trolling 6 - 10 feet down over 20 to 40 feet of water. This way your lure will always be above the muskies where they can easily see it - and if you have clear water, they will not hesitate to rise 15 feet to smash a lure. Many fish will also be suspended in this depth range (depending on baitfish location).
Also look for deep structure. This type of structure isn't as obvious as shallow structure, but with practice and experience you will learn to "see" it. Many of these areas that produce fish for me are as simple as a hump on the bottom that tops out at 25 feet and is surrounded by 35 feet of water. And if you see baitfish near these areas, muskies are usually not far away.
The best way to learn these techniques is through experience, so don't be afraid to try something new and learn through trial and error.
Edited by crazycanuck 8/10/2003 3:34 PM
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Posts: 550
Location: So. Illinois | Thanks to all for your feedback....outstanding. Can't wait to try these pointers out.
Chief |
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