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So here is the deal.
I have fished the Big Rideau around a dozen times this summer with very limited success. Today I hit the boiling point, I had 2 downriggers out and 2 led core lines out. I had both led core set up with gang trolls/ cow bells with some nice size minnows. I had one downrigger with a flasher and a spoon, the other with a bigger flasher and spoon. Today I watched 12 or so trout come up from 80+ feet of water and go above the lines, under the lines, follow the lines and then break off. Not 1 taker or a bite. I then tried a gang troll down deeper and not even 1 looker. I tried every dam color and was fishing 60-85 feet in 120+ fow.
I was wondering if anyone has any experience /advice or what success they have had and could share. Kinda late in the season but there is one more weekend…
Cheers
That must be real frustrating for sure Steve.
My advice. Try Charleston Lake instead. After being out that many times with limited success a change of scenery might be your best bet.
A few questions for you. I'm a gang troll guy for a long time.
What gang trolls are you using?
How large is your minnow?
How far back is your minnow?
Are you positive that your minnow is tracking straight?
What gang trolls are you using.. the john davies ones from ctc..
How large is your minnow.. medium size3-5 inches i guess... when up to a larger one as well...same result
How far back is your minnow... i have experimented with 12 inches to 24 inches...
Are you positive that your minnow is tracking straight... i think so.. i have the hook in the stomach and the eye of the hook in its mouth... i put a small snap swivel in the bottom lip... in the eye of the hook...out the top of the lip and close..
Bear wrote:Sorry Steve ... you know I'm a walleye guy .... No advice from here .... seeing them follow and no takers REELY sucks
i'm thinking i should stick to bass and walleye ...
lol
lakers are pretty much done on MOST lakes any way ....... Big Smallies is the way to go ..... No promises but .... see what I can do to get u a shot on Quintie this fall ..... we'll talk
Bear wrote:Sorry Steve ... you know I'm a walleye guy .... No advice from here .... seeing them follow and no takers REELY sucks
i'm thinking i should stick to bass and walleye ...
lol
lakers are pretty much done on MOST lakes any way ....... Big Smallies is the way to go ..... No promises but .... see what I can do to get u a shot on Quintie this fall ..... we'll talk
K here we go... from my experiences anyway. This is only relating to gang troll fishing.
The only trolls I use for Greys for many many years now are the No.1 Dave Davis big hammer in straight silver or or half silver/brass. I want the most amount of thump out there I can get. The #77 has been good as well. It's another seven blade one but only has 1 indiana blade on it with six colorados. Not that the shorter trolls won't work. In some lakes straight copper works but I've never seen them in the big hammer. Some of the guys would run that same #1 troll off the riggers up in Kipawa all the time, and target the thermocline.
The reason I ask about size is that I've found that more often than not, smaller minnows like 3-3 1/2" tend to get more action than 4 1/2"+. Specially if the Lakers are keying in on young of the year. If the fish are real active then try bigger baits.
I'm a huge fan of emerald shiners for greys. It's mostly all I use, but we did real well one opening weekend on Charleston with live spot tail shiners. I would have no problem at all putting my preserved/frozen Emeralds up against a live minnow anytime.
Your leaders are WAY too short bud. Lengthen them to at least 30". This alone will help big time. Longer leads allow the fish to not have to approach as close to the troll and also allow for more movement during turns and during imparted action on your part.. It only took me one time way back where bud was outfishing me until I lengthened my leader.
I am almost fanatical about my minnow NOT spinning. And I have a swivel on the end of my troll. It can wobble no prob. I won't let my line out if I don't like the way it's tracking because I hate ruining a good run. Toothpicks were a staple in the tackle box to keep minnows straight. A minnow that curls, like from a soft or torn belly will always almost spin.
Lot's of different ways to thread your minnow. Here's what I always do now. I find that it gives the dead or live minnow the most natural motion. Lakers are notorious followers. I use a #4 treble hook mostly, trailing behind my minnow just a bit. A good thin needle is essential for small holes. I go through the meat of the tail to start, not the belly skin, which is real important with salted minnows. Exit the mouth and leave about an inch of leader hanging behind your minnow. Then come up under the jaw with the needle again and out the top. Tighten the loop gently, closing the minnows mouth. That's the key! It also puts all the tension on the head of the minnow and not the tail, so your minnow won't curl, and your hook free floats.
I'm not saying this is the best way, just that this is what works best for me, and it's the first thing I always throw on. Try it out for a change, you may be surprised.
Hope this helps some. Good luck with your last shot at it.
Hmmmm... Bear activity is slow right now, It would be nice to get out for one last shot. One hour and six minutes away. Hmm... Hello son in law.
We were out on Big Rideau Saturday and went 8 for 14 on the lakers with an average size of about 3 lbs. BR has been pretty consistent for us this year.
My best advice is to forget the gang trolls and flashers and stick with a straight spoon about 40' back from the ball. I find that the lakers do a lot more looking and less hitting with all the extra hardware. For depth, we have got them from 50'-100' and and we fish break lines to deep water. This means you need some good electronics and a good knowledge of your trolling path to avoid hanging up a ball on the bottom. As far as speed goes I find that it changes from outing to outing; but generally slower is better. We stick to smaller spoons in the 2.5"-4" range and colour seems to vary with the day but natural colours have been consistent. Never be afraid to experiment!
On a side note; Saturday was frustrating. We had fished the morning with just a couple hits and no fish landed. Moved to a smallish hump and started hitting a pod of active fish. After netting the third fish and setting up for another pass over the hump I found that we had company all over us in the form of 6 boats coming from all different directions. This made it impossible to make another pass without a possible collision or tangling of lines. We moved on and found another active group of fish. Never did see any of them dipping a net. I know I don't own the lake but it would be nice to be able to fish a small part of it without everyone jumping on top of you when they see a couple fish caught!!!
ya i know that you mean smitty, i only got gps this year so i am now able to give people a rough estimate of the speed i usually troll at. I also agree with the longer leader, i usually go roughly 36'' behind the gang troll
