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| Looking to improve my trolling skills this season and broaden my horizons a bit. So far all I've done is some flat-line trolling and I'm not all that skilled at it but I'm learning...:)
I am going to be ordering some Off-Shore planer boards..I know the walleye guys use the Red Clips and the Tattle-Tail Flags... What clips do I want for muskie baits and do I need the Tattle-Tail flags for musky fishing...?
Also do you prefer fiberglass or graphite rods, and what is your preference for line..? Mono, flouro, superbraid..what weights???
Thanks guys.. |
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| Mark, I use the 9' Pete Maina trolling rods on the outside boards w/ a Penn 9 or 10 spooled w/ Trilene Big Game(30lb) and a fluoro carbon leader, but that is for rockfish w/ the hopes of a musky. Capt. Larry, Steve Wickens and Rich Collins can better answer the other questions. [::)]
* Add Shep and AWH to the list![:p] |
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| Mark,
You won't need the tattle tail kits. Definately get the red clips, or even the snap clips.
Fiberglass rods will do very nicely. I got some Gander Guide Series Dipsy rods last year. 9' or 9'6", not sure which. Use Tidewater LC reels on them. Worked out great for me.
I put on 20 lb mono, and use the flouro that I sent you for leaders. 50 Lb I think? |
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| I didn't have much of any trolling experience before this past year. But I did very well this year.
I've never used rod holders. But I also wouldn't want to. When you're able to hold your rod, you're able to detect so much more. If you pick up a stray weed, you can usually feel it by the change in vibration from your bait.
If you have a hit that is just a quick hit and doesn't ever get hooks, you might never know it if you're using rod holders. Where if you're holding it, you're going to feel it.
I also like being able to put some erratic action into my trolling with some twitches, where I wouldn't be doing that if they were in the rod holders.
Other then that, I don't have any suggestions on gear. I just used my standard casting gear and didn't run into any problems. I did some speed trolling up to 7 mph, and I fished well into the fall when temps were only in the upper teens. My trolling rod was a 6'9" St. Croix Jerkbait rod equipped with a 6500C Abu Garcia and spooled with 50 pound Tuf Line.
AWH |
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| Mark;
Go to the mMuskieKids site"toothy critters .com",and go
to links.Look at the Rocketmans Muskie Madness site.Hes
got quite a bit on board trolling .
dennis[;)] |
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| I'm new to trolling too. But after fishing with Rich Collins this fall, I'm hooked, so they say.
Rich has top of the line equipment. And I spoke with some of the big boys on St. Claire, Georgian Bay, and the St. Larry and I'm going with what they say they use, or they wish they had the money for:
Rods: I have 8' Ex-Heavy trolling rods. I have a G Loomis, a Lamiglas, and two 8'6" All Stars.
Reels: I'm putting Daiwa SG47LC on them. Using 100# power pro. Set drags to hold lures, but let them scream if anything hits them.
Leaders: I have 60" Hard Mono leaders (100# test) and 72" 250# single strand leaders with #400 Aussie snaps and swivels.
Rod Holders: Pursuit Trolling Systems with powder coated S-10 Downeasters. It's a great modular trolling system that can do ANYTHING you want it to do. Plus, it all snaps out and you can store it away if you're not using it....which is nice since I'm putting it on a totally restored 19' 1970 Starcraft.
Don't know if I'll try planer boats this year or not. Might stick with the basics this year. Still undecided on what sonar/GPS units to get. |
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| Thanks guys....gives me something to go on.
Appreciate the help. |
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| I use Mr. Walleye boards. I think they track and stay in the water better than do the offshore boards and they are way easier to take off when you are landing a fish. For line I use 20lb flourocarbon and 80lb flourocarbon leaders. |
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| Mark,
First thing if your going to use planerboards use full size boards,not inline boards.The hook set is much better from full size boards run off a mast.You can also run those big crankbaits off of the bigger double boards.They make masts that will snap into your seat post holder up front on the casting deck.I use long 10 ft Hvy St.Croix Pro-Glass Rods with Okuma Magna 30DX Linecounter Reel and 100 lb test PowerPro Line for the board lines,8 ft.Med-Hvy St.Croix Pro-Glass Rods with Okuma Titus 20L Levelwind / Leverdrag Reel with 60 lb test Mason Leadcore for the flat lines and 7 ft. Hvy St.Croix Pro-Glass Rods with Okuma Magna 30DX Linecounters and P Line Extra Strong 30 lb test Mono for the inside short lines.Then I also use Gibbs Weights in 6 to 12 ounces attached 20 feet up the line sometimes to stager the depths while keeping the lines all short to the boat.When the fish hits the weight slides down the main line to the swivel at your leader.With the Gibbs Weight you can get needed depth,short to the boat for better turning radius and still have good lure action with any legnth of line you want from the weight to the crankbait.The Leadcore will circle and follow the boats path on turns and the Big Boards allow you to have the other lines out further away from the boat for tighter turns as well.
Capt. Larry D. Jones
Mostly Muskies Charters
http://www.mostlymuskies.com/reports.htm |
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| Thanks Larry...
I am familiar with the full size boards as my Dad used them when we had a boat on Lake Michigan for Salmon. I do like to use Ernies and Larger Slammer Deep Divers and 10" Jakes and I wondered if the "in-lines" would handle that size lure.
Any suggestions on catalogs I can look at to get ideas on products that are out there..? I thought I saw telescoping masts that were made more for inland type boats/waters but I can't remember where I saw it...
Lead line is interesting as well. Do you ever use the in-line bullet style weights to help achieve more depth with flat lines?
Thanks again, |
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| Mark,
I only use the bullet type weights on Spinnerbaits.With crankbaits I don't like puting the weight so close,makes for a less active action.The Gibbs Weight is Banana shaped,with two clip wires that go over your main line and a twisted wire like a splitring on one end,that end goes toward the crankbait and the line is pulled between the splitring like end to lock it into position on the main line,how ever far up the main line from the crankbait as you would like.When the fish hits the main line pulls out of the splitring wire twist and then the Gibbs Weight slides down your line to the swivel between your leader and main line.I'll take a picture of the setup over the weekend and post it up here for you to look at. Capt. Larry |
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| Thanks Larry...
Hope to get out there to fish with you some time..
Best,
Curly |
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| God I cant wait to get up there and spend some time dragging baits with you. I am sure we can find some trolling water in the area, maybe my backyard in my new home.[:p]
There so much more then to pitching a bait back in the propwash and driving away....so much!
And every water is different![;)] |
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