ERABBIT
Veteran Poster
Posts:2294
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| 15 Oct 2009 02:18 PM |
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Raystown Lake !!!! What have we learned. At the Meet this year I found you can't troll deep without taking a chance of hanging your cannon balls up on a tree. Watching the video that daveset2000 put a link to and talking to a charter the second day trolling 20' to 25' down is about it. The second day I was trolling with a inline board with a jointed J-9 orange stickbait that took one small LMB. I had one downrigger at 14' down 70' back that took a 22" channel cat and the outside rigger 25' down 70' back that took a 23" laketrout and lost some thing else. The inline way to the shore line then the 14' rigger and the 25' working the west side from the dam back to the launch area. The channel was taken on a copper spoon with sliver tape on one edge and the laketrout was a 50/50 sliver copper spoon both had eyes on each side. We didn't work back thru any area that we picked up a fish or a hit. What I saw other doing was working the shore line as we did the second day. I also saw them bunched up in the neck just past the no-wake zone as other did also. The northeast corner of the dam area had three or 4 bassboat fly in there while we were working the west shore line. I didn't see if they hooked up but was aware that a few folks thought it was a GOOD spot. As we worked our way back we also saw MANY bassboats going into the open area to the far west of the last turn going to the dam area. Pete , Scott that was due north of where Carol and talked to you the first day. We also saw some guys with inline board out but not moving??? After watching that video again I think I know what they were doing. I talked with a charter guy the second day he asked me how and what we did and gave me his info for the day. He said don't troll more than 25' to 30' deep if you want to stay out of the trees. Also said they picked up some lakers anchored over 100' of water using sawbellies. The guy in the video was also using live sawbellys. I'm not 100% sure how he was rigged on his inline boards but the board was able to slide all the way down , in one part you could see that the board had some thing heavy on it but it still could slide down past a slip sinker. They had what the called there "down rigs" at 15' to 20' , this looked like a sawbelly hooked thru the lips with #2x treble hook , 6' to 7' of leader line (could be less just guessing) a snap (maybe snap swivel ) then a 1/2oz or better slip sinker , 7' or 8' rod and a line counter reel. You could not see any wake from the boat so if they were trolling it was very slow. At one point I could see a small wake from one of the boards. They were using a electric trolling motor I think they would set out there lines as they were trolling to get them separated then only use the trolling motor to keep lines straight. I know we can easily do this set up all we would need is the sawbellies , I have the inline boards and line counter reels will have to hook up my electric trolling motor for the last part. We can also get our own sawbellies with a little work I'll post that idea up later. So what do you think ???  |
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Ed
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scotteph
Veteran Poster
Posts:1385
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| 16 Oct 2009 09:20 AM |
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Ed, I've learned that I don't have the takle or lines needed for trolling. The rod I used for trolling was my 7ft. heavy frog rod that I use for bass fishing with 20lb. mono on it. All my tackle and rods are set-up for bass fishing, trolling is way out of my element. This is the only time of year I do any trolling except maybe once a year we straight line troll Blue Marsh at night for hybrids. I would have to spend a lot of money and do some serious learning to have a decent shot at getting lakers or stripers out of Raystown. Basically all I do all year is bass fish, maybe catfishing a night or two. At the meet we did a little bass fishing after we trolled. I noticed while trolling on the way to the dam the bass guys seemed to be fishing off of points on the steep banks probably for suspended smallies, saw one guy get one on a jerkbait. We did hit a couple steep banks, this is where Pete lost his smallie on a crankbait. It is also where I got my rock bass on a jig and lost what I believe to be a monster crappie, also on a jig. We fished Beer Barrel Bay the last day for bass but this doesn't seem an ideal place for it. We fished it last year also with no luck. Anywhoo... I'm all ears on your suggestions Ed, I told Pete before the meet I thought you would have a good chance of getting into some fish.  Southeast PA LM '99 |
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ERABBIT
Veteran Poster
Posts:2294
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| 16 Oct 2009 10:29 AM |
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Still a lot differnt from what I had under my belt down there , tuff lake to fish with all the trees under water kind of ties your hands for a normal spread that I usto fishing. Anyway I think if we put our heads togather on this we will ALL have a GOOD plan for next year as you can see by what you and I have put down so far. The way those guys are fishing the live sawbellies would fit into the poles and reel you are using with little $$$$ out. You could run a 4 rod spread two out and downs on the corners rig as above but you would have to mesure out your line with a tape so you knew how deep it was , then two back behind the boat off bobbers same deal for rigging and measuring how deep. Pick your area drop them down and out drift and troll using the eletric motor on the front of Pete's boat when you get a GOOD screen on the fishfinder still fish this area for a while...................what do you think ?????? |
