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Message Subject: When to troll vs. casting? | |||
Lost Package![]() |
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Where it's legal, and the lake gives you enough space, when to you go to trolling versus casting? I'm new to muskie fishing and trolling just seems like less work and a much easier way to catch a fish versus casting your arm off all day!!! | |||
woodieb8![]() |
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Posts: 1530 | first of trolling is an art form if done properly. searching open water or trying to get a bait upon a point or shelf. casting can pinpoint a presentation more easily. if fish are suspended over open water trolling can bring spectacular results. | ||
Tim Anderson![]() |
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Posts: 32 Location: Brainerd, Minnesota | When it becomes obvious that the majority of the muskies are feeding during a smaller window, such as the period surrounding moonrise for instance, then it becomes apparent that just a few muskies are feeding randomly throughout the rest of the day. That's when I troll. I cover the most ground that way, with 2 or 3 lines out, working breaklines and pods of baitfish. It can be a good way to locate one of those few active fish. I also have a number of clients who just cannot take the rigors of casting for 12-16 hours. Whether they are older, or just plain not used to it, I use trolling to "rest" them. Last year was a my best ever for trolling. As usual, we casted our butts off, but we took lots of trolling breaks along the way, and had more success with it than ever before. Our best success came either trolling small to medium bucktails FAST over the weedtops and along the breaklines, or trolling medium sized crankbaits off the breaklines and out in the open water near pods of baitfish. Good luck, www.bigfishhunt.com | ||
Almost-B-Good![]() |
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Posts: 433 Location: Cedarburg, Wisconsin | When I have to get lures down more than 10 feet it's trolling time. When I have to sift through 100's of acres of similar looking open water, it's trolling time. When I need speed, it's trolling time. When I'm too tired to stand and cast any longer it's trolling time. When I want to put a huge lure in their faces, it's trolling time. I prefer to cast to specific spots on structures, spots that have abrupt irregular depth changes, shallow spots, slots and pockets in weeds, when I think erratic retrieves are called for, at prime times when I know where a bigger fish probably is and I when want to be as quiet as possible. | ||
muskihntr![]() |
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Posts: 2037 Location: lansing, il | gregg thomas has a new dvd out titled "early season ideas/spring muskies" you may want to check it out, although it deals with early season fishing he goes over both tactics and when and where you should apply them. | ||
mseybert![]() |
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Posts: 443 Location: Indiana | I can't find that new gregg thomas dvd, any online retailers? | ||
muskihntr![]() |
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Posts: 2037 Location: lansing, il | mike, he had them at the chicago show. you may have to email or call him to get one. http://www.battlethebeast.com | ||
Kingfisher![]() |
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Posts: 1106 Location: Muskegon Michigan | Almost-B-Good - 1/12/2009 3:05 PM When I have to get lures down more than 10 feet it's trolling time. When I have to sift through 100's of acres of similar looking open water, it's trolling time. When I need speed, it's trolling time. When I'm too tired to stand and cast any longer it's trolling time. When I want to put a huge lure in their faces, it's trolling time. I prefer to cast to specific spots on structures, spots that have abrupt irregular depth changes, shallow spots, slots and pockets in weeds, when I think erratic retrieves are called for, at prime times when I know where a bigger fish probably is and I when want to be as quiet as possible. Exactly my view. But Ill add a few things. I use short line trolling to explore new lakes and map weed edges. I use a Global map Lowrance G.P.S. to show exact locations of inside turns and points,weed pockets and other interesting structure. I do this while slow trolling two lures on short lines weaving on and off the breakline and leaving icons or waypoints at a specific depth. This way I can map an entire lake or lake section. Trolling is a great way to discover good areas to cast and do it much faster than casting a new area. You must be carefull doing this if lakes are known to be rock filled or have lots of stumps and other things to take out your prop or lower unit. Casting long areas is a waste of energy many times and as Almost B good stated it is much more effective to cast good spots and trolling can find these spots for you. Kingfisher | ||
BenMuskyHunter247![]() |
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Posts: 86 Location: Wauwatosa, Wisconsin | i only troll when the muskies are down on the deep weed edges | ||
CASTING55![]() |
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Posts: 968 Location: N.FIB | mseybert - 1/12/2009 5:38 PM. I can't find that new gregg thomas dvd, any online retailers? musky tackle online has the new dvd,I plan on ordering it also | ||
Beaver![]() |
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Posts: 4266 | I cast cranks more than troll,and I do that when I have to be precise in my presentation and target inside turns and points etc. I only troll when the fish are deep or suspended and not holding tight to cover. | ||
Targa01![]() |
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Posts: 742 Location: Grand Rapids MN | Trolling all the way from mid-October to freeze up. That's the extent of my trolling experience but I look forward to it each year because it saves my butt each year and puts the most fish in the net; at least for me. I'm going to venture out of my norm this summer and do a little trolling. | ||
woodieb8![]() |
