| Trolling for Muskie | |
| Part 1: To Cast or Troll? | |
|
BY
VICTOR BEACHAM
When
many Muskie fishermen think of trolling, they think of Autumn presentations.
However, what they are actually doing are missing out on one of the most
effective ways to consistently catch large Muskies throughout the year. Many
of the Muskie fishermen I know have caught their largest fish while trolling.
In fact, the majority of world record fish listed in the record books were
caught trolling.
The
more water you cover, the better your chances of putting fish in the boat, and
the best way to cover water is trolling.
Also you can put your lure in areas it is impossible to by casting.
One
summer, I was trolling my favourite lure through a known hot spot. As I made
my way there, I noticed a couple of casters working the area over pretty good.
Undaunted, I continued my trolling run along a sharp drop-off, and connected
with a 30 pounder in an area they
just vacated. Trolling put my lure in the strike zone, where casting was not
able to.
With
few exceptions, casting is most effective for water under 10 feet. Anglers
cast to specific areas: rock piles, weed patches, etc. Trolling is most
effective when fish move into deeper water, cruising open water, especially
when there are suspended baitfish. The deep water between points and sunken
islands are favourite and productive trolling areas.
In the
spring, before the weed growth, fish move off the shelves into deeper water,
where they are vulnerable to trolling along the drop-offs.
In the
summer, Muskie will suspend in deeper water, where trolling deep diving
crankbaits works well. These fish
will move to ambush areas in shallow water, for the casters.
Sharp
drop-offs attract baitfish along the face of the wall, in turn attracting
suspended Muskie to these prime feeding areas. Trolling is the most efficient
way to present the lure to these fish.
Fall
is the classic time for trolling. The colder water moves the forage base to
structure in deeper water, and away from dying weed beds. The deep
Muskie move up to the structure to feed on the bait fish before winter while
the shallow fish follow the schools of baitfish,
to feed. Look for deeper structures adjacent to the dying weed beds, and
deeper rockpiles and points.
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