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Posts: 107
| Which crankbaits do you guys like the most for trolling? I want to get into trolling and I'm looking to see which lures I should try getting. I imagine it likely doesn't make much of a difference, but wanted some more input. |
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Posts: 203
| I'm very fond of the big Hex baits and will occasionally pull a 22 long or a Jake. I gifted a pair big cisco pattern Jakes to a camp owner in Ontario last year and they did very well with them trolling late. It seems that if I am pulling a Matlock and a Hex the Hex seems to get bit.
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Posts: 107
| What size hex do you use? The primary forage around my area is mostly shad, panfish and perch, although there are walleye and carp. I've been trying to use lures more similar in size and shape to the forage, but I've also heard people say matching the hatch isn't always a good idea when it comes to musky fishing. |
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Posts: 1383
Location: Brighton CO. | All of the above plus Ernie, Depth Raider, (both jointed/straight) shallow Raider, Musky Candy, Believer, (jointed/straight), Rapala Super Shad Rap., Countdown Rapala, Legend, Triple D, Len Hartman's Bug, Smittybaits, Cobb's, Bagley db08, Spinnerbait ..... |
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Posts: 107
| chuckski - 10/27/2024 11:13 AM
All of the above plus Ernie, Depth Raider, (both jointed/straight) shallow Raider, Musky Candy, Believer, (jointed/straight), Rapala Super Shad Rap., Countdown Rapala, Legend, Triple D, Len Hartman's Bug, Smittybaits, Cobb's, Bagley db08, Spinnerbait .....
Do you think I should just get a wide variety and troll one of each? I'm new to trolling and just trying to figure out what's going to work best. |
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Posts: 1383
Location: Brighton CO. | Put something in front of them and hope they eat. I've been doing this for 50 years so I have more stuff then I need. |
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Posts: 550
Location: deephaven mn | they all can and will get bit. Jakes Grandmas Slammers and Believers all have caught lots of fish,
Super Naturals are really good too as they wander side to side as well as wobbble the Phantom Hex is similar.
but the cost 3 times as much. Size can matter on certain bodies of water too. Muskies eat prey of all sizes caught them on crappie minnows and 14" baits too. Its just testing and trying if you get bit on one bait put a similar bait out too.
a pattern might develope in a day but might take several days to appear. lean towards gold on cloudy days silver on sunny or natural on sunny bright on cloudy. thats the fun of it trying and testing trolling done right can be very productive.
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Posts: 1246
Location: Walker, MN | Yep, there's no silver bullet. Experiment with size, speed, action and color...see what gets bit. Patterns will change too, so you are trying to hit a moving target. Learn to enjoy the process and the fish will come. |
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Posts: 393
| I have had success with all of the options presented. My first choice are the Supernatural baits. They are pricey for sure but they do differentiate themselves. I agree with others who recommend trying different options, size and color. Starting out that might lead you to try some of the lower cost options. Another custom brand that I have had a lot of success are Ridgeway crank baits. Again they are pricey but they have incredible colors and finish. Finally the more you troll the more you rely on baits that have heavy duty lips because you will usually be bouncing off the bottom at some point when you troll. |
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| Water you are working makes a difference too. When motor trolling was allowed in her in N. WI, tried a couple different things in the river between the lake I live on and the next in the chain. River is shallow and weedy, outside the channel in the middle. A lure that works well for prop wash trolling for me is an 8" jointed Believer, with the snap in the first eye, so it runs higher. Set up like that, with 10 feet of line out, minimum fouling and have caught a number of fish on it. Still can't believe fish will hit right behind the prop but they do.
In deeper water, have had luck with Jake baits, Slammer. |
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Posts: 98
| 50 cal, jake, mattlock, and rapala super shad for weed choked lakes. |
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Posts: 166
Location: Alexandria, MN | As much as I love all of the named options, the 10" Believer has been my most successful trolling bait. Straight model - though the jointed ones are good, too. They're loud, buoyant, and they have a nice "wander" to them. |
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Posts: 383
Location: SW Ohio | This is a great discussion on trolling baits. Our local lake exceeds 100’ for the lower half and over 40’ for the upper. We have a lot of points, a few humps and at least three major 200-300 yr ridge lines. The lower north creek area is a winding 8-15’ with stumps on both sides. The creek itself is 3-10’ right now (winter draw down). Most of the fish caught trolling are in open water, and the predominant forage is shad.
Catching fish trolling has eluded me for the last couple years. I run Jake’s, grants, boss Shad’s, extreme, and Bucher depth raiders. and variety of other lures with no success. Both with my main motor and my kicker at 3-4 mph.
Is speed, lure or depth the most important aspect of trolling? I know it’s a combination but something has to be the first. |
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