Any other musky fisherman?

[Randy Price]

I've enjoyed musky fishing in N. WI for the past 25 years.  Only caught one decent one in all that time, however, I usually only go 3-4 days a year in early October.  I fish primarily in the St. Germain and Cable area of WI.

[Further North]

Yessir.

I'm over in NW WI, and we chase muskies with both flies and conventional gear all season.

We were up near Clam Lake yesterday, and will be out near Ladysmith tomorrow.

We fish shallow water rivers with a drift boat, and lakes.

 

[DaubsNU1]

Although I have never fished the north for Musky, there are some stocked lakes around here.

 

I've caught six in Missouri while fishing for LMB's, all back in the 1990's and early 2000's.

 

There are a few lakes here in the Metro Omaha area stocked with Musky. I landed one this spring.

[gim]

I muskie fish about 8-10 times/season, for both pure strain and tiger versions.

 

I've been out 7 times this season totaling about 28 hours and have only caught one.  I've had two other fish on that spit the hook, and had several other follows/swipes.  I have caught a lot of accidential northern pike along the way.  Probably close to 100 of them by now.

 

Minnesota has cut way back on their muskie stocking numbers in the past decade or so.  Its not a numbers game here anymore like it used to be.  There was a public survey conducted and the overwhelming response was that muskie anglers preferred a trophy over numbers.

 

I'll probably try again a few more times before I hang it up in about a month here.

 

@T-Billy is a muskie fishing machine.  Dude goes for like 10 or 12 hours without a break.

[T-Billy]

Yup, I went and caught a bad case of Musky Fever. There is no cure, and the Muskie Gorilla has ravaged my bank account to an extent the bait monkey could only dream of. 😂

On the upside, I put my 60th of the year, over 30" in the net yesterday, and some of the best fishing of the year is right around the corner!!! 

Biggest of the year so far is this 46.5" caught under the August full moon.

 

 

 

[WRB]

BR member interested in musky lures I have 12 lures you can have for the cost of shipping the lot.

1. Paul Bunyan 66

4. Mepps Giant Killers

1. Musky Hawk

4. Suick Musky Killer 9”

1. Swim Whizz 8

1. Bobby 8”

PM your email for photo

Tom

[Randy Price]

My old boss loved fishing The Greater St. Germain Musky Tournament held the first weekend in October in St. Germain, WI.  He introduced me to it in about 2002 and I've been hooked ever since.  I now belong to a local fishing club here in Rockford, IL and we have out own little tournament on Lake Namakagon in Cable, WI the second weekend in October.  We all stay at the Lakewood's Resort and have a good time fish or not.

[WRB]

1 hour ago, WRB said:

BR member interested in musky lures I have 12 lures you can have for the cost of shipping the lot.

1. Paul Bunyan 66

4. Mepps Giant Killers

1. Musky Hawk

4. Suick Musky Killer 9”

1. Swim Whizz 8

1. Bobby 8”

PM your email for photo

Tom

OP got them!

Tom

[OHBuckets]

Yep - another one here!

 

Still chasing a 50" (PB 48.5")

[T-Billy]

13 minutes ago, OHBuckets said:

Still chasing a 50" (PB 48.5")

Nice!!! I'm in the same situation.  I'm 1/4" behind ya. Those 50's are HARD to come by in our lakes, but a few get caught every year. 

[gim]

Still pursuing the hallowed 50+ degree mark here too in the pure strain realm.

 

I did accomplish my 40+ inch tiger goal in 2020, however.

 

LAX Reproductions out of Conover, WI made a replica of that fish for me.

 

 

[TnRiver46]

Don’t want any part of musky fishing, I’m a gar man 

[Further North]

9 hours ago, gimruis said:

Dude goes for like 10 or 12 hours without a break.

Sounds normal to me.

 

**********

 

I have no real interest in joining the 50" club...if I catch one, that's fine...but I prefer their smaller sisters, say 28" - 45".

 

Harder hitting, harder fighting, much more likely to be where I chase them. 

 

All 4 of my PB esox (one each, pike and musky on fly and gear) werea nudge over 48". That works for me.

