The Dirt On Trolling

TROLLING HAS BEEN HOTLY DEBATED IN WISCONSIN FOR YEARS. RECENT CREEL CENSUS INTERVIEWS REVEAL NO DIFFERENCE IN CATCH RATES BETWEEN MUSKY TROLLERS AND CASTERS.

- Jordan Weeks

The musky fishing community has the unique ability to make nearly every aspect of the sport controversial. Subjects ranging from barbless hooks to season length have proponents and detractors. Perhaps we get bored easily, or perhaps there is too much time between catches. Either way, there is no shortage of advice/tips/rules for anglers to follow.

The subject of trolling (at least here in Wisconsin) is sure to raise the ire of some. For many, trolling is a way of life, but it’s considered a curse to others, frowned on as an “easy” way to catch muskies. In Wisconsin, changes to trolling rules have occurred since 1909. Current Wisconsin law allows each angler to fish with three hooks, baits, or lures statewide ... unless you are trolling.

History

1909 — Trolling was legal on all waters in Wisconsin. 1923 — Trolling prohibited on all waters in Wisconsin. Wi. Statues: 29.26. Fox Lake in Dodge County was mentioned in this rule (no musky minimum length limit, bag of 1).

1943 — Trolling was allowed on outlying waters (Great Lakes), except bounded bays of Door County. Two waters total.

1950 — Trolling was allowed on Wisconsin/Michigan/Minnesota boundary waters except Lac Vieux Desert and the Cisco Chain. Trolling was allowed on the St Louis, St Croix and Mississippi rivers, the latter above the Alma dam. Trolling is legal in 19 waters total.

1959-61 — Motor trolling “test” on five lakes. Several counties included by 1961. 1,642 lakes allow trolling. Governor Gaylord Nelson was a strong opponent of trolling, calling it a “lazy man’s way to fish” (Milwaukee Journal, October 12, 1961).

1962 — Trolling is banned on all waters except Lake Winnebago, Big Green, Wisconsin/Minnesota, Wisconsin/Iowa, and outlying waters on lakes Superior and Michigan. Six total waters allowed trolling.