Tips For A Fist Time Musky Fisherman

[big poppa]

I just found out that a local lake stocks musky annually. As the winter creeps up I wanted to shift my attention to the new found resource. I dont know anything about musky fishing really except for trolling is a major technique used. As a bass fisherman I mostly chuck bigger swimbaits, various top water lures, and crankbaits. Any tips or suggestions for a starting spot would be greatly appreciated. Tight lines. 

[Scott F]

Sharp hooks. Muskies have tough mouths and your hooks must be as sharp as they can be or you will lose fish. You don't get a lot of bites so you want to be sure when you get one you have a good chance of landing him. Even with good sharp hooks you still won't land them all, but you will up your odds.

[big poppa]

Thank you sir!

[OntarioFishingGuy]

If you want numbers of good sized fish, trolling along creek channels and in open water is the way to go. If you want some exciting strikes, try casting or jigging on the tips of points, deep humps, weedbeds/weedlines and shorelines. As far as equipment goes, a 7'6'' to 9' heavy power casting rod with a 200/400 sized low-profile or round casting reel, spooled with 40-100lb braid, depending on the size of the baits you will be throwing. As far as lures go, big topwaters, bucktails and crankbaits work well, as do big plastics. But keep in mind that muskies will attack smaller lures readily as well. One of my best producing muskie baits is actually a 3/4 oz Rapala BX Swimmer. Make sure you use either a 50-150lb flourocarbon leader, or a wire leader to prevent cutoffs. Tie your knots right, and hold on!

[big poppa]

I have an Okuma EvX  H 7'6" Musky rod (2-6oz) and Diawa Millionaire s 300 reel that I use for swimbait fishing. Thanks for the tips sir!

[OntarioFishingGuy]

Great setup, my buddy runs an EVX and Milionaire and catches some huge 50''+ fish.

[SirSnookalot]

Great setup, my buddy runs an EVX and Milionaire and catches some huge 50''+ fish.

Nice set up but certainly not needed for 50" or even 50# fish.  The rod is needed if using lures up to 6 oz and if the fish has to be pulled thru vegetation.  50" (barracuda) and 50 pounders (tarpon) have been caught by me many times using a mh spinning rod, 4000 reel and 20# braid, I'm not using lures more than an ounce or so, most fish here are caught in open water.

[OntarioFishingGuy]

Most muskie lures (that I use) are 4-10oz, and I do fish around weeds quite often, but I do agree that they can be caught on lighter gear.

[spartyon8]

I caught a 38" one on 8lb flouro and a Havoc Pit Boss.

[VolFan]

Go big or go home, that is all. Big baits around big cover, and get them away from that cover quickly.

[SirSnookalot]

Most muskie lures (that I use) are 4-10oz, and I do fish around weeds quite often, but I do agree that they can be caught on lighter gear.

That's exactly my point, most fish don't pose much of a landing problem, it's the lure and the water conditions that dictate the gear.  Muskie are fragile and lack stamina they should be landed as quick as possible, it's a magnificent beast that should be handled with care.  We handle tarpon the same way, they can go belly up, conversely there are fish that after 30 minutes look at you as if to say " is that all you got?", and swim off unphased.

[tomustang]

They are called the fish of a thousand casts for a reason, so don't be discouraged if you don't get any the first time out

[big poppa]

Thanks for your input guys. Im going to start out with either an 8" Savage gear line thru swimbait or a 8" hudd. Going to be throwing some bigger top water such as a lunker punker as well. From what I understand I have to use a leader to prevent tooth damage to the line. What would be the best kind without effecting the action? Would 65lb braid work? 

[SirSnookalot]

I hope you didn't mean 65# braid as your leader, I'm sure you didn't.  Braid is strong, most brands will break maybe 50% higher than the label, personally my braids don't exceed 20# and in rare cases it's 30# and that takes one heck of a fish to break that, proper drag settings take the pressure off line and knots.  The leader is important, for lure protection wire is a good idea.  Several leader options, single strand "piano wire" using a haywire twist, coated wire (surflon) crimped, some people use tieable wire, I have not but i'm sure it works it fine.  As long as there is a loop to the the lure there shouldn't be any problem with movement.

