|
|
Posts: 426
Location: Perryville, MO | I don't spend as much time trolling as perhaps I ought, not only because I would rather cast, but also because I've never trolled with someone with lots of experience and therefore I'm not knowledgable enough to feel all that comfortable with it. (I guess I'm wise enough to know there's more to it than just driving around with baits behind me, but that's what it mostly feels like.)
Late season is typically the only time I give it much of a chance. I usually run 3-4 rods depending upon where exactly I'm running baits. On the the breakline, above it, and just below it most often (versus flats or open water). I don't always run a bait in the propwash, mainly because I'm not exactly sure on the what & how.
How close to the boat do you usually run this bait and what baits do you generally run? I understand the idea is generally to captialize on baitfish fleeing the commotion (in my case gizzard shad). I'm guessing this is always a "down" rod buried in the water as well, but I'm assuming you don't want too much depth to it?
Thanks in advance for the insight. |
|
| |
|
| I have a rod holder mounted so that I can angle two rods so my baits are running right behind the motor. I trim my motor all the way down to get the prop wash running deep. I usually troll a shallow diver (Rapala Super Shad Rap) anywhere from 15 to 25 feet back so that bait is dancing in the prop wash. This is a very effective trolling technique. My favorite pattern is Fire Tiger. It has also worked well for shallow raiders, Grandmas, Jakes and Believers. When trolling, I always have one in the wash on a short line. With two baits, I run overlapping so one is running deeper about the same distance out of my shallow bait. I may be running something such as an Ernie or Depth Raid. These baits never foul if I have them set right.
J. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 5874
| I always run a short 6' down rod right next to the kicker, with only 3 feet of line out. this puts the bait just a couple feet back, and a foot or so to the side, of the prop. I like a small Shallow Raider or similar bait. MY PB at 52 1/2 came on this set. I also run a rod on the other side in the prop wash with the lure anywhere from 10 to 25 feet back. I tend to put a bigger shallow running bait on that one.
Edited by Shep 10/31/2013 8:22 AM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 667
Location: Wisconsin | Shep - 10/31/2013 8:19 AM
I always run a short 6' down rod right next to the kicker, with only 3 feet of line out. this puts the bait just a couple feet back, and a foot or so to the side, of the prop. I like a small Shallow Raider or similar bait. MY PB at 52 1/2 came on this set. I also run a rod on the other side in the prop wash with the lure anywhere from 10 to 25 feet back. I tend to put a bigger shallow running bait on that one.
I wouldn't of thought of running it that close, thanks. Now to get that 52 incher like yours would sure be nice!
Hawkeye, glad you asked, I am new to trolling as well. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1530
| try 1lb ball 15ft line 5ft leaders water depths matter though. or 4and 40 end of propwash waters. at 4mph it stones big fish. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 192
Location: Quebec, Canada | Are you guys also doing the prop wash trolling in open water/breakline trolling or only in shallow waters? |
|
| |
|
| No expertise here, but prop wash trolling seems so unlikely to succeed--on the logic of the thing--that I would like to see a video of a fish caught in the prop wash. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 192
Location: Quebec, Canada | The Swan - 10/31/2013 12:44 PM
No expertise here, but prop wash trolling seems so unlikely to succeed--on the logic of the thing--that I would like to see a video of a fish caught in the prop wash.
Actually it makes a lot of sense as of why it works. If your boat passes in baitfishes and that they don't have the time to move away from the prop wash waves, they end up being push away in a force that disorient them which makes them easy prey to be hunted. This actually doesn't only work for musky fishing, I've heard a couple walleye guide saying that they do the same with the 3rd trolling rod. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1530
| 1 other thought. short line propwash. when its so close wave movements as climbing a wave stalls the bait. it flutters back downside the wave flutters forward. boat rods in waves can be very productive.
musky are not shy |
|
| |
|
Posts: 906
Location: Canada | woodieb8 - 10/31/2013 12:53 PM
1 other thought. short line propwash. when its so close wave movements as climbing a wave stalls the bait. it flutters back downside the wave flutters forward. boat rods in waves can be very productive.
musky are not shy
^^  |
|
| |
|
Location: Ontario | The Swan - 10/31/2013 12:44 PM
No expertise here, but prop wash trolling seems so unlikely to succeed--on the logic of the thing--that I would like to see a video of a fish caught in the prop wash.
http://outdoorcanada.ca/29295/fishing/tips-fishing/marc-thorpe-trol... |
|
| |
|
Posts: 426
Location: Perryville, MO | Thanks for the Thorpe link. I somewhat remember having read that article a while back, and it's vaguely what I remembered about propwash trolling (i.e. seriously short lines). This is exactly what I needed to refresh some confidence in the technique. Thanks for the responses.
While I get the counter-intuitive statement a bit; more-so, I believe muskies are afraid of nothing in the water and if baitfish are sent running then feeding fish are soon to follow. Growing up a southern bass guy, more than a few times I've watched a large bluegill on my line get hammered by a monster bass. There is just something about a fish in distress that calls the big girls in to feed.
One thing else I seem to remember when I first inquired about the technique, however, is a bit different than what Thorpe and someone here mentioned concerning it being primarily a Summer bite. I thought it was argued that in the Spring (after little boat traffic throughout the winter) muskie may actually be a bit wary and as the year progresses it gets better. So I was thinking that on Southern reserviors (at least) the technique might be at it's prime during the Fall. Maybe not so much though as some have mentioned? How many guys keep trolling the propwash and have success well into the Fall (the times I tend to troll - by far - the most)?
Oh...and while trolling with weights seems way advanced for a guy like me (no salmon down here so flashers and downriggers seem strange for me), woodie, could you further elaborate on your technique of getting the bait down underneath the "propwash"?
Edited by hawkeye9 10/31/2013 1:32 PM
|
|
| |
