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Posts: 6
| What do you think the best strategy for trolling where you're allowed multiple lines, running multiple baits at the same depth but a differant distance back or run them at differant depths but keep roughly the same amount of line out?
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Posts: 1824
| In Minnesota we can only run one line but if we could run two I think i'd run one 1/2 way down the colume and the other up high. I don't know if that would work but thats the route I would start with. I think running a "S" pattern would also bo important. I dunno. |
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Posts: 74
| I like to run a deeper diver on a shorter line then a shallower on a longer. Helps avoid tangle. |
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| If you can find it, a few years ago, Musky Hunter TV show did a trolling show, explaining how they set the rods, etc. Think they were running six rods at a time, including down rods off the transom, with very short lines. Saric did a good job of explaining the set up. |
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Posts: 6
| Found it. From 3 years ago. Called Early Season Trolling Stratagies. It was very helpful. Thank you. |
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Posts: 176
Location: Alexandria, MN | I guess it depends on where you're targeting... open water basin? Shallower flats? Contour trolling an edge? For basin trolling, I would definitely start out running different depths. Always have at least one bait shallow. Watch your electronics and see where the bait is. I usually try to run baits in or slightly above where I am seeing most of the baitfish. If you get bit, target that depth more. Let the fish tell you what they want. For trolling shallower or contours, it's never a bad idea to have one bait in the prop wash - maybe 15-30 feet back. I didn't believe it worked until I experienced it. |
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| phselect - 3/18/2026 6:05 AM
I guess it depends on where you're targeting... open water basin? Shallower flats? Contour trolling an edge? For basin trolling, I would definitely start out running different depths. Always have at least one bait shallow. Watch your electronics and see where the bait is. I usually try to run baits in or slightly above where I am seeing most of the baitfish. If you get bit, target that depth more. Let the fish tell you what they want. For trolling shallower or contours, it's never a bad idea to have one bait in the prop wash - maybe 15-30 feet back. I didn't believe it worked until I experienced it.
When motor trolling was again allowed in Northern WI about ten years ago, my nephew suggested I could troll the shallow river that leaves the lake I live on by prop wash trolling, with maybe 10 feet of line. And it worked. After releasing the first fish, I thought of all the times many years ago when I rowed the boat for my uncle at his cabin in the Harrison Hills. Any noise was forbidden, scare the fish. And here was a 40" fish eating right behind a running outboard. |
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