Further North

Yes, this... A few folks I know will drop the sucker in and fish normally at the same time. One guy I know catches his suckers first, then goes after the muskies.

We're on the same page, that's why the ? ...but there's a ton of TU mumbers who join (like I do) to support their habitat work. At least half of the TU members I know fit that description. The water in the trout streams winds up in our bigger rivers and lakes, pretty quickly. There's a trout stream a mile from my house that progresses from brook trout, to brown trout, to smallies and pike, to one of the major Wisconsin river systems with smallies, pike and muskies (and sturgeon, catfish and everything else that lives in a big river in less than ten miles from the spring fed headwaters to the confluence with the bigger river. There's three more like that within 10 miles. I support the heck out of their projects on the trout streams because they improve water quality where the big fish live. ...and there's some insanely big trout (20"+) in the section of the stream closest to my house. There's nothing wrong with using bait...I just can't stand dealing with it. I friend of mine fishes big suckers (like 18" - 20") for muskies in the fall...and I still like him. ? You can have my electronics when you pry them from my cold, dead fingers. ? ...but I also run a drift boat about half the time...that doesn't even have a motor, much less any electronics.

I'm a Trout Unlimited member...I'll bet $100 that chat wouldn't go like you'd expect... ? The only time I have fun with that kind of thing is when some angler that thinks whatever fish it is they chase is better than everything else, I'll toss out, "Muskies eat those!" ? I target bass, but never use live bait, or (shiver) troll. Same, except I don't fish for panfish. There's always something to go after.

I chase them a lot, both gear and flies, and all of what you wrote can be true. What do to keep it from being a grind is switch things up. Muskies for an hour, then go chase pike and smallies for a bit...repeat. My "single species" friends don't always enjoy it at first...but most have a ton of fun and get into it. Around here that'd chase most ice fisherman off the lake. ...which is a win.

Yup

I'd check out Temple Forks outfitters. I don't know if they still make them, but I've got a 9 ft. baitcaster set up for lobbing spoons and it's a heck of a rod.

My knowledge is pretty specific to what I do (smallies, pike and musky) and I have a lot more to learn. That's a tough question, and I"m not sure how to give you a complete answer. I'll use flies anywhere, at any time, when I feel like it - they are often (but not anywhere near always) at least as effective as gear (which I also use a lot). One place flies are more effective than gear is on the days when even a finesse bite isn't what I was hoping for. Flies can be even "finessier", if that makes sense? They can also do things gear can't...I suspend a fly and let the current pulse the fibers, hair, and feathers in ways that lures can't emulate. I can do similar with rod tip pulses, wiggling the rod, or tiny micro strips with my line hand. I've seen this set off neutral fish plenty of times. One thing worth noting: Your connection to the hook is much more direct than with gear, if you are keeping your line tight. You are holding the line in your hand and not relying on the rod to transmit subtle bites. I don't see a lot of reason to try to emulate gear presentations with fly rods...that's what I have gear for...but I will go to similar profiles and colors because they are known to work. Lots of baitfish streamers have a profile similar to Rapalas...

Most of my bass fly fishing is done with an 8 wt. I have several, each set up for a different presentation. I have an 8 wt. Orvis Helios 3F for poppers, a TFO Axiom II for intermediate sinking line (mid water column streamers, or shallow water streamers), and a Chippewa River Custom Rods one piece Predator for big streamers with sinking lines. I'll occasionally drop down to a 7 wt. for smaller streamers - there I use a St. Croix Bank robber. I have a few flies I'll go down to a 6 wt. for: Small poppers (like on a size 6 hook), Ol' Mr. Wiggley flies, and stuff like woolly buggers...I had a custom two piece made for these by Foxtail Custom Rods...and it's a sweet set up. I've got a couple back-ups: A Scott backs up the Helios, a St. Croix SOLE is a great big popper rod, A Risen Goliath backs up my Axiom II...and I have a 6 wt. TFO Mangrove to back up the Foxtail.

It's a me thing - I am bad at anything that is even close to a "sit and wait" process. Muskies are a low percentage endeavor as it is, and drifting a float through a hole multiple times in the hope that Big Momma will eat doesn't seem like a thing I'd have the patience for. I lack the patience for nymphing, for running a stonefly for steelehead, even for jigging for walleyes. Like I said, it's a me thing, I'm not criticizing. ...I do have an idea for a set up similar to this involving a 9 ft. steelhead casting rod, a baitcasting reel, a floating fly line, a float, and a "balanced fly" that I want to try...mostly to prove a point with some folks. But I doubt I'll use it once I prove it works.

Thanks folks...sounds like it'd work well for late season muskies in the deep holes on rivers. ...not sure I have the patience for it though.

I'll bet you're right. This is very close to what some folks are doing for muskies in the fall, but they're doing it with fly rods and calling it "fly fishing". How heavy are those center pin flies - or how much weight is on the line? Making your own stuff is fun, and rewarding. I have not tied any jigs, but lots of flies, and I have partnered with a friend to pour our own soft plastics.

I just finished watching a couple videos...I can see it being efficient. ...It looks a lot like steelhead fishing here on the Brule which I've tried a few times.

I've never fished a center pin. Never even really looked at the process or what fishing one looks like.

That's why I recommended a guide. A guide is very likely to put you on musky...after that it's up to you. ...fishing with an experienced local would be a close 2nd.

About right from where I sit too. Fishing low pressure rivers ups the average a bit (last time out we moved 6, had 3 on). I fish with a guide a couple times a year to learn new things. In all the years I've done it, we've only had one day with zero fish.

To put it in perspective: I wouldn't reveal a spot for a world record.

Musky are fun, but they are a commitment. If you have to travel to fish for them, and want a reasonable shot on a short trip, hire a guide.

Lots of people find the pike I chase undesirable. I prefer them to bass...

Everyone is easy to find...'specially when they stick their name on a record.

For you, or for the water? For the water: Overfishing, overuse. For you: Attention, people bugging you, reduced privacy... We have an insane amount of water around here, and I still wouldn't do it. I can't think of single reason why I'd want to...

Not a chance. I've never been, and never will be, a trophy chaser, and the last thing I want is the attention that'd come with a record. Odds are excellent that no one but me, and whoever I was fishing with, would even know about such a fish. ...and hotspotting the water I caught it in? No way, no exceptions.

In the 4th picture down, there's a foot long pink blur in front of me in the rower's seat. ...that's the fly. We're working an outside bend hole that's maybe 10 or 12 ft. wide, and 50 ft. long. That's where the big girls hide.

Tuesday I floated a hunk of river with an old friend, and another friend and his son from central Illinois. We saw six muskies (four follows, two on, but none in the net...that's what musky fly fishing looks like). Our friend from Illinois took the first "in action" photos of my drift boat, and I thought some of you might like to see them. I figure leaving the background in is OK, because the only way anyone knows it is if they've floated it... A short video too: We'd just had a follow, and Brian was in "throw back" mode.

I'm actually about 90 minutes east of @gimruis, but much more rural. ...and I have rivers where most folks can't get conventional watercraft. Floated about 9 miles yesterday, had six musky follows, two on, none in the net.

Yeah, you deal with probably 20x the pressure I do. Maybe more. ...the water isn't any clearer though.