BY VICTOR BEACHAM

As I mentioned earlier, there are a few exceptions to casting in shallow water. A couple of examples:  There was a fall nip in the air. The leaves were turning colour and large Muskies were on the prowl, putting on the feed bag before winter settled in. I was trolling a deep diving plug along a 10 foot ledge. The throbbing action of the rod tip was interrupted with several jerks as the lure bounced off the gravel bottom, and then the familiar

throb was back. Once more there was a couple of jerks and then the rod tip went crazy as a respectable fish grabbed the lure, and thrashed its was to the surface. After a few minutes fight and four head shaking jumps, a thirty pound Muskie was brought to hand, hooks removed and the fish released.

That scenario was repeated four times that week, although the fish sizes were somewhat smaller. The deep diving plug had sent up a puff of sediment each time it bounced the bottom, thus attracting the fish. Deep diving crankbaits with a wide lip such as Bagleys DB or the Smoo present a more snag-proof and weedless lure for this presentation.

- The warm summer was high in the sky. A fast trolled shallow diving crankbait was moving over the tops of weeds in less than 10 feet of water. Just as the lure hit a tuft of higher weed and veered towards the surface, all hell broke loose as a quality fish hit the lure and surfaced. After a few minutes a low 30s was brought to the boat along with a pound of "salad".

Speed trolling over weed beds in shallow water  using spinnerbaits and jerk baits is dynamite in mid summer. Even though Muskie suspend in deep water, baitfish are over weeds flats and they will move in to feed. Power trolling over these areas with short leads and your lure in the prop wash can also be dynamite.

  LURES AND LINE

Water depth less than 8 feet: Jerkbaits, Spinnerbaits, Small lipped Crankbaits

Water depth 10 to 15 feet: Believers, Crankbaits

Water depth greater than 15 feet: Believers, Large lipped Crankbaits

Mono: 35 Lb.: Use mono for clear water and to get the lure away from the boat. The best option when trolling for big fish with the rod in a holder, because of the stretch.

Wire 30 Lb.: Wire gives more precise control when trolling around structure and weed edges. It offers more feel of the lures vibrations to the rod, cuts through weeds and goes deeper.

Dacron 25 - 35 Lb.: Dacron is good for overall fishing conditions.

Trolling is an effective way to catch more larger Muskie throughout the fishing season. If you normally reserve your trolling for the Fall, try it throughout the season. You won't regret it and you might be hooked!  

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