mike rousseau Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 I like many others have heard "big bait=big fish" So I have spent big $$$ on these huge and expensive baits.. With nothing to show for it... So im wondering if any of you guys actually catch on these 12-18 inch lures... More specifically trolling big cranks... I've tried em with no results... Then switched to my go-to baits and caught... Is it a water temp thing? Speed? Thnx everyone... I just wanna justify the $$$ I spent on these goddy baits... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lew Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 Biggest bait I troll successfully with are 13" Believers Mike. I remove the rattles though, as I do on most of my plastic trolling baits, and find that improves the catch rate on them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K_F Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 Biggest bait I troll successfully with are 13" Believers Mike. I remove the rattles though, as I do on most of my plastic trolling baits, and find that improves the catch rate on them. Lew, Interesting, Im sure I could figure it out if I looked, but whats involved with removing the rattles? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lew Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 To remove the rattles, drill a couple holes in the top of the bait about 1/3 back from the nose and they'll just roll out when you turn it over. Cover the holes with a piece of aluminum tape, then a coat of 5 minute epoxy and when it's dry paint it with a suitable paint. You can also just drill a small hole and squirt in some white carpenters glue. It'll coat the steel BB's and eliminate the sound. You don't need to be fancy cause the muskies don't care. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K_F Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 thanks Lew, Ill give it a try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Handlebarz Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 I like the legend plows and yes they do work I only have a couple of them but they have there time and place like fishing deep waters where you want your lure deep but not running it back far so you can still control it with the boat. I don't usually use anything bigger then 10" but will if the time and place are right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pigeontroller Posted October 7, 2011 Report Share Posted October 7, 2011 Does it matter if they catch fish? They're COOOLLLLL!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irishfield Posted October 8, 2011 Report Share Posted October 8, 2011 This one's always fun to pop the rod out of the holder and tell the new guy in the boat to reel it in at 6mph ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ah_long Posted October 8, 2011 Report Share Posted October 8, 2011 12" is for amateurs this is da bomb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outllaw Posted October 9, 2011 Report Share Posted October 9, 2011 MOST proficient guides do not run baits ovver 10 inches. they do work but will limit your catch rates..in my limited experieces i prefer to run cranks in the 5-9 ich sizes. fall months theres times straight baits will out produce jointed baits also. as for rattles there for kids that like noisy toys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esoxcrazy Posted October 9, 2011 Report Share Posted October 9, 2011 I am not much of a troller, but when I do it is usually in the 12" range. Like Mike said the boat control and short line can be very precise and effective with the big lipped cranks. In the last few years my trolling hours per fish are much less than casting. Rattles or not as long as I am wearing down the lip. Nothing better than washing "Hookers" on a nice fall afternoon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike rousseau Posted October 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2011 Most of my cranks are 10 inches... I pulled my plow for a while yesterday... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squid Posted October 10, 2011 Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 (edited) Most of my cranks are 10 inches... I pulled my plow for a while yesterday... 14 inch Gramma works fine for me Mike. Edited October 10, 2011 by Squid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike rousseau Posted October 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 I have some of the big grandmas... Can't seem to catch on em... They are both rock solid colors as well... I catch on the same ones in 8&10 inch... I guess I gotta wash em some more and figure this big bait thing out... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Devine Posted October 10, 2011 Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 (edited) MOST proficient guides do not run baits ovver 10 inches. they do work but will limit your catch rates..in my limited experieces i prefer to run cranks in the 5-9 ich sizes. fall months theres times straight baits will out produce jointed baits also. as for rattles there for kids that like noisy toys. I'm with you on this one Outlaw. Yes we have seen pictures of big fish with big fish in their mouths but realistically like people you don't go to the all you can eat buffet everyday, but you do have to eat. Edited October 10, 2011 by Bob Devine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F_ast Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 I had few 13" MAG Shads. They run awesome, but no fish yet. I got smashed last year and I had a huge follow twitching one over a deep rock pile... But no fish in the boat yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cram Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 For those of you who match size to the forage they're eating....aren't they eating whitefish in the fall? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squid Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 (edited) During a presentation by a MNR biologist at the Muskie odyssey a couple of years back the topic of bait size came up and he explained that there 8 pound walleye found in the big girls bellies so I would say that they do eat big baits. Edited October 11, 2011 by Squid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike rousseau Posted October 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 I've heard a musky can eat something a third if it's size...! So a 36 incher CAN eat a 12 inch bait... But I don't think it's ideal... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raf Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 (edited) MOST proficient guides do not run baits ovver 10 inches. they do work but will limit your catch rates..in my limited experieces i prefer to run cranks in the 5-9 ich sizes. fall months theres times straight baits will out produce jointed baits also. as for rattles there for kids that like noisy toys. I'm with you on this one Outlaw. Yes we have seen pictures of big fish with big fish in their mouths but realistically like people you don't go to the all you can eat buffet everyday, but you do have to eat. with all due respect to the two of you, you have to admit the fishery you utilize is very unique to the rest of ontario. the lures and techniques you employ on LSC are quite often entirely different than the other fisheries. Edited October 11, 2011 by Raf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raf Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 (edited) I've heard a musky can eat something a third if it's size...! So a 36 incher CAN eat a 12 inch bait... But I don't think it's ideal... I caught about a 30" fish on a 13" suick this wknd. Edited October 11, 2011 by Raf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dontcryformejanhrdina Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 I caught about a 30" fish on a 13" suick this wknd. I caught a 20" pike on an 8" topraider. Damn near cut the pike in two with the back hooks when I set the hook lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dontcryformejanhrdina Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 (edited) I've also caught 2 rockbass (not snagged, hooks in their mouths) on musky bucktails that were biggr than they were! can't figure that one out.... But really, I would think lures in the 8-12" range would be best. It would appeal to the large fish as well as the average musky. Edited October 11, 2011 by Dontcryformejanhrdina Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy Posted October 11, 2011 Report Share Posted October 11, 2011 I've also caught 2 rockbass on a musky bucktail. Not snagged either, they had the back hooks in their mouth. It was bigger than they were! Figure that one out.... They weren't gunna eat it...they were trying to "bump" it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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