8 replies to this topic

[MichiganFishing1997]

Im looking to get a trolling rod and reel so i can fish for muskie, sturgeon, and other big fish. Im looking to spend under 100 dollars, ideas? Should i get a baitcast reel in the trolling style so i can use it inshore too? Ideas, HELP!

Thanks, Christian

[NoBassPro]

I know some people that swear by the ugly stick for trolling, I believe they are pretty reasonable. For reels, I don't think you will be happy with anything cheaper than a abu garcia c3. You probably aren't going to get musky gear that really works well for other species imo.

[Packard]

Where are you going to be fishing? The St Clair River has great sturgeon fishing but many prefer other methods than trolling. Actually, I haven't heard of anyone trolling baits for sturgeon. You can encounter great muskie fishing in the St Clair River or Lake St Clair. For a big game rod I would get an Ugly Stick Catfish rod and an Abu Ambassador reel.

[NoBassPro]

Where are you going to be fishing? The St Clair River has great sturgeon fishing but many prefer other methods than trolling. Actually, I haven't heard of anyone trolling baits for sturgeon. You can encounter great muskie fishing in the St Clair River or Lake St Clair. For a big game rod I would get an Ugly Stick Catfish rod and an Abu Ambassador reel.

The c4's are junk for heavy duty applications and I'm not a fan of the cheap red one's either. The only other musky reels I have fished with are the calcutta's, they are smoother, but not worth the extra $100 or so imo.

[SirSnookalot]

Where are you going to be fishing? The St Clair River has great sturgeon fishing but many prefer other methods than trolling. Actually, I haven't heard of anyone trolling baits for sturgeon. You can encounter great muskie fishing in the St Clair River or Lake St Clair. For a big game rod I would get an Ugly Stick Catfish rod and an Abu Ambassador reel.

St. Clair is my old stomping grounds. We caught sturgeon fishing bottom with nightcrawlers in the river, always liked the Algonac area.
The only reason I see the need to use hefty equipment for muskie is their mortality rate, they are not that hardy of a fish. I personally would never target them again, just my opinion.

[NoBassPro]

St. Clair is my old stomping grounds. We caught sturgeon fishing bottom with nightcrawlers in the river, always liked the Algonac area.
The only reason I see the need to use hefty equipment for muskie is their mortality rate, they are not that hardy of a fish. I personally would never target them again, just my opinion.

I know they aren't saltwater fish or anything, and I'm sure you sling 6 oz baits with medium action spinning gear, but the reasons for heavy gear for musky are the size of the baits and amount of pull they have on retrieve or troll, the large hooks, and, the fact you will get an occasional bone jarring strike trolling lk st clair style 5 mph with a 10 ft lead in the prop wash. The fish themselves are no less hardy than a pike or bass ime.

[SirSnookalot]

I know they aren't saltwater fish or anything, and I'm sure you sling 6 oz baits with medium action spinning gear, but the reasons for heavy gear for musky are the size of the baits and amount of pull they have on retrieve or troll, the large hooks, and, the fact you will get an occasional bone jarring strike trolling lk st clair style 5 mph with a 10 ft lead in the prop wash. The fish themselves are no less hardy than a pike or bass ime.

Actually inshore saltwater fishing most of my lures will go between 1/2 oz jig and I throw nothing heavier than a 1.5 oz spoon. I can use a 10/20 spinning rod mh for just about everything. Trolling offshore I generally will use heavier gear, whether spinning or b/c. The heaviest lure I use is offshore for butterfly jigging, 4-8 oz, a jigging rod and high ratio reel are a must for that technique, something I don't do often, talk about a sore back, lol.

I do understand people use much heavier lures for muskie and the right rod is needed to handled those lures, also much has been said about getting them in quicker due to their possible mortality. I have caught my share when I lived up in Michigan and from my own point of view it's a fish that I no longer have a desire to target, I didn't always feel that way.

[Packard]

The c4's are junk for heavy duty applications and I'm not a fan of the cheap red one's either. The only other musky reels I have fished with are the calcutta's, they are smoother, but not worth the extra $100 or so imo.

They certainly aren't perfect but for his $100 budget they are the best option.

St. Clair is my old stomping grounds. We caught sturgeon fishing bottom with nightcrawlers in the river, always liked the Algonac area.
The only reason I see the need to use hefty equipment for muskie is their mortality rate, they are not that hardy of a fish. I personally would never target them again, just my opinion.

The Metro park in Algonac is a great place for me to launch from my kayak. I am not a big fan of muskie fishing either.

[MichiganFishing1997]

Well I've never done it and thats why I wanna try. Right now my largest rod is a 7' MH bait caster and a spinning rod of the same action. Should I just try these? I want to try and fish both Muskie and sturgeon. I mean, I guess if you play the drag right, right.? I know my best friend has always grown up with fishing smallmouth with ultralight rods and reels, they are 4 plus pounds and they only use ultralights.