jigstick

Milky 90wt = bad. Find out where the water is getting in, fix it, and refill with fress lube

Those numbers are west of Olcott? 10-12 miles out? Im terrible at reading paper charts

Mtn Dew glow SpinDoctor with a Green Hammer fly really does a number on the lakers for me.

I am in the process of making a Dipsy chart for the size 1. I am using the FishHawk TD sensor each time I go out. 7 strand wire. size 1 dispy with the ring on. Once I'm set up at trolling speed, I will attach the TD, and go through the settings on the Dipsy. Starting at 3 and working my way back to 1. I let it out in 10ft increments. Then reel it in. For example: 10ft…then reel in…..20ft…reel in…30ft….reel in. I keep doing that until I spool my reel or hit bottom. I log the depths I hit each time I reel in. My chart is coming out really nice. Once I get data for each dipsy setting Ill start playing with trolling speed and see how my numbers compare. If anyone wants a copy of my data just let me know. Super accurate.

I have two Ciscos as well. They have super nice machining. I also have some of their electronic mounts. However, performance wise, they hold the dipsy rods no better no worse than my Cannons.

I use 4 1/4 - 5 inch stick baits when I troll Erie for walleye. Large magnum spoons as well. Would a muskie hit a bait this size? Im talking Renosky and Storm Thunderstick stick baits, Magnum Michigan Stinger spoons. They pull in 10lb walleye, so I am assuming they could catch muskie as well? I think I will try to hit up the shop in Lakewood. I will be at my cottage the entire last week of August, and plan on really trying to get a muskie. My plan is to run my rods horizontal off the side of the boat on my downriggers with 25-50ft leads....that should get my rod tips in the water. I also plan on using my small dipsy divers on my 30lb wire dipsy rods. The dipsy diver should help stop weeds from fouling my lures. Am I dreaming that this could work?

While I understand that Field and Stream also sells their own brand of products just like Cabelas does, Field and Stream also CONTINUES to carry a large selection of other brands as well. Cabelas stores carry 90% Cabelas brand ****, with very little selection of other brands. Thats one reason why I stopped going there. I don't want to be a Cabelas billboard with their name plastered all over my ****. That and the fact that they knock off other peoples products, outsource to china, and sell it for a few dollars less to undercut the original designer. Im going to give you an example. The "Twili Tip" that we use on our dipsy diver rods. Right now only "Twili" makes them. As soon as Cabelas sees that product and that its used in the Great Lakes Region, they will begin to sell it. After 6month, they will copy it, have it made in china, and sell it on the store shelf right next to the "Original Twili" for $1 cheaper. and then 6mon after that, they won't even sell the original. I have seen Cabelas do this with SOOOO many products, and I am fed up with it. Just my opinion though. TEHO

Down here by Pittsburgh a Cabelas was built just across the border in WV. At first, I loved it. No more going to Dicks or Gander. But over the past 5 years what I have noticed is that Cabelas selection as gradually widdled away. They used to sell many good brands of gear, but gradually they have copied these other companies designs, and marketed their knock off products instead….often selling them for like $2 less than the original company's products. In my book, that is bull ****. Now when I go into a Cabelas, everything is "Cabelas" brand. Sure they may have a small selection of MS Spoons, and then a massive selection of "Cabelas" knock off spoons. Its like this with clothes, fishing rods, rifle scopes, etc…..I DONT WANT A Cabelas brand rod…I want an Okuma GLT ! Good luck finding it. It really is sad. Last year, Dicks Sporting Goods opened up their version of "Cabelas" called Field and Stream. F and S has ALL of the major brands. Huge selection. Since they opened, I won't be caught dead in Cabelas. I agree with prior posts. Support your local tackle shops. Don't get sucked into corporate marketing and glamour of a big store like Cabelas. Customer service sucks. Id rather pay $2 more for my Spindoctor and buy it from the guy at the local tackle shop….who actually is in tune with what is working out on the water.

Like I have said before…I have spent countless hours drifting the weed edge casting over the weeds with jerk baits, crank baits, etc….I had one follow in 15yrs….tried the figure 8 BS when it was following but no joy. Ive casted until I couldn't move my shoulders anymore. I am done trying to catch them that way. Trolling only now. I think I found a way to get my rod tips in the water, but I will HAVE to use my down riggers to run the lures. The Hammer lures I have aren't really meant to be run off of a down rigger….more long lining. I have no idea how deep they would run if I ran them off the riggers. But I am going to try anyways. What kind of lead is common to use from the ball to lure? Has anyone ever trolled spoons for muskie on chautauqua? What speeds? I will be back up at my cottage either this weekend or next, and Im going to give it a try using the advice I got here.

Yeah Paul is the name of the guy that made my lures. Yes i know how to handle muskie. I have no problems handling large fish. But i know what u mean and understand. Why does the rod tip stop weeds from tracking down to lure better than downrigger cable?

Ok. Maybe i will give it anothet shot. I think i can put my rods in my gunwale rod holders instead of in the downrigger holders and be able to get the tips close if not in to the water. Any tips on musky lures? I only have 3 and they are made by "hammer lures" in PA.

There is not a doubt in my mind that I could catch a muskie on Chautauqua IF I could keep my lures running CLEAN. But I am yet to figure out how to do it to get more than 4 min of run time. And I am used to dealing with the sealice on Ontario, and have no problem checking lures every 10-15min or so and resetting them. But having my lures fouled before I get the downrigger ball sunk to the desired depth is just a waste of time. I know there are tricks to get them running longer...ie the rod tips in the water.....but the way my boat is set up, there is no way to get the rods that low so I have to rely on my downrigger cables to catch the weeds....I dont know. Totally frustrated.

How does keeping the rod tip in the water help keep weeds off of the lures? I would think the weeds would get caught on my downrigger cable just as easily as on the rod tip??? What is the typical setup? Troll 2-4 rods along the weed edges and deeper, 3-3.5mph? How far of a lead from the ball?

I have a cottage on chautauqua, and have fished it for muskie for over 15years. I am yet to catch one. Lures foul with seaweed in less than 5min of trolling. Ive tried casting the weed beds, trolling the weed edges with crank baits, and trolled deep with my downriggers. every time.....weeds weeds weeds and fouled lures. WTF is the trick to keeping the baits running clean? I am lake front, and love my place....but have all but given up ever fishing on that lake again. Now i tow my boat to barcelona and fish lake trout and walleye.....