 

 

[WRB]

My introduction to musky fishing was traveling to meet my fiancés parents in 1972 at Lake of the Woods, Ontario Canada. Before that trip never seen a Walleye, Pike or Musky, only pictures.

Being from SoCal the northern fish were unknown to me. I knew the lore of making 10,000 casts to catch a musky so didn’t plan on catching one.

The neighbor was a musky guide and taught me how to use musky lures and where they liked to hang out, invaluable lessons. 
I hunted musky like big bass and caught several 

If I lived in musky country they are the top predator to target. Back then a 40 lb musky was the 50” today.

I look back and think if I had my swimbaits tackle then.

Tom

[gim]

10 hours ago, Further North said:

Sounds normal to me.

 

That aint normal.  Slinging oversized lures on 8 foot rods with big baitcasting reels is not something the average bear is physically capable of doing.

[T-Billy]

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

 

That aint normal.  Slinging oversized lures on 8 foot rods with big baitcasting reels is not something the average bear is physically capable of doing.

I prefer 9' - 9.5' rods, they give me the ability to make big 8's without doing gymnastics. 400 series reels. 

 I'm 55 and haven't seriously worked out in 15 years or so. Musky fishing isn't easy, but it ain't two a days in the August sun either. The biggest toll is on the wrists and elbows IMO. 😉 

[gim]

I agree on the longer rods making it easier to sling bigger lures and do figure eights.

[T-Billy]

@gimruis, the 8 is where they matter most IMO. With a 9.5' I can make nice wide 8's while standing straight up, with the rod butt tucked under my arm. No contortions required, and I'm in a position where I have lots of leverage on the hookset. 

 As a side note: I'm very happy with my Daiwa Prorex rods. They're a lot of rod for the $$$. They're a bit overrated power wise though. I'd recommend buying one power up from what you think you need.

 While I'm on the gear subject, the Piscifun Alijos 400 is an unbelievable reel for the $$$. Every bit as smooth as my Tranx and Lexa's for a LOT less money. Other than the graphite palming side plate, it's absolutely on par. I have the better part of the season on a couple now with zero issues. In fact the only thing I like about the Tranx better is it's size, and that's only when throwing smaller baits. Both my Tranx clutches like to engage occasionally when casting, and they have the worst line lay of the three reels. I don't see any more of them in my future. The Alijos is pretty much I identical in size to the Lexa.

[Further North]

14 hours ago, gimruis said:

 

That aint normal.  Slinging oversized lures on 8 foot rods with big baitcasting reels is not something the average bear is physically capable of doing.

9.5 hours, and 10.3 miles of river today...no motor...we rowed the whole thing. 

 

And foot long flies on 9 ft. 10 and 12 wt. fly rods...

[Susky River Rat]

I am an ex musky nut. I used to musky fish 40 hours a week. Between 1.5 hour drives one way, FFS, killing of weeds and my trips outside of PA made me realize it’s not worth it here. I also have some of the most sought after smallie water ther is 30 minutes from me. No one comes here to fish for musky. People travel from all over to fish here for smallies.

Now if i get the chance to go out of state to somewhere good I will gladly separate my shoulder ripping magdawgs.

[A-Jay]

There's plenty of them here.

I don't fish for musky as I'm eternally chasing brown bass.

The musky always seem to catch me.

Some I get, some I don't.

Bass gear always leaves me feeling like I've brought a little knife to a big gun fight.

Same goes for the bigger pike.

A-Jay

 

[T-Billy]

Heck yeah, @A-Jay!!! Gotta love those FAT pre-spawn four footers!!!

 

[Bankbeater]

I've caught musky in three of the stocked lakes here in Missouri.  Nothing trophy size, just big enough to put up a good fight.  The larger ones give me that look like they thinking "how big of a bite could I take out of that guy".

[gim]

18 hours ago, Further North said:

9.5 hours, and 10.3 miles of river today...no motor...we rowed the whole thing. 

You guys are machines.

 

I need to join another pickleball league. 

[Further North]

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

You guys are machines.

 

I need to join another pickleball league. 

Not really.

 

You get into the rhythm and it sort of just happens.