canuck in maine needs advice.

[JT!]

i'm in kennebunkport, specifically the south end of gooserocks beach.

i normally freshwater fish for pike & muskie, in canada.
i have use of a boat and have trolled the batson river from 1/2 mile inland to 1/4 mile out.

i am trolling approx 30ft behind the boat, in the propwash, in 3 to 20ft of water.

guy next to me caught a striper.

i have tried red devils, giant rapalas, and giant thundersticks.
i have tried 2-3" rapalas and stormplastic baits.



anyone have advice? i just need to catch something decent before leaving monday night!!

thanks

 

[captlee]

Re: canuck in maine needs advice.

If you can get some live eels, stripers luv em. Artificials are my next choice.

 

[JT!]

Re: canuck in maine needs advice.

i couldnt get any live eels, they had some frozen ones, but got frozen mackarel instead.

and a rubber eel.....

I should be ok right?

 

[rolmops]

Re: canuck in maine needs advice.

What works really well when trolling is not rubber eels but what is called a "tube" with a sea worm on the hook.These tubes are about 16 to 20 inches long and the worm on the end provides the smell and tastiness,they are great for shallow water trolling.For trolling you can also use whole herring or mackarel on wire line.
Plastic eels are only good for the salesman.

 

[JT!]

Re: canuck in maine needs advice.

pardon me rubber eel, hehe

i meant TUBE, its pink or orange fluorescent tube with 2 trailing hooks (1 is in the middle) its 18" or so, sounds like i got the right gear.


do i go 2 hours before tide comesin andcome back when its half out? or is that wrong?

do i troll inside the rivermouth or in the bay in front (gooserocks beach, lookitup)

do i troll against current or with it? across dunes or through channels?

sorry to ask so many questions, just hoping to get a big one. or anything for that matter....


there is a new moon, should i fish at night? i plan to go tomorrow at 8am till 4pm, let me know if anything i've said is way off.

 

[rolmops]

Re: canuck in maine needs advice.

At night it is best to fish with live eels.By day it is better to troll with a tube and worm.In the mouth of the Kennebunk River outgoing tide just past high tide is real good,but your best bet is to look around you and do what the guys who catch fish do.

 

[JT!]

Re: canuck in maine needs advice.

thanks capt. rolmops


trolling speed? with or against tide or current?

any depth preferences?


i will be trying a lil bit of everything, hope the weather holds for tomorrow......



thanks again, hope I have something to post tomorrow night

 

[rolmops]

Re: canuck in maine needs advice.

Remember,trolling speed is always relative to water speed.Direction is always at a slight angle of current direction and never much faster than current speed.That way the bait is presented in a natural fashion.
The big secret to catching fish is to be able to think like the fish you intend to catch.Add to that researching the local water environment and the fish will practically jump into your boat.

 

[JT!]

Re: canuck in maine needs advice.

trolled, anchored, stood in surf, stood on point, walked out during low tide....

nothing.

used large 2" segments of mackeral let sit on bottom, casted and trolled tubes (1 orange, 1 pink)


i may not be deep enough, i am staying inside the bay and the creekmouth (marsh).

might try deeper tomorrow

 

[JT!]

Re: canuck in maine needs advice.

still no luck after 3 full days of fishing

i have seen some fisherman pulling em in on flies, and others on tubes, and others on mackarel.

while trolling a boat that was trailing me pulled in 3 in 15 minutes.


i am at same depth, same speed, same lure.


even the seals were right in front of me (20 yards) so i musta been in the right spot

monkey see, monkey do; i have replicated what the others are doing... so its a matter of luck and timing from here.

any other advice out there?

im going to finish this post and get right back out there;you cant catch em unless you keep your line in the water.



*** i landed dozens of crabs that have been swarming my bait. and the fish are definately there.

 

[Fly Rod]

Re: canuck in maine needs advice.

First of all you don't know the area. Look for rocks, jetties or white water. Troll a red tube and seaworm which should have a egg sinker headweight for a head. Speed to be around 1 1/2 miles per hour. Try to stay within 10-15 feet of water when trolling.

Rolmops gave ya some good pointers.

Chunk bait fishing, if you are catching crabs your leavinbg your bait to long on the bottom and you shouldn't be on the bottom. Your hook could be too heavy. do not use a sinker unless in fast water. you want your bait to float down not sink fast. Sometimes you need to put foam in the bait.

Now scratch your head and try to figure it out.