Musky Fishing

[Ben W]

Hey BR! My family has been going up to northern wisconsin for about 14 years now and it might be our last year this year. We go up every year, middle of july, and enjoy a week of fishing. My dad has lost two muskies that looked well over 45". Right when he was about to get it out of the water they it jolted back downward and cut the line.(Both were on 8 lb test fishing with a bobber and worm and we bought a net:. I want him to catch a musky this year because it might be our last, so I was wondering what is a go to lure for muskies that could be a sure catch like a senko worm is to bass? If any wisconsonites out there, Little St. Germain Lake, Vilas County in St. Germain. Give me some good ones and I'll buy some for him

[firefightn15]

First off, don't worry about having all the fancy stuff. And don't worry about using a tree branch for fishing gear. Find a Mepp's #5 bucketail or two. Black w/silver blade and maybe a brown (squirreltail) w/gold blade. Also find a 9" black Suick, and maybe acouple of daredevils. FInd a ambassadeur 5500c baitcaster (if you in to them) and a 6'6" heavy action rod rated for 10-30 lb test. You can also get a decent spinning reel in the daiwa 3500 category w/6'6" heavy action spinning rod. If your being concervative, you should get either set up for $100-125.

Then find some #40 PowerPro or similar line, and your good to go. Don't forget to use good leaders!

[basser89]

While I've landed several muskies on bass gear, I would suggest targetting them with a bass rod (even a heavy power). My partner can testify that a good musky will destroy these rods if (or better worded, WHEN) it gets a chance! Gander Mountain carries musky rods that are pretty good (I have two) that are real expensive. I'd match it up, like firefightn15 suggested, with an Abu 5500C.

For baits, bucktails for sure, maybe some Bucher Depth Raiders or Shallow Raiders, Swim Whizz, and Bucher Top Raider (top water and there's nothing like seeing a monster crush a top water bait!!!!).

I prefer mono over braid. I'm currently spooled up with 30# Berkley Big Game. While I swear by the hard mono and fluro leaders (60-80#) my partner ties (for everything but bucktails), I would suggest a good steel leader. Berkley Steel-On are the ones I like (45#). I like a longer leader (the 45" musky in my signature had a head almost 12" long) so I would suggest 18" but you can get away with 12". Personnally, I wouldn't go any shorter than that.

Lastly, I'd recommend at least one Lindy fishing glove and a hook remover (the longer the better)! I paid the price in '04 by not being properly geared and tried to remove a hook from one I landed with a pair of pliers. Let's just say a trip to the hospital was needed when it was all said and done.  :-[

Hopefully, MuskSlyr will see this post and be able to give you some insight as well!

Hope this helps and best of luck in your toothy critter quest!!!!

[firefightn15]

 I agree, a big fish, bare hand, and sharp hooks are a recipe for ER call.  Last month a friend of mine was  trying to remove his bait from a 40 something pike when it started thrashing.  Ended up getting hookeddeep in the index finger with the fish still fighting him.  Some other fishermen helped him get it out, but he said it was one of the most painful experiences he's ever had.

good call basser89! 8-)

[NorDoor]

A close friend of mine was up in Northern Wisconsin last weekend.They had a fantastic weekend. Boated 3 fish over 40 inches!.They had numerous other blow ups on their top water baits.

The go to bait for them was a Top water lure called "Poes Giant Jackpot" It floats which makes it very easy for novices to use.I'll be going up in a few weeks myself self and I'll be throwing that 100% of the time.

[basser89]

I agree, a big fish, bare hand, and sharp hooks are a recipe for ER call. Last month a friend of mine was trying to remove his bait from a 40 something pike when it started thrashing. Ended up getting hookeddeep in the index finger with the fish still fighting him. Some other fishermen helped him get it out, but he said it was one of the most painful experiences he's ever had.

good call basser89! 8-)

Thanks! That's basically what happened to me. Was fishing from shore and landed a 45" musky. Went to remove the hook with my leatherman and it buried two hooks into my pointer and middle fingers. Needless to say, the bait remained hooked to me and the musky until help arrived. While my hand went numb immediately, that's not an experience I wish on anyone else ever!!!!

