Pier fishing on Lake Michigan

Rather than using a rod and reel, they shoot out a trotline using a 6 oz weight attached to a rubber cord and a fire extinguisher-type tank of co2 to provide the propulsion. Unfortunately, they always seem to have set their lines by the time I show up so I have not seen the whole operation. The heavy braid line is tied off to a water-filled bucket with a bell attached. The fish is hand-lined in and the whole rig is wound on a wooden paddle when not in use. They have homemade rigs on hand trucks to cart the works out on the pier. Lots of pvc and duct tape were in evidence. One of the guys said he once fired the weight the length of a football field so they can cover a lot of water with this technique. Ever see such a thing?

No but I dont like it. I have fished Lake Mich Piers successfully twice. This type of operation would put a damper on the day for all the normal rod/reel guys.

I used what was called a trolley line. You tossed the main line out by hand. The line holding the drop lines was tied to a two wheeled “trolley cast into a piece of lead which you allowed to roll down the main line. Circa 1950. There was no catch and release just fillets. This fishing was only enjoyed after about a 30 block bike ride on a Sat.

this interests me.

is this a trot line system for salmon??

Are you looking for power lines for perch fishing, or are they doing this for trout/salmon?

My cousin in Chicago told me about this. Said he would get me some info or video. I’ll ask him.

I do not seem to remember this technique working the rocks off the south shore yacht club in South Milwaukee….

Had company over the weekend and he brought me a powerline kit and pics. Pretty interesting set up. Using an old fire extinguisher they launch the lead weight out into the lake. Packed in with wadding like a muzzle loader. Attached to it is a cord and tied to the cord is a rubber line. He said they can launch up to almost a 100 yds. The rubber line is secured upon launch and then you attach a mono line to it with droppers. The one he brought had a dozen on it. You bait the hooks and let the line pull out into the lake with the tension of the rubber line. Attaching a float somewhere on this line. So yes essentially a trotline system with a power launcher. The line will then attach to a bell device so you can hear tugging on the line as the float is not always visible. I need to go visit and see this in action.