[big poppa]

My hudd is rigged with 65lb braid on the Butch Brown rig and I didnt know if I would have to redo it. The only toothy creatures I catch are Northern Snake heads. Ive caught a 12lber with 10lb floro. I dont really know anything about musky. I found some floro leaders while doing some research. What would yall recommend?

[Bluebasser86]

Thanks for your input guys. Im going to start out with either an 8" Savage gear line thru swimbait or a 8" hudd. Going to be throwing some bigger top water such as a lunker punker as well. From what I understand I have to use a leader to prevent tooth damage to the line. What would be the best kind without effecting the action? Would 65lb braid work? 

I've caught 11 muskies in my fishing career (closest muskie lake is 3 hours from here). Of those, 1 was caught actually fishing for them. The rest were all fishing for bass with mono, fluoro, or braid with no leader. If you're actually going to target them, by all means go with a leader, but not using one isn't a complete death wish like I'd always heard. I use the Terminator titanium leaders, regular steel leaders kink easily and become worthless.

[Lucky Craft Man]

The best leader I have found are Stealth Fluorocarbon Leaders.  The won't kink and I have yet to have one fail or a fish break me off with his teeth while using one.  one 130# and up would work. 

[Jolly Green]

My hudd is rigged with 65lb braid on the Butch Brown rig and I didnt know if I would have to redo it. 

 

Does that mean that you cut off the stock hook and have a treble hook attached to the eye with 65 lb. braid? If so, that could be a problem, and you might consider doing it over with wire. Oh, and don't forget to look at the camera and say, "This is the way you do it, doctor, IF you rig it MY way!"

[big poppa]

I've caught 11 muskies in my fishing career (closest muskie lake is 3 hours from here). Of those, 1 was caught actually fishing for them. The rest were all fishing for bass with mono, fluoro, or braid with no leader. If you're actually going to target them, by all means go with a leader, but not using one isn't a complete death wish like I'd always heard. I use the Terminator titanium leaders, regular steel leaders kink easily and become worthless.

My main target will start out targeting bass but switch to muskie. I want to throw bigger baits for the bass since the water is usually clear but dont want to loose them haha. I am going to start using a leader and change if I dont get any bites. I am definitely going to use them on baits $50+ .  

[big poppa]

Does that mean that you cut off the stock hook and have a treble hook attached to the eye with 65 lb. braid? If so, that could be a problem, and you might consider doing it over with wire. Oh, and don't forget to look at the camera and say, "This is the way you do it, doctor, IF you rig it MY way!"

 I always say that usually finishing it with "Hudd baits.com" 

[Scott F]

If you want to get more action (bites) with muskies, don't use the biggest baits. The big baits will catch bigger fish, but they will wear out you and your gear pretty quickly. Smaller baits especially when you are new to musky fishing will get you more hits and keep your interest up longer. 

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Rig your Savage Gear Line Thru with a fluoro leader. I was surprised at how big the actual line thru tube is. I've rigged mine up with 100lb fluoro and it still slides easily up the line.

 

PS: Don't use braid for a leader on your BB rig in toothy water. Those teeth will demolish braid. They will also demolish hudds. LOL

 

[MarkH024]

Bucktails are a staple in musky fishing.  Get some Mepps Musky Killers or Maribous make sure the hooks are nice and sharp. You'll get a follow or a fish on soon enough.

[big poppa]

Rig your Savage Gear Line Thru with a fluoro leader. I was surprised at how big the actual line thru tube is. I've rigged mine up with 100lb fluoro and it still slides easily up the line.

 

PS: Don't use braid for a leader on your BB rig in toothy water. Those teeth will demolish braid. They will also demolish hudds. LOL

 

hudd.JPG

Thanks for lookin out for my hudds speed lol I am definitely going to stock up on mend it just in case the line thru takes some teeth. 

 

Ive been extremely busy and havent been able to head out yet. I am taking some time to get everything ready and stock up on some supplies. Thank you for the tips everyone. 

[Ratherbfishing]

Bucktails are a staple in musky fishing.  Get some Mepps Musky Killers or Maribous make sure the hooks are nice and sharp. You'll get a follow or a fish on soon enough.

 

Bucktails are great, as MarkH024 states but if you have the option, use a baitcasting reel with a slower gear ratio.  Otherwise, you'll wear yourself out in a hurry.  At least with the bigger bucktails.