[KYntucky Warmouth]

Well, i'm not from WI but at Cave Run in KY I hear alot about inline bucktail spinners.  I've never really been musky fishing but have heard some talk around the lake.  

Crash Mullins, a guide on Cave Run, speaks very highly of super stalkers.

[billbrum]

DON'T use bass gear. You will regret it. Buy a rod and reel just for muskies. If you don't want to buy a rod, use your flipping stick.

Don't go any lighter than 65# superbraid. Mono  has too musch stretch and muskies have a very hard mouth so you need all the hooksetting power you can get.   For baits I would suggest bulldawgs and bucktails and pacemakers (a topwater bait).

But if anything make sure you are using a nice high quality leader. And stay away from musky bill's leaders, they break.  I use Stealth Tackle leaders in 130 lb test. They are made of fluorocarbon and they are 14 inches long. They are the most popular leader among the muskie crowd right now.

Also get a nice pair of fish handling gloves, they have teeth they thrash and to grab them you have to put your hand by the gill rakers.

Hope that helped.

If you have anymore questions send me a pm.

[Max-in-Mn]

Good advice, billbrum! My cousin came Muskie fishing with me once and all he brought was spinning gear! I asked him "where is your muskie stuff!?!", he replied "this is it". Doh! Anyhow, I would look into a Shimano Compre Muskie rod paired with a Garcia 6500. This setup could very well last your lifetime. For lures you can get some Muskie candy bucktails {can't go wrong with black!} or similar, jerkbaits in a few sizes and colors, huge terminator spinnerbaits, and some topwater {not recommended if you have a weak heart!}. Hope you guys catch a giant and have a blast!

[MskSlyr]

A lot of good advice I see and I would have to agree on the no bass gear if possible, having proper tools (including glove). The only thing I would like to add is to make sure if you are going to purchase a rod make sure it will throw a decent range of weights. I would not look at one unless you could throw at least 3oz bait with it. Just a thought.

[MALTESE FALCON]

Here on St. Clair, these are some of the baits I throw:

Bucktails

Swim Whizz/Believers

Large Spinnerbait

Zara Mag Spook

Shallow Raider

X-Rap Jointed Shad

Good luck,

Falcon

[Bream Master]

If you're just looking to catch and not really gonna get into it hardcore, in my opinion, big in-line spinners work very well.  I like black with orange and yellow.  Big Rapala lures work just fine too.  I've got a buddy who catches them on big, cheap saltwater swimbaits.  Go figure. Don't make it too complicated for yourself.  

[firefightn15]

In my first post I offered the option of a spinning set up.  And I stand by it.  I don't reccomend it, but the post did not mention if his dad used baitcasters.  And I'm gueesing, by the post, he probably doesn't.

Landing muskies with spinning gear is not optimum, but I've had to do it over the years. I was only offering him an alternative to breaking his wallet.

25 yrs ago the heaviest line I fished with was 30# test dacron, and it worked famously.  Nowdays I use 20# test mono with a darn good leader.  Not that it couldn't happen, but I haven't had to cry yet.

[Ben W]

Wow guys, thanks! I've written down just about everything you have given me. For large rapalas, is something like a rapala magnum good? And yes, he uses spinning reels.

[Tom Bass]

I have only caught one Muskie. It was on a purple Lazy Ike flatfish lure. I stuck my fingers too far up into the gills and WHAM. Yeah, it hurt.

My Dad was a serious MuskieHolic. He used live bait a lot but his lures were big Mepps spinners with brass spinners in yellow and black. He also used Rapala original floaters in silver and black and fished them like a wounded minnow. He caught some big ones! He used heavy rods with bait casting reels, braided line and steel leaders.

That was back in the late 60's. Boy he really used to ***** when he had a backlash. He loved spinning rods but never used them for Muskie.