Originally Posted by
jonk
I'd surely disagree. I started fishing for Walleye in the 80s when I was 10, and on into the mid 90s, you could go out with some forward weight lures and slay them. Plenty of hogs, it was rare to get one under 20". I remember me, dad, and two other guys limiting out without issue. Even on hot August days, even if you didn't feel like casting in the dead calm, just dump the Erie Dearie or Tom's or Reef Runner over the side and you'd pick up fish.
I think that trolling came to be out of necessity because the density of the fish just isn't there, for which I soundly blame the closing of the hatchery on South Bass. You need to cover more ground to get your bait in front of the fish. Personally I hate trolling. I have a 94 Thompson 240 with Volvo duoprops that, even with the engine tuned down so it's just above coughing, still goes way too fast. 2 drift socks and 4 buckets will get it down to a suitable trolling speed, but that's a lot of junk to have in the water. It's also not a boat that's easy to mount a kicker motor on, with a very high transom.
These days I'll drift in the spring, up through June, troll through June and maybe early July, and just give up and fish for perch after that. Not wasting a ton on gas to pick up just a few fish.
I will say that the last few years, things have improved. Day was a few years ago, I'd go out and get skunked more often than not. Maybe I limit out these days, maybe not, but I usually don't get skunked. But the best days? Hardly.