[3 Hearts]

Alright, I am sick of the floating weeds on St. Clair. I am throwing in the towel on trolling for muskie. I truly love to catch these big guys, but it is too much of a pain for the others on the boat to clean the weeds when we are trolling. It seems like we go from one rod to the next all day long cleaning them off, hoping that one will strike in the 2 minute time frame that the lure is clean after we have cleaned them off. And then having to deal with the lines that off the planer boards, forget it.

I was wondering if anyone could offer some info on casting for them. I really don't know what type of baits to use when casting. Also, I am not really sure where I would cast for them. I have ideas, but never having done it before...........I keep my boat at Schmidts in New Baltimore and can't make it the Canadian side. Again, I have done well trolling in anchor bay, especially in the area between Brandenburg Park and Mac & Rays......I have caught some bigguns in there. I don't know if this area is real productive though for casting.

Also, I have caught several muskie on crawler harnesses drifting for marble eye in the North Channel, right around buoy 20. Does anyone cast for them in this area? If so, is it better up close to the weeds, near the dropoffs or in the deep channel areas?

Sorry for the complaining and all the questions, but I just can't handle the weeds anymore.

 

[h2o]

Oh i hear ya. Nothing is worse than what i call weedin it. What a waste and a sure fired way to get crabby out there. Here's a few tricks that might help somewhat. Bury the rod tip in the water and that really helps keep the floating weeds off. Also put one of them big 1-2 oz. inline sinkers on and that will help gather the weeds and keep them off the lure while trolling. B.Bouy area is a good spot to cast or just cast the area's you would troll. Also a run for you but the Dumps are a great place to chuck for them. Muskie Bob Sr. is the master of the cast. His books have some great area's.

h2o<---get the Lake St.Clair Hot Spot map from Lakeside or where ever and study it for great fishing area's. After all 10% of the lake holds the fish.

 

[pencilplugger]

Another tip that I've heard of (but haven't tried yet) is to put a dull treble hook on the line where you connect your leader. It should snag most of the weeds that you would otherwise pick up on your bait.

We've been trolling Anchor Bay almost every Saturday since the ski opener and this past weekend was the first time that weeds were a problem. So we hit the South Shore and it was virtually weed-free. If you pay attention to the weather reports and take a look at the bouy data, then you might get a good idea which direction the weeds have been blowing prior to your trip to the pond.

Hope that helps!

 

[muskiebobsr]

If you like fishing in Canada try casting in five to ten feet of water all the way along the South Shore. There are plenty of weed beds there and they are full of fish. You can cast the hump, I have. Anywhere you find open pockets in the weeds. Let it Go Let it Grow. Bob