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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | <p>I have a couple questions for the trollers in the Larry and also those who troll the Moon River, Ottawa and other larger rivers. When you are trolling the channel in depths of 18-26' and baitfish are relatively scattered throughout the column, what do you start with? I am doing more trolling on the bigger rivers that I fish, and have always tried to get my lures down when working in current. The other day, when reeling in after trolling my buddy had a large musky grab his lure close to the boat in the middle of the channel. We started casting, and I raised another big fish, and missed another. We decided casting was the better option that day. I am beginning to beleive the 15-25' line lengths may be superior, and that bumping bottom in the channel may be less important, and keeping the lures above fish may be more. I am just wondering what lures(if you run 4 lines) and line lengths you prefer to start the day with in the earlier to middle of the season. Right now, I am running jointed depthraiders, jointed trophy divers, grannies, and jakes. Also, have you tried the wiley lures? If so, which models do you prefer for trolling river channels.</p><p>Thanks for any insight. I hope to be able to improve my trolling hour vs. catch ratio this season. </p><p>Jason</p><p><a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a></p>
Edited by Reef Hawg 5/21/2004 4:18 PM
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Posts: 2361
| What was your motive in trying to get your lures to touch bottom? |
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Posts: 1137
Location: Holly, MI | I'm on St Clair in Mich so it is not as deep as the rivers you are talking about but..
Remember that a muskie might not go down a foot for a meal but can flash up 15 feet in a heartbeat. We have rods out the side of the boat in front of the windshield that are not even behind the boat (6 feet of line out). |
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Posts: 78
Location: Pardeeville, WI | lobi - 5/21/2004 7:27 PM
I'm on St Clair in Mich so it is not as deep as the rivers you are talking about but..
Remember that a muskie might not go down a foot for a meal but can flash up 15 feet in a heartbeat. We have rods out the side of the boat in front of the windshield that are not even behind the boat (6 feet of line out).
Lobi,
If you dont mind me asking, How far back and about how deep do you get your biggest percentage of muskies on Lake St. Clair? Also, How clear is the water down there? |
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Posts: 1137
Location: Holly, MI | BTPF, I don't mind in the least, glad to help.
A fair number of our fish come off wash rods. One rod on each side of the outboard with the tip in the water, lure 6-8 feet back running right in the propwash. Outrods, off back corners, are straight out and lures might be 10-15, maybe even 20 back. Down rods off rail have 1-2 feet of rod in the water (this is mostly to keep floating weeds at bay) mostly have about 6 feet of line out. I'm using down east rodholders all the way around. Two rods per angler. If I'm out alone I'll run either both in the wash or one as an out/down rod depending on weed conditions. St Clair is about 250,000 acres but is mostly 8-14 feet deep. The gi-bungus amount of pleasure boaters chop a lot of weeds and they are always floating. Our little zebra muscle deal has made the water so clear that the weeds are now growing everywhere in the lake. With the weds comes the baitfish and you know what else. Battling floating weeds can be a nonstop issue. Clear all the lures and start over again. Weight can also help the weeds (6-24 oz, 8 and 10 common for me). Doesn't run the lure much deeper tho because there isn't enough line out. Planer board rods are very popular too. We havn't had as much luck on them but will put in some more time with them this year.
Tigers like lures in the wash too.
If I have extra people onboard I'll run a longer line or two out the back corners and go back 40-50 feet with somthing that will stay in the water even if the tip is higher like a believer on deep setting. 4-5 mph is normal, no action? sneak it up to 6-7 mph. I hear of guys doing 10 + mph but have never tried it.
Capt Frank can give you a more professional opinion than myself if he sees this post.
get it done
Edited by lobi 5/21/2004 8:51 PM
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| If you haven't noticed, the boys out east a little tight lipped.
Good Luck. |
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | <p>Thanks for the info. FSF, I like to tap bottom on the shallow rivers here just because it has produced muskies for me in heavier current situations. It does not seem to matter much though in the deeper stuff, and almost seems to hamper my production. Just trying to see what others suggest....</p><p /><p /> |
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