Tennessee Musky Fsihing in the Fall | Trolling Basics
As we venture further into the crisp sunrises and sunsets of fall, one thing comes to my obsessive muskie mind…Trolling. While fall casting can be fantastic, those in the know are already starting to dial in their fall trolling patterns and gearing up for the super bites that happen the further, we edge towards winter’s grasp. I have said it before and will say it yet again, if trolling isn’t a part of your musky game plan you are an incomplete angler. If you fall into the camp of those that don’t troll, put down the casting rod for just a bit as we explore some of the basics of what you need to start dialing in on fall musky trolling.
I will touch briefly on the obligatory trolling gear needed for success. A line counter reel is a prerequisite as it allows for replication of results. Long fluorocarbon leads in the thirty-six inches to forty-eight inches zone prevent muskies from rolling in the line preventing cuts and other injuries. A quality rod holder is a smart addition to any boat with numerous budget friendly options available. I would say that just about any rod will work for basic trolling and using a standard musky casting rod should be more than sufficient.
While it is common knowledge that muskies will push very shallow in the fall using weeds, sand grass and reeds as cover. Some of the largest muskies in an Eco-system are a little too wise for this super shallow push and tend to linger just off the first major break lines. It appears that these mega muskies are content to call this mid-level zone good enough for the fall push, keeping them closer to the stability and sanctuary that deeper water provides. This thought process is what ignites my excitement for fall trolling, monster muskies lurking just below the level of light penetration waiting to intercept a stray walleye of errant cisco.
Targeting these first break monstrosities doesn’t require a backlog of musky trolling experience as the scenario is rather straight forward. Find the first major break line in the body of water you are targeting and present lures over it. Some might ask, how do I find the first break or what is it. Structurally speaking this is the area where shallow zones and edges “break” or drop off into deeper depths. Your average Midwestern small lake might drop from five or six feet to twelve feet on the first major break, however this is only a rough example as each body of water differs greatly and “deep” is a relative term. If you need help with map work, there are videos and resources in my book “Next Level Musky Fishing” and videos on the Musky 360 app covering these topics.
Once you have a grasp on the first major break in your lake, the next step is trolling lure selection. While there are seemingly endless trolling lures available trolling lure selection can and should be simplified down to two components. First, potential running depth and total line length needed to achieve target depth. If you are targeting an area that is eight feet deep, then you can narrow your lure selection to lures that hit a target depth of one to eight feet. I would recommend selecting lures that hit your desired target depths with the shortest line possible as it will allow for more accurate presenting and better boat control. The second factor of trolling lure selection is size, one would not be well served to run a 15-inch Jake in a body of water where large forage isn’t present. Keep it simple match the hatch regarding the forage that can be found in the water’s you’re fishing. Big baitfish equal bog trolling baits on average. I would interject that some large than life trolling lures can and will catch muskies of any size but sticking to presentation from 8” to 12” has always served me and my guide clients well. As a personal preference for the waters, I regularly fish lures like 10” Super Natural Headlocks, 10” Super Natural Mattlocks and 8” Joe Bucher Depth Raiders are the staples of my trolling arsenal. Sprinkle in a few mid-sized Jakes and Grandmas and you have more than enough firepower for fall musky trolling.
Something that is lost on new trollers is that we still need to add action to the lures. While trolling in a straight line can and will work the vast majority of strikes come when a little “special sauce” is added to the mix. Adding a swerving action to your trolling pass is the first way to elevate your trolling game. However, major turns into and out of structure and cover will start putting more and bigger muskies in your net. The key to great trolling boat control is gaining a mastery of where your boat and subsequently lures are in relation to cover and structure. Once you have a firm grasp of what lies beneath you during a trolling pass you can add in more moves and jukes to trigger following muskies.
To gain confidence start your first trolling pass in a new area with your lures running at a shallow or mid depth length. This will prevent snagging and allow you to focus on learning the new pass. Once you feel comfortable that you know where any hazards or potential snags might be you can adjust accordingly and start digging into a more aggressive pass.
While one could write endlessly about trolling for muskies as there is always so much to learn, I can’t encourage you enough to add trolling to your fall musky game plan. Start simple and keep it simple are the best rules for trolling. One or two lines and a little preparation will put a big musky in your net.
Cheers,
Steven Paul
Tennessee Musky Guide. Tennessee Muskie. Tennessee Musky Record. Melton Hill Musky.
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