IMPORTANT MESSAGE: Meeting Minutes, Club Chit-Chat, and Fishing Reports will be listed if you are a member of Chapter 50. If you are a member, and you cannot see the reports after logging in, please use the contact form by selecting the floating envelope icon located in the bottom-right corner. Include your name and your Chapter 50 membership number. We will verify, and grant you special rights to view all. Alternatively, you may email us at muskiesincpennjersey @ gmail .
Log In
Register
3:51 pm
April 12, 2015
Offline
Lenny's mention of one at 5.5 MPH got me thinking. Fastest I know of was at 13 MPH by GPS . I feel a bit weird at 6 MPH trolling.
Let 'em go . RIP Jack Burns
3:58 pm
May 23, 2014
Offline
HOLY HANNAH !!! 😮
~Figure 8 Em'~ >{{{{{{{{{}'>
4:57 pm
August 28, 2013
Offline
I have a hard time finding a lot of baits that will troll right above 6mph... 13 is ridiculous, but man that covers some territory.
G3 HP180-225 Merc Optimax Jet
5:00 pm
November 24, 2014
Offline
First time out trolling this year, had one on at 3-5mph. Ended up losing it because it countinued to swim into the boat after we killed the engine. My friend that I was with couldn't pick up the slack quick enough and the fish shook the hooks.
5:42 pm
May 23, 2014
Offline
Or passing the rod back and forth? LOL ;D
~Figure 8 Em'~ >{{{{{{{{{}'>
6:51 pm
August 28, 2013
Offline
JustinB wrote:
First time out trolling this year, had one on at 3-5mph. Ended up losing it because it countinued to swim into the boat after we killed the engine. My friend that I was with couldn't pick up the slack quick enough and the fish shook the hooks.
I have had this happen before as well. For that reason I almost always keep the boat in gear when a fish takes. It also helps to keep the lures in order..
G3 HP180-225 Merc Optimax Jet
8:23 pm
August 9, 2006
Offline
3.5-4.5 is my favorite speed 😀
11:20 pm
Moderators
March 5, 2007
Offline
I'm with KennyW on this. My best trolling speeds are between 3.2 and 4.5. Lenny, has great advise, keep that motor in gear until you get the fish under control. Then pop it in neutral and on the ready should you need to go into forward or reverse. There are many that troll at much higher speeds and are very successful. Just have to play around and see what the fish tell you. They have no problem finding and hammering speed trolled baits.
"The Wrecking Crew"
12:37 am
November 24, 2014
Offline
hahahahaha! yeah Treigh I'm sure that didn't help the situation either... 🙁
1:14 am
December 13, 2011
Offline
Between 4.5 and 6.Most of the time start at 5 and work up.Never kept the motor in gear.I would thumb the spool while the boat was still moving,then kill the motor and clear 2nd rod{unless there was a mate,then clear all rods}.Sledges troll at any speed.Ive played with higher speeds,just hard to get used to.Feels weird.
3:39 am
April 12, 2015
Offline
Some lures that get too unstable to track at high speed will behave with a bell sinker added to the front hook hanger.
Wire line is a good tool too. Not in line with this topic about fast trolling but trolling topwaters can be really effective.
Let 'em go . RIP Jack Burns
4:11 am
Moderators
March 5, 2007
Offline
Wire line trolling. That's a good one to bring up. Kind of forgotten about, but will get those baits deeper and think the hum it gives off is another attractor. Drag setting important as there's no stretch, along with the right kind of leader to absorb the shock of the hit.
"The Wrecking Crew"
4:41 am
April 12, 2015
Offline
....... and correct tip and guides ! Wire line with a tandem spin following weedlines is a killer. Just few will do it or get the proper rod for it. Cheap fiberglass just isn't cool enough to be seen with ---kind of like a spinning rod tossing Reapers and Creatures.
Let 'em go . RIP Jack Burns
5:32 pm
August 28, 2007
Offline
13mph..... That's cooking. Personally never had real good luck with high speed trolling. On other hand, my best has been at the lowest speed possible, to just give the lure action.
ITS NOT THE SIZE OF YOUR BOAT
ITS THE SIZE OF WHATS ON YOUR BUMPBOARD!
M.T.F
5:41 pm
May 23, 2014
Offline
I never had luck trolling !! LOL 😛 Cast for Life! 😉 But will be giving it a try with the new vessel!
~Figure 8 Em'~ >{{{{{{{{{}'>
8:17 pm
August 9, 2006
Offline
Larry Jones taught me to troll with lead core. It works great, and I have a system down. Never caught too many short lining, but I'm gonna work it hard this summer. I'm going for the elusive "100" mark during summer break
10:37 pm
April 12, 2015
Offline
😮 100 would be a hell of a year ! Good fishing to ya !
Let 'em go . RIP Jack Burns
2:25 pm
April 2, 2008
Offline
5.0 mph. on Chautauqua, trolled at 4.0 mph. over marked fish and no takers bumped up to 5.0 mph. over same course and three fish.
2:33 am
March 26, 2004
Offline
A bunch of random thoughts on this topic....
I got a big pike on a Hi-Fin minnow at Glendale doing 7MPH once, and plenty of other fish at 5-6MPH. My preferred speed is in the 4.5-6MPH range.
One time I was out trolling with a pretty well known guy from western PA. He started at 7MPH and over the course of the day kept speeding up. I have no idea how fast we were going when this 30" tiger hit, but that fish was in for a surprise. Same Hi-Fin minnow.
One time another guy and I were screwing around trolling spinnerbaits over weedbeds. They ran OK to about 15 MPH, at which point we decided to knock it off before we broke something. Bad stuff happens when you snag a log or a fish going that fast. My trolling rods are rigged with mono so there is a little give when the lure stops for some reason.
It seems that most muskie lures will run 4MPH unless they are out of tune, but you have to pick the 7MPH lures carefully. Some of those wooden garage shop lures from western PA run pretty well at those kinds of speed.
Once the fish is buttoned, if I turn off the motor if I can. Even when it isn't in gear, the gear lube sloshing around in there will turn the prop a little bit and I don't want to catch a line on it. Of course, that means I sometimes have a mess to clean up if I'm fishing alone.
Chris
3:13 am
April 12, 2015
Offline
Hi Fins caught a bunch of fish on the St Lawrence --company folded [pretty sure] . A friend was in negotiations to buy the company a couple years ago. Metal lips seem to be out of favor now.
I like the big Trainwrecks for trolling even though hey come apart over time at higher speeds.
Steve Voight solved the metal fatigue issue for trolling spinnerbaits with his Muskie Machinery speed troller. Steve is gone now and few MM baits get resold.
Let 'em go . RIP Jack Burns
100
1 Guest(s)
