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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | Just wondering if you guys have an idea what you have spent on muskie gear over the years and if it was worth it.
Not including boats, electronics, motors, tow vehicle, batteries, fuel,. Lodging etc.
For me... 25 years chasing muskies, maybe $6,000.-$7,000.
Probably 30% of that was not spent very well ?
Edited by Top H2O 1/20/2022 2:38 PM
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Posts: 3469
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya,
I would say I am probably in that same ballpark. Been fishing for muskies since I was almost 9 years old (summer of 1980). Didn't get a new lure until the following summer (good old mepps muskie killer tandem that I think I paid $4.95 for at that time). Lure buying didn't really start until I was in middle school and had purchased my first level-wind reel (still have it...1985 ambassadeur 5000) and rod.... Then lures started coming in...
upgrades as years have gone on to where now, an upgrade of a rod and reel can push over $500 easily... Adds up fast!!
Steve |
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| When I first got back into musky fishing after a long absence, I bought a rod that really was not very good and did not get much use except as a sucker rod. That was one equipment mistake that I have tried not to repeat. I did no research, asked no one.
Lures. Hmmm. I have a couple boxes full, but really only use about a dozen on a regular basis. Don't know if that is really money poorly spent or not. Like to try new things, so that has to be of some worth. I think 30-40% of money spent on lures was probably not real well spent.
Interesting question. |
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Posts: 593
Location: Duluth | Used to get a yearly total from the MuskyShop, I stopped doing this 2 years ago because fishing is my 2nd biggest expense other than housing. Throw in totals for boat upgrades etc. and I get very sick in the stomach |
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Posts: 200
Location: Milwaukee, WI | Spent more money than I should, but I don’t drink, don’t smoke so what do I do… chase skies. Should’ve done more research in the beginning, would’ve saved money in the past. Definitely pays to ask around and do research. All I can say is get good stuff that does the job right and you’ll enjoy it more. Also, if you make your own lures iit’ can also add some value to the experience. |
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Posts: 32792
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I'm an anomaly, I have a solid net profit from 23 years of guiding and 20 years in the media business. All my gear is used in the business. I started fishing muskies 54 years ago, and have done ok. Boats have always been part of my job since 1976. There could have been worse jobs, and I figure I have 5 years left in me at least. |
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| sworrall - 1/20/2022 4:51 PM
I'm an anomaly, I have a solid net profit from 23 years of guiding and 20 years in the media business. All my gear is used in the business. I started fishing muskies 54 years ago, and have done ok. Boats have always been part of my job since 1976. There could have been worse jobs, and I figure I have 5 years left in me at least.
But Steve, with all your experience and access to equipment, do you ever find yourself looking at a lure and thinking "huh, why did I buy that?". |
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Location: Athens, Ohio | This sport has enriched my life and deflated my wallet. Heck yes it was 'worth it'
. m |
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Posts: 481
Location: NW WI | mikie - 1/20/2022 6:50 PM
This sport has enriched my life and deflated my wallet. Heck yes it was 'worth it'
. m
Amen to that!
No clue what's ben spent, don't care either. Unused yearly cashed out PTO and than some OT pay goes to new toys with hooks. Bout the only bait I can think I regret is buying 2 of those big Savage gear ducks. |
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Posts: 2276
Location: Chisholm, MN | No idea how much I spend but it’s all been worth it. Muskie fishing is basically my identity. Sometimes it feels like a chore but after the season closes all I can think about is how I’m going to make next year memorable again. |
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Posts: 21
Location: NJ | I'll chime in if you all don't mind. I've been a hardcore bass fisherman for many years, so I know stuff isn't cheap. My goal this year is to specially target Muskies which I've never done before. 3 rods, 3 reels, and tackle I'm about $1,400 in so far which I don't mind. |
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Posts: 205
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota | Well in rods and reels I know I have almost 6k. 3 10ft Thorne predators, a legend elite and two legend tournaments. 3 diawa lexa TWS 400, 2 lexa hd 400s, tranx 400, Calcutta d 400, and a tranx 300. Granted some of those I am trying to sell but still stuff I’ve spent money on. I’ve.been musky fishing the last 4 years but didn’t get dedicated to it being the only species I target until 2021 so I don’t have a crazy amount of baits, maybe 1-1.5k. Probably half of the lures I’ve bought used or made myself so didn’t spend that much |
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Posts: 2276
Location: Chisholm, MN | Ogandrews - 1/21/2022 6:32 AM
Well in rods and reels I know I have almost 6k. 3 10ft Thorne predators, a legend elite and two legend tournaments. 3 diawa lexa TWS 400, 2 lexa hd 400s, tranx 400, Calcutta d 400, and a tranx 300. Granted some of those I am trying to sell but still stuff I’ve spent money on. I’ve.been musky fishing the last 4 years but didn’t get dedicated to it being the only species I target until 2021 so I don’t have a crazy amount of baits, maybe 1-1.5k. Probably half of the lures I’ve bought used or made myself so didn’t spend that much
Sounds like you have a lot of stuff for having just started! |
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Posts: 426
| More than my wife will ever know and worth every penny! |
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Posts: 120
Location: Twin Cities Metro | I am in for about $1500 in rod/reel set-ups since my return to the sport. I was pretty careful in my shopping, though, and bought pretty nice stuff at great prices. Now that I know more about my style and needs, I will be upgrading when things need replacing. Baits? Probably about an equal amount. My spending on baits has dropped precipitously the last two years now that I have most of the tools I need.
My three hobbies are muskies, wargaming, and electric guitar (metal forever!). One is outside, one is social, and the third is for the cold months. I am absolutely happy with the money I’ve spend on each (which is close to equal, all told).
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Posts: 516
Location: WI | I just sold a box of “why did I buy that?” lures on Craigslist. I did not get back what I spent on them. |
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Posts: 32792
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | North of 8 - 1/20/2022 6:35 PM
sworrall - 1/20/2022 4:51 PM
I'm an anomaly, I have a solid net profit from 23 years of guiding and 20 years in the media business. All my gear is used in the business. I started fishing muskies 54 years ago, and have done ok. Boats have always been part of my job since 1976. There could have been worse jobs, and I figure I have 5 years left in me at least.
But Steve, with all your experience and access to equipment, do you ever find yourself looking at a lure and thinking "huh, why did I buy that?".
Back in the 70's and 80's, it was all personal interaction, so buying lure then was more of a process of discovery than it is now. If I didn't like a bait, I modified it until I did. A number of those mods are still in play today, some claimed as innovation by the builders.
I get a lot of lures sent to me to try. Some have been not what I like to throw, but most are fine. I haven't bought many for years, and when I do I already know what the bait will do from this place. The new Livingston Lures models have my attention this year. I've done some inventing over the years (creatures and a couple topwaters). It also helps to