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Posts: 1530 | targa1 rember muskies cant see down. troll the top 5ft. you will be amazed at what lurks above | ||
Targa01![]() |
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Posts: 742 Location: Grand Rapids MN | Ya I know.. I tried it once before on a spot that maybe wasn't the best for trolling. I got sick of accidentally running a little shallow and racking the lake. At least in the fall if I run a little high on structure the lures just pound bottom and sometimes there's a nice surprise waiting at the end. I'm thinking of picking up some in-line boards and pulling some spinnerbaits and shallow cranks around some big wide weed beds. Appreciate the tip woodie... I'll make sure I have a few runnin' high.. | ||
HBmusky![]() |
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Posts: 36 Location: Pittsburgh PA | Being from Pa fishing the rivers I do a little of both mostly casting on the smaller systems. I also troll it can be very efective on the rivers. My daughter caught her first musky at age 12 trolling a smaller bait in mid day of begining of may. It is not easy to troll smaller rivers hard on the equipment. alot of snags and lure breakage, though can cover arera and hook some big fish . I key in on casting river eddied and under water current break to give them a second chance and differnt angle to the conventional trolling methods.Weeds are a lost thing in most rivers here so keying in on underground spring and structure is a good thing I always search any sand edges in the spring both trollling and casting | ||
esoxfly![]() |
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Posts: 1663 Location: Kodiak, AK | No trolling for me. Lake St. Clair is a trolling lake because of it's size and relative lack of specific structure. Trolling the name of the game here. That said, I cast. I just enjoy it more. A very good muskie guide told me, "trolling is a numbers game, casting is an experience game. It's quantity versus quality." | ||
woodieb8![]() |
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Posts: 1530 | on l.s.c. theres trolling and casting. as for trolling a numbers game, i can debate that. if your in the quest for a piggy the trolling setups for us is a different program.. casting the eastern corner or anchor bay has great divedends, but when the waters warm, mid lake and other areas do produce trophy fish that never see the internet. | ||
esoxfly![]() |
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Posts: 1663 Location: Kodiak, AK | Very true woodie. Schram, Spinnerbait, Bob, Steve, Jim, myself...we all cast. So yeah, there's definately a casting contingency on the lake. You may cast as well, I don't know. But Google "muskie Lake St. Clair" and you get four pages of trolling charter captains. (Though Steve tells me his site is coming up now on the first page.) And "Four pages" is an exaggeration, but I'm just making a point. And the last issue of MH listed the best muskie waters in the country. LSC got litterally TWO PARAGRAPHS out of a five page article, and it described summer time trolling as the predomintant fishery. And I believe that to be true. I see reports on LSCN of guys going 6 for 8 and such trolling, and other than maybe Brian and 'bait, you don't see those numbers casting, and I don't know that either of them has had better than 5 fish days. And I don't mean it's a "numbers game" in a bad way, I'm not even anti-trolling. But when you're in a boat with several rods out, you're going to raise/contact/boat more fish than I am in my boat casting by myself. You'll have days trolling where you get skunked, and you'll have days casting where you see alot of fish. But on average I think you'll see higher numbers on this lake trolling than you will casting. | ||
woodieb8![]() |
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Posts: 1530 | yesir casting in spots that canot be reached will produce a slob. im sure you have a few cherry spots. . north channel sounds like a spot worth casting. fishing the un-obvious nooks will surely hold fish that can not be reached by trollers. in any way your out there, and having fun above all.,,,,come on june | ||
HBmusky![]() |
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Posts: 36 Location: Pittsburgh PA | Thats some good stuff guys, I believe that people will adapt to the body of water there on to create sucess.I had to like fishing in sardine can most of the time with rivers being small basins and some of the better lakes being trolling motor only casting is mostly a primary alot of diferences here then there. Thanks guys for intresting conversation HB | ||
woodieb8![]() |
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Posts: 1530 | hbnusky. whatever the metod if it works and is fun do it. if your in a smally tinny, try early or late. jetskiers and beerboaters are not up yet. our waters here on st clair, detroit river are great for muskies using any method.. patience per-serverance and plain grit will get you fish. thinking outside the box has occasionly done wonders here.. remember ,,, lifes short,,fish hard. | ||
HBmusky![]() |
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Posts: 36 Location: Pittsburgh PA | is detroit river heavy recreation area? I agree somtimes the things not planned boat the fish. I agree though on unconventional method and grit makes all the difference thats why I like this sight you can listen to all ways . HB | ||
woodieb8![]() |
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Posts: 1530 | hbmusky... detroit river is excellent on either end. lower detroit summer casting. fall is good in the beginning river. it has a current flow, and during weekends it can be busy. the canadian side near the mouth has a 3 mph speed limit so it can be accesable in smaller boats.its a definate trophy fishery. in reality the detroit river is un-tapped because of l.s.c. | ||
HBmusky![]() |
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Posts: 36 Location: Pittsburgh PA | Thanks for the info , I might give it a try I am in Pitt. so I do not think that it is a fare drive? I have to look it up I apperciate the insight HB | ||
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