How to troll for Muskie

To troll for musky, the boat will be moving faster than you might expect, given how fast they swim. You will hold the rod, and feed out the line under your thumb on the reel, to a distance directed by the guide (e.g., 60 feet). Then crank the handle a turn to lock the reel, and anticipate a strike. You may be surprised how much tension there is on the line during trolling, often more than you would feel reeling in a big walleye. The tension on the lure will decrease or increase as the boat turns left and right. If a gradual change in tension occurs at the point of a turn, it’s probably not a strike. But as always, upon first having any doubt, immediately set the hook and reel in fast. There is only a possible advantage and no disadvantage. You always can feed the line back out if there is no hooked fish. By trolling, our guides can help place your lure where a musky may strike, covering more water than hundreds of casts. Trolling can provide an attractive alternative to casting and under some conditions may be preferable. Stay vigilant and be ready for a musky to take the bait.