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| Ed
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turnip
Senior Poster
Posts:5641
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| 16 Oct 2009 11:29 AM |
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I think it's worth a try. Scott and I can practice on Blue Marsh. I have two good trolling rods with line-counter reels. I have the two manual downriggers, one for each side...I'll have to check if the mounting board interfears with the rod holders that I use for straightline trolling. Great topic, Ed! I think you are right about putting together a good game plan ahead of time. Scott, you could use your rod with the plainer boards. You can purchase an inexpensive line counter that hooks to your rod...I will have to get a pair of the boards. This is how Howard trolls at Harveys lake... I know when we straightline trolled this year, the deepest I had my lure was 26' and was trolling from 30' to 100' of water, back & forth (when running that deep). A good bit of the time we were around 16' down, running in & out of 20' to 50' of water. We zigzaged through the trees also. LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif
from S.E. Pa. |
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| Lifer since 2005, "Bushwacker" deputy sherif, S. E. Pa |
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scotteph
Veteran Poster
Posts:1385
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| 17 Oct 2009 09:31 AM |
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Thats what I'll do, look for a line counter to hook on to my heavy rod. I might also look for a trolling set-up, maybe something like you have Pete. Southeast PA LM '99 |
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turnip
Senior Poster
Posts:5641
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| 17 Oct 2009 08:21 PM |
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I went through my tackle and I don't have the orange jointed Rapala in the J9 size, but I have some folks looking for me. I have two spoons that appear to be a match, that is half brass and half nickle or chrome. I am focused on an eBay auction that has a few in it. LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif
from S.E. Pa. |
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| Lifer since 2005, "Bushwacker" deputy sherif, S. E. Pa |
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turnip
Senior Poster
Posts:5641
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| 19 Oct 2009 05:50 AM |
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I have learned that I need to get better depth control. I also need to re-think my choice of lures. My focus has mostly been for pike and stripers...I dug through my tackle for large rainbow trout patterned plugs and jigs. I'll post some pics a little later and ya can tell me what you think. I am also giving serious consideration to spoons. LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif
from S.E. Pa. |
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| Lifer since 2005, "Bushwacker" deputy sherif, S. E. Pa |
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scotteph
Veteran Poster
Posts:1385
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| 19 Oct 2009 06:00 AM |
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I'm starting to think pulling live bait may be the way to go?
Southeast PA LM '99 |
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ERABBIT
Veteran Poster
Posts:2294
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| 19 Oct 2009 07:29 AM |
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I think so too + have a rod reel rigged up with a swimbait so when you see the alweif/sawbellies on top use that on them. |
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| Ed
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turnip
Senior Poster
Posts:5641
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| 19 Oct 2009 05:29 PM |
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turnip wrote: I have learned that I need to get better depth control. I also need to re-think my choice of lures. My focus has mostly been for pike and stripers...I dug through my tackle for large rainbow trout patterned plugs and jigs. I'll post some pics a little later and ya can tell me what you think. I am also giving serious consideration to spoons. LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa. These are the pics I promised... These are my swim baits... The swimbaits are (from top to bottom) fast sinking, slow sinking and floating. They are made by SPRO...These are what I am thinking about trolling with or casting into bait schools. Comments? LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif
from S.E. Pa. |
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| Lifer since 2005, "Bushwacker" deputy sherif, S. E. Pa |
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turnip
Senior Poster
Posts:5641
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| 19 Oct 2009 08:44 PM |
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I used a perch pattern, paddle tailed Storm swimbait this year (soft plastic), but I don't think it was big enough, or the correct pattern or fished in the right place. I am going to try and find an 8" paddletailed swimbait in rainbow trout pattern...somewhere! LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif
from S.E. Pa. |
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| Lifer since 2005, "Bushwacker" deputy sherif, S. E. Pa |
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turnip
Senior Poster
Posts:5641
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| 19 Oct 2009 08:46 PM |
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scotteph wrote: I'm starting to think pulling live bait may be the way to go?
