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Posts: 91
| Hi guys,
I have a question for you all. I know spring is primarily casting season, especially after waiting all winter to get back out there, but because of some recent back issues, i've been forced to do more trolling. I've done the bulk of my trolling in summer and fall, and don't have much experience with spring trolling. Since most anglers might target the shallows early in the season, and progressively work your way out, what areas of a lake and how would you do a spring approach?
Have any of you had any luck trolling bucktails in the spring? My thought was to hit the breaks on weedbeds with some shallow running baits, i.e., buckys, shallow raiders, etc., but was wondering if skis are that aggressive at that time of the year, to chase them down? Thoughts? |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | Don't be afraid to run a bucktail or my favorite a big spinnerbait into the shallows over the weed tops on an inline Church Walleye board. I know some guys that never cast . If you know the spawning areas troll the first drop off outside them. Other than during the spawn the fish are never ALL shallow or ALL deep. A friend took 19 fish the first week of the Ontario season beginning first Sat. in June last year trolling between 8 and 18 feet. When your trolling shallow you won't mark a lot of bait or fish your cone is pretty small have faith they are there. Experiment with lead lengths some times a fish will move aside for the boat then fall back in where it was. Other times they are attracted to the boat and strike with only 6 feet of line out.
Edited by horsehunter 1/27/2017 8:51 PM
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Posts: 284
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What state will you be trolling? Water temp will have some effect on the advice that you get. |
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Posts: 230
Location: St Paul, Minnesota | I started investigating this midway through last season. I got on the Muskies Inc. Lunge Log and found that up here in Minnesota there is a definite early season (Opener - Mid July) trolling bite, especially on the Cisco lakes, but on other non-cisco bodies of water too.
The best way to learn it is you just need to get outside of your comfort zone and try new tactics and new spots during your high percentage feeding windows (majors and minors). Or hire a guide who has it figured out who can break it down for you on the water.
-C7 |
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Posts: 91
| Thanks guys! I live in Pa. where we have open season all year. As soon as we get ice out, I'll be hitting it. As far as baits for spring trolling...I was thinking of downsizing and working slow thru an area. And the hunt begins... |
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Posts: 114
| asingua - 1/30/2017 10:44 AM
Thanks guys! I live in Pa. where we have open season all year. As soon as we get ice out, I'll be hitting it. As far as baits for spring trolling...I was thinking of downsizing and working slow thru an area. And the hunt begins...
Don't work slow. Giant fish are caught with 2' of line out and a 3' leader with baits like tuff shads, 5" wileys, etc. - many great lakes in PA and OH that this tactic will produce. 3.5 - 4 mph |
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Posts: 209
| slow is overrated......., when the water is under 50 I will slow down to 3.0-3.5.... stick with proven baits and grind areas that are loaded with bait. The hardest thing about trolling these spots when the water is 36-45 degrees is the feeding windows are short. I can troll the same 200-300 yard area for 6 hours straight, my 4-6 strikes will usually take place in a 15-30 min window. The other 5 hours.... zero |
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