Corpusfishing.com

Bayhouse · Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 3 Location: Austin TX

When fishing the Inter Coastal Waterway, has anybody ever had any success trolling lures behind the boat while driving down the edge? If so, what lures have you had success with (crank baits??) Approximately what speed range seems to work, what is too fast?

I have never fished the ICW, and it have been reading that people have good luck there, but I can never tell if they are actually fishing "IN" the Icw or flats off to the side. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

ironmanstan · Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 10:09 am Post subject:

where are you from bayhouse, and welcome to the site.
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BALZTOWAL · Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 10:11 am Post subject:

I DON'T KNOW ANYBODY WHO TROLLS THE DITCH- I THINK MOST OF THE FISHING IS BY CASTING TOWARDS THE EDGE AND WORKING THE BAIT BACK TO THE BOAT- THE DROPOFF.

skunked · Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 10:11 am Post subject:

My father-in-law told me stories about using planing boards and trolling for trout on the flats down in the valley. I don't know how long ago that was. He's 78 and has been living here since 71.

Bayhouse · Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 3 Location: Austin TX

Thanks for the replies guys.

I am from Austin, would love to find a way to live in Corpus Christi, but haven't figured out a way to yet. I started fishing the area in October and have been down five or six times. I wade fished just off different public access points the first three trips and was amazed by the fishery there.

I have fished Galveston, POC and Rockport a bunch and I don't think that any of them have as many solid fish as the CC/Laguna area.

Thanks again for the replies.

landlocked beachbum · Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 10:26 am Post subject:

Bayhouse, I have wondered that too and I'm sure that it would be productive IF you could keep your bait from fouling with grass for longer than 5-10 yards!!! Shocked

Cripes, most times that I'm down there it's tough to get a topwater bait back to the boat without having a few ounces to a half pound of grass tangled up in the hooks. Some of the guys on here have said that they change out the hooks to singles and that would surely help, but trolling is a whole other kettle of fish.
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"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits". Albert Einstein

HighTide · Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 10:33 am Post subject:

I'm from Austin too and I go down to CC about every 2 or 3 weeks. I think that you might scare the fish with the boat because you would be trolling in about an area that would be about 5 or 6' deep if you want to troll the grass line.

I've had much better luck drifting the intracoastal channel and casting a spoon or a gulp ahead of the area that I haven't crossed with the boat yet. I use the trolling motor to keep me on course when the wind is contrary.
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robul · Full Grown Flour Bluffian Joined: 26 Jun 2007 Posts: 2677

i know a few folks that use there trolling motor to run down the ditch and pull a gulp on the edge to locate flounder. Smile

Tyler · Site Admin Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 12865

I am sure it would work. We used to troll for white bass. I bet if you stuck a little George on the bottom and tied up two or three jigs or curly tail grubs above that and played around, you certainly could catch fish. It seems to be Billy Sandifer was talking about some guy who used to do something like that for big trout involving crank baits.

Rock Hopper · Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 1:55 pm Post subject: Rattle Traps

Try larger Rattle Traps; chrome or chrome/black (the smaller ones work but consistantly smaller fish) Works great in the residential canals for trout. Always more effective in winter and extreme low tide.

Bayslammer · Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 2:03 pm Post subject:

Trolling with big Bomber crankbaits across structure works well for big trout. I didn't believe it until I saw the fish my Dad brought in doing this in Baffin. He grew up fishing freshwater lakes...using downriggers and trolling with crankbaits for striper. I think it's one of those saltwater mental blocks, like using spinnerbaits and texas rigging plastics weedless....both very effective in the salt by the way.
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Bayhouse · Joined: 07 Mar 2006 Posts: 3 Location: Austin TX

I'll have to try the Rapalas or the bombers. How fast/slow do you think I woud need to go, or just try different speeds and see if I get lucky?

Drake · Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2009 3:33 pm Post subject: Trolling

You can catch trout trolling with black and chrome and blue and chrome rattle traps in the winter in the canals on PI. Other than the frustraton of getting your lines run over or worse you run over I don't know why it wouldnt work.

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