Southeast PA LM '99 LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif
from S.E. Pa. |
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| Lifer since 2005, "Bushwacker" deputy sherif, S. E. Pa |
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ERABBIT
Veteran Poster
Posts:2294
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| 20 Oct 2009 05:48 AM |
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I think I laid it out above some place. I've only done it with 'DEAD" bait in bait heads. I was going to try that this year but it's smelly and I didn't want to mess the trip up if the bait got into the food. I was reading how theye rig and will get that down. Pete we should ask Frank if he trolls live bait or just drifts it. In any case see how he rigs his baits. For your boat Pete without down riggers; Two inline board out the sides poles 8' to 10' you wou be targeting 5' to 25' that's how much line out before putting on board. one rod out the back and strait down same depth range. Last one out the back off a bobber or ballon set as the inline board for depth. Rig would be........line from rod, slipsinker (guessing on weight 1/2oz)...barrel swilve , leader line (floro) to match leanght of rod ( 10' rod leader 10' or less)(6' rod leader 6' or less). Pick your spots you want to check set up your rods a ways from this area. Kill your big motor and troll drift into the area using your electric. Then just use it to keep lines straight.......nothing going fire up big motor if next area is close troll to it if you have a good picture on your depthfinder on the way kill motor and drift fish the area for awhile.................. What do you think ???? turnip wrote: scotteph wrote: I'm starting to think pulling live bait may be the way to go?
Southeast PA LM '99 LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa. |
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| Ed
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scotteph
Veteran Poster
Posts:1385
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| 20 Oct 2009 06:10 AM |
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TOO MUCH INFORMATION!!! lol I kinda get your jift Ed, it will take some time and practice. That striper site you sent the link to Ed has some good info on it! I became a member over there, I'm gonna do some serious searching over past threads.
Southeast PA LM '99 |
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turnip
Senior Poster
Posts:5641
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| 20 Oct 2009 06:41 AM |
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Here is the link to the discussion Frank and I were having in my "live bait fishing for pike". The pics show the rig (which I have two of) and how to rig the fish! http://www.fishingclub.com/communit...p;t=148716 I must leave for bible syudy now and I'll look for comments when I get back! LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif
from S.E. Pa. |
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| Lifer since 2005, "Bushwacker" deputy sherif, S. E. Pa |
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ERABBIT
Veteran Poster
Posts:2294
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| 20 Oct 2009 08:27 AM |
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| Ed
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ERABBIT
Veteran Poster
Posts:2294
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| 20 Oct 2009 09:20 AM |
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Start with just two , add one more then the 4. When you run the two look and think about where and how you would put ou the thrid one.............same thing when you have the three out where and how to get the 4th one.................. scotteph wrote: TOO MUCH INFORMATION!!! lol I kinda get your jift Ed, it will take some time and practice. That striper site you sent the link to Ed has some good info on it! I became a member over there, I'm gonna do some serious searching over past threads.
Southeast PA LM '99 |
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| Ed
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ERABBIT
Veteran Poster
Posts:2294
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| 20 Oct 2009 10:32 AM |
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Art , Ed if you two are checking this thread out just jump in.............one more thing is we are sending a LOT of info by e-mail also. If you want any or all of it just PM any of us on here with your e-mail adress and we'll hook ya up. |
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| Ed
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ERABBIT
Veteran Poster
Posts:2294
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| 20 Oct 2009 10:59 AM |
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Scott you said some thing about rainbows and browns in there also. ("Raystown Lake is the one of the best places to fish in the area for: Catfish, Carp, Bass (Striped, Largemouth, Rock, and Smallmouth), Walleye, Muskellunge, Trout (Lake, Brown, and Rainbow), Atlantic Salmon, Perch, Smelt, Crappy, and Blue Gill. You can check fishing conditions at The Raystown Lake Striper Fishing ") I read some where (can't find it now) that the PFBC stocked "fingerling" trout in there for the stripers but no mention of what kind. There is a "approved" trout stream that flows in nearer the south end......."Trough Creek"???? |
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| Ed
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turnip
Senior Poster
Posts:5641
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| 20 Oct 2009 11:35 AM |
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The locals say that the stripers are all at the southern end in the spring, up the mouth of the creeks...I'll have to get a pair of them inline plainer boards when we make our Cabela's run! This we should be able to get the hang of pretty quick, Scott. We will just need to practice a little! Who knows, we may start catchin' stripers at the marsh this way! lol... Ed, your plan seems solid. I wonder if Cabela's carries the BOA RIG? This seems better in that it is easily adjusted for fish length. I should be able to use my 8' trolling rods for this. I may have to consider upgrading my line weight from 30# to 50# tho... I have 10#, 16# and 40# florocarbon leader material and those heavy duty swivels. LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif from S.E. Pa. |
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| Lifer since 2005, "Bushwacker" deputy sherif, S. E. Pa |
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