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Muskie Fishing -> General Discussion -> Trolling
 
Message Subject: Trolling
AaronTicknor
Posted 10/14/2019 11:39 AM (#948210)
Subject: Trolling




Posts: 33


Want to try trolling a bit this fall.

Know there is a lot more to it than this but what is your general target speed? Wondering if my outboard will even go slow enough to start asking more questions.
phselect
Posted 10/14/2019 12:05 PM (#948212 - in reply to #948210)
Subject: RE: Trolling




Posts: 156


Location: Alexandria, MN
I have had a fair amount of success (primarily in MN) between 3 and 3.5 mph, or even a little faster if the water is a bit warmer. A lot of guys go even faster. I tend to slow down as the water gets colder., but experiment and let the fish tell you what they want.


Edited by phselect 10/14/2019 12:07 PM
ToddM
Posted 10/14/2019 12:08 PM (#948214 - in reply to #948210)
Subject: Re: Trolling





Posts: 20173


Location: oswego, il
What area of the country do you plan on trolling?
AaronTicknor
Posted 10/14/2019 12:18 PM (#948216 - in reply to #948210)
Subject: Re: Trolling




Posts: 33


Pretty broad here. NW Ontario and northern Iowa
MUSKYLUND1
Posted 10/15/2019 10:57 AM (#948298 - in reply to #948210)
Subject: Re: Trolling




Posts: 203


Location: Germantown, WI
It's important to know how deep your lures are running so you can put them at the depth you want them to run at. You can get a digital copy of Musky Mike's Trolling Secrets on your phone which is a good resource for dive curves that tell you how much line to let out to reach your desired depth. Speed is another important factor: 3 mph to 4.5 mph has worked for me. There are a bunch of good trolling lures on the market. Baits that wander are getting a lot of attention these days, such as the Supernatural Mattlock, Supernatural Headlock and Phantom Hex. Lures that have worked well for us over the years are 10" Jakes and various Wiley Lures such as the Deep Diver and Headshaker. Drifter Tackle Believers and Stalkers are also good. Big spinnerbaits can be good when trolling around or over heavy weeds. A good rod holder that you are comfortable with is also important. We use the Down East Salty rod holders. The last thing that I would recommend is to get good electronics and learn to use them. I typically use a split screen with sonar on one side and mapping on the other side. I'm just learning how to use side imaging, but many people swear by that. You can do a lot with trolling such as bumping structure, trolling near or over weeds or wood, or targeting open water baitfish. We've caught fish doing all of the above.
djwilliams
Posted 10/15/2019 10:14 PM (#948347 - in reply to #948210)
Subject: Re: Trolling




Posts: 753


Location: Ames, Iowa
At that speed of 3-3.5, you'll get a 9 inch Slammer down near 16 feet with the thinnest line you are willing to use. Don't be afraid to troll a spinnerbait at 3 mph as long as its not a roller. Try a tandem spinnerbait if you have one. If you are trolling Clear Lake, I'd try just north of the island as there are baitfish there this time of the year. The northwest reeds are also what I hear hold fish as it cools. I'd also be at the tubes coming into the west lake at Ventura. Seems warmer water would be moving in there. If you are talking Okoboji, I sure like those rocks and gravel from Gull Point north up to the Okoboji Lutheran Camp.
AaronTicknor
Posted 10/16/2019 12:06 PM (#948370 - in reply to #948210)
Subject: Re: Trolling




Posts: 33


Thanks all for the great feedback - this will help get me started. Have a great fall season!
mikie
Posted 10/17/2019 7:11 AM (#948408 - in reply to #948210)
Subject: Re: Trolling





Location: Athens, Ohio
Gregg Thomas has a couple excellent DVD's on how-to-trolling; I don't see them listed on his site but you can contact him. Well worth it! m
http://www.battlethebeast.com/home.html
TheShow
Posted 10/21/2019 2:16 PM (#948590 - in reply to #948408)
Subject: Re: Trolling




Posts: 347


Location: Vilas County, WI
So reading the comments above it sounds like 3.0+ mph could be effective for fall trolling. I don't have a lot of experience trolling in the fall since I usually drag meat... but I can barely find meat this fall so I've tried the cold water trolling. No luck yet. I usually slow my presentations down while casting when the water temps cool though. On Saturday I had 48 - 49 degrees here in Vilas county. Keep trying 3.0 mph or do I need to go even slower as water gets colder yet? Thanks
CRK925
Posted 10/21/2019 8:13 PM (#948614 - in reply to #948590)
Subject: Re: Trolling




Posts: 100


I'd still target around 3 mph. You're not going to outrun any muskies at that speed. Try baits that wander or have a nice wide wobble.
BassThumb
Posted 10/22/2019 8:51 AM (#948621 - in reply to #948210)
Subject: Re: Trolling





Posts: 69


Location: Royalton, MN
Good info. I've been thinking about this too. My bass boat's minimum idling speed is about 3.5mph, but if I trim up to create a boil behind the boat, it'll drop to about 3.
phselect
Posted 10/22/2019 9:12 AM (#948628 - in reply to #948621)
Subject: Re: Trolling




Posts: 156


Location: Alexandria, MN
I throw a 21" drift sock off the bow when I wanna go slower (pulling walleye cranks, etc.) Cheapest kicker motor ever! Knocks my 17' Impact down from 3.0 to about 2.3 mph.

Edited by phselect 10/22/2019 9:13 AM
Matt DeVos
Posted 10/22/2019 9:59 AM (#948635 - in reply to #948210)
Subject: Re: Trolling




Posts: 571


Only suggestion is to not try and limit yourself to 3.0mph or lower, even as water temps are dropping. 3.5-4.0mph is typically my target range. Bonus is that it helps you cover more water. But experiment with slower speeds. E.g., if you find excellent baitfish concentrations and/or you are convinced muskies are around in area but can't get a rip, try multiple passes at various speeds. Sometimes, even in late fall, speed is what it might take to trigger a bite on any given day and I've caught plenty at 4.0+mph even into late Nov.
TCESOX
Posted 10/22/2019 5:18 PM (#948656 - in reply to #948635)
Subject: Re: Trolling





Posts: 1166


Matt DeVos - 10/22/2019 9:59 AM

Only suggestion is to not try and limit yourself to 3.0mph or lower, even as water temps are dropping. 3.5-4.0mph is typically my target range. Bonus is that it helps you cover more water. But experiment with slower speeds. E.g., if you find excellent baitfish concentrations and/or you are convinced muskies are around in area but can't get a rip, try multiple passes at various speeds. Sometimes, even in late fall, speed is what it might take to trigger a bite on any given day and I've caught plenty at 4.0+mph even into late Nov.



This is good advice. I have typically used trolling to take a break from casting, particularly the older I get. In the summer, I have pretty much stuck to 5 mph, and as the water cools, slowed down. A couple of years ago, I was doing some fall trolling at about 3 mph, and hadn't had any luck, so on a lark, I kicked it up to 5, and promptly stuck a 50. Water was about 51 degrees. Since then, I have varied my speeds a little more in all seasons. Haven't really seen any solid patterns yet though. Sometimes you just gotta do something a little different.
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