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Posts: 572
| I'm planning to fish rattle traps at Pomme de Terre lake in Missouri this spring. My plans are to fish back of shallow coves where water runs in and some of the shallow flats. Since the water is usually fairly clear, I have white, blue, and red rattle traps to fish with.
The lake has no weeds, but it has standing trees in some of the coves.
What type of water should I be looking for?
And, are there any other suggestions to lure colors or sizes????
Thanks,
Muskie Bob |
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Posts: 392
Location: KY | You are right on. Read Tony Gant’s article in the articles section!
I am no expert but have been throwing traps in central KY for three years. Look for coves with muddy to fine gravel bottoms. Dark bottoms are a plus. Keep the boat in six feet or less. Don’t be afraid to get in water so shallow your trolling motor is kicking up mud. The fish are soaking up the warmth of the afternoon sun. On sloping banks you should be casting to within inches of the bank. If you are bringing in leaves every two or three casts you are doing it right. I like ¾ and 1 oz traps in chrome for clear and char. or fire tiger where it is muddy. Keep the leader hardware to a minimum. Don’t be afraid to fish dirty water. They are in there.
I was on Pomme de Terre once, over five years ago. The areas up the river around Possum and Stinking Creeks looked like the right kind of water.
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Location: Athens, Ohio | Also, check out Chris Haley's articles in Muskies Magazine on dirty water muskies ("mud-kies"). He gave a presentation at our MI chapter meeting last weekend, using Willys spinnerbaits in water so shallow the boat was beached in the cove, they got 18 in one day out of Green River Lake last spring. m |
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Posts: 572
| thanks for the reference to articles. I decided to print off "Rattle Your Way to Spring Success"
by Tony Grant, but when I printed it, part of the right side didn't print.
If I read the article correctly, rattle traps is more of a numbers lure for smaller / mid-size
muskies. That's great for Pomme de Terre, as this year should be a good year for numbers of fish in the mid 30 inch range.
I think I'll add a red treble hook.
Muskie Bob |
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Posts: 2037
Location: lansing, il | i saw tony has his own rattle traps that he was selling at the chicago show. i liked the look and sound better than a regular rattle trap. i know greg at FISHING CONNECTION in tinley park il. is supposed to be getting some in soon!! definetly worth checkin them out! |
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Posts: 1310
Location: Washington, PA | muskiebob, that is a common misconception about the traps. Take a look at the 51 that was caught last year during the cave outing. For the most part it is going to be a numbers bait, but I think that has more to do with time of year than what bait you are fishing.
Also, I would look for anything flat and shallow. If you are looking to fish the creek arms, focus on the ones that are flat. That's where the fish will be found.
Edited by tomyv 2/15/2005 12:28 PM
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Location: Athens, Ohio | Bob, sorry you had trouble printing Tony's article. If you have access to back issues of Muskies Magazine, he has a very similar article in the March 04 issue, or check out the articles on his website at www.kymuskie.com. Hope to see you at the show. m |
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| muskiebob,
Big fish eat "Traps" as well. TRUST ME ON THIS. I caught and released a 53 incher and the very next day Justin Diller caught and released the same 53 incher that I had caught the day before. You guessed it , she ate "Traps" on both occasions. SHALLOW, SHALLOW, SHALLOW is where you want to be. Good luck
Roger B |
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Posts: 2024
| MuskieBob,
Try going back to the article and printing it. This time under preferences (in the "Print" window) go to options, then to page setup and look for "landscape" instead of portrait. Works on PCs, not sure about Macs if you have one. |
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Posts: 572
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Mikie & esox50...printing problem solved...at least for now.
Keyed "file", selected "Page SetUp", changed left and right margins to "0.25" (which is the lowest, as I tried to enter zero 0"). Perhaps I had set them differently when I wanted to allow for punched holes on the sides.
The printing of the article wrapped around differently than what appeared on my screen, but looks like it is complete.
As to rattle traps, I know of several shallow areas where I've caught bass in the spring, along with an occasional muskie. Now, I'll be offering those fish a rattle trap more often, especially in the afternoon sun.
Thanks for everyone's suggestions.
Muskie Bob |
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Posts: 20260
Location: oswego, il | I think rattle traps work great on any lake with shad, especially when there is a big year class of smaller fish. I did really well last year trolling them. |
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