|
|
Posts: 41
Location: Minneapolis, MN | Going through my tackle tonight and found a few old flashers that I have from Salmon trolling days on Lake Mich. Just wondering if anyone has tried trolling these in front of a crankbait for muskie? I think that a little extra flash and something different on the Big Pond might be good. I'm wondering if it will work like Salmon, where the flasher gets their attention, but they hit the trailing lure? Or will a muskie just grab everything and run?
Thanks.
|
|
| |
|
| Worth a try! We used to use them for rockfish(striper), and a dude here made some using an umbrella rig for white bass that worked well, but they are school fish, maybe making it easier. It might just work though, especially in open water along channels, etc. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1137
Location: Holly, MI | The flashers have to be trolled very slow or you will have a mess on your hands. Give it a shot tho. New ideas and sharing info are what this board is all about. Why not some of the good old Salmon plugs like the cut baits(J-plug, etc?)? |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1430
Location: Eastern Ontario | That tought came through my head before and I came to a few conclusions. First off they are made to work real slow and with spoons and not large cranks, these cranks may just take away their action. The second part that really scarred me was that you would be creating two more connections that may fail between you and the fish. Then I also believe you may need to ad hooks to the thing as many muskies would rather eat the big flasher rather then the small lures. LOL |
|
| |
|
Posts: 105
Location: Kawartha Lakes, Ontario | I thought about trying flashers on my trolling rigs too, but like Trophy said, they may cause more problems than they're worth. I attached a large Colorado blade to some of my trolling leaders as an alternative to using a flasher. I haven't tried them yet, but will post the results after I get a chance to use them. I'm also going to experiment with chrome dipsy divers this year. They should add extra flash for open water trolling applications with lighter-pulling lures. Good luck with the flashers if you try them. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 578
Location: Sheboygan Falls, WI | Now, I do not troll for musky, but I am a licensed charter captain on the great lakes who has trolled for trout and salmon for 20 or so years. So, here is my $.02 on this topic.
Actually guys, do not hesitate to run them in front of crank baits (plugs). You will need to run a longer lead between the dodger/flasher and the bait itself to not negatively affect the action of the plug. You DO NOT and I repeat DO NOT need to run these slow!!! This also depends on what your definition of slow and fast is in this instance. Run a good quality heavy duty ball bearing swivel right to the dodger/flasher itself and rip it along.
Spinning dodgers at 3, 3.5, and sometimes 4 miles per hour while pulling flies, spoons and long lead J-Plugs in sizes 3, 4 and 5 was the secret magic that we had for loading the box with big kings. I ran 30lb mono while doing this and had no problems at all pulling 2 of these rigs on the back riggers and had other spoons stacked above them on the same rigger and then on the side riggers as well.
I guess I would probably go with an 80lb super line of your choice as the line to use. The key to ripping these fast is the heavy duty ball bearing swivel and the heavy line. If you are looking at 6+mph, I would think twice about using the larger flashers or dodgers in front of the bait. If you go with a 000 or 00 dodger, you had better put hooks on it as it is likely to get hit itself. The big 0 size will probably get hit also, so be prepared.
Just my experiences with the success of spinning dodgers. Don't do the norm, fish outside the box. Break away from what is "traditional" and you may find that you have a technique that is very effective. Do you think that the first guy to catch a musky while his bait was in the prop wash did it on purpose? I bet not.
Chuck
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | I would think doing this while trolling Mag Dawgs would be fantastic! I may have to try it this year. |
|
| |
