Please don't take this the wrong way, but I find hard to believe you hadn't caught a muskie in 15 years out of that lake. As others have mentioned, I would bail on the trolling and cast. It shouldn't take long to hook up with a fish that way (2 full days tops).
Larry, I'm glad you were able to get to the bottom of that. A 53" out of Chautauqua would be a great fish! I can't help but think a few are in there, but I don't think I have ever seen a picture of one over 52". You would know better. What was the biggest fish you have ever caught or seen a creditable picture of out of Chautauqua?