Vertical or horizontal casts...

[muskyhunter34]

THIS MAY SOUND CRAZY, BUT DO "THE MUSKY GUYS" LIKE TO CAST VERTICAL TOWARD THE SHORE WHILE MOVING IN A TROLLING MOTOR HORIZONTAL POSITION OR DO YOU LIKE TO ANGLE THE BOAT PARALLEL TO SHORE AND CAST HORIZONTAL TRYING TO CATCH A WEED LINE OR DROP-OFF WITHOUT ACTUALLY HITTING THE SHORELINE WITH THE CAST AND WITHOUT THE USE OF A TROLLING MOTOR? MH34:bowdown:

[Hot Runr Guy]

I'm no "musky guy", but the reason I carry a small pair of brush-cutters in the boat is my tendency to put a crankbait in the trees while vertically casting a tree lined shoreline. I think a horizontal, sidearm cast works better, provided the guy standing next to you doesn't mind! LOL :rotfl:
HRG

[Water Wolf]

THIS MAY SOUND CRAZY, BUT DO "THE MUSKY GUYS" LIKE TO CAST VERTICAL TOWARD THE SHORE WHILE MOVING IN A TROLLING MOTOR HORIZONTAL POSITION OR DO YOU LIKE TO ANGLE THE BOAT PARALLEL TO SHORE AND CAST HORIZONTAL TRYING TO CATCH A WEED LINE OR DROP-OFF WITHOUT ACTUALLY HITTING THE SHORELINE WITH THE CAST AND WITHOUT THE USE OF A TROLLING MOTOR? MH34:bowdown:

It depends. If you are using a bowmount trolling motor, then you are moving horizontally with respect to the shore, but may be casting in a 180 degree arc in relationship to the shore. Typically casts are aimed at some type of structure, but as all musky fishermen know, the fish may be suspened as well, so firing a cast into the abyss can sometimes be productive. It's pretty difficult to get correct boat control without being under power, so the trolling motor is almost always used in these casting instances. You would have to have the perfect wind to move the boat down any shorline without getting off course or blowing into shore.

[AllenW]

I'm no "musky guy", but the reason I carry a small pair of brush-cutters in the boat is my tendency to put a crankbait in the trees while vertically casting a tree lined shoreline. I think a horizontal, sidearm cast works better, provided the guy standing next to you doesn't mind! LOL :rotfl:
HRG

Oh...just a note HRG, I have all them lures you stuck in me from last time we fished out now, and if you want, I'll keep them for next time???
:)


I'd be more concerned with what works for you, I try to keep a right angle on my lure presentation for better hook set, and how I'm positioned in the boat, not always possible I know.

Also being flexible to me means a lot, getting the lure in front of the fish is prime, and depending on where and in what I'm fishing the way I do it will vary...imho

fwiw don't get hung up on what the "best" way is.

Time on the water and keeping track of what and where will show you what works for you.
Once again,imho :)

Al

[wallymn99]

i often work parallel to the shore line. you can cover more "spots" that a fish may be sitting. Think about it, a musky is generally (depending on alot of variables) sitting off shore at weed edge or just inside. Casting to shore would need more casts to cover where the fish are actually sitting. I have been doing it both ways for years and i have probably caught more fish casting with the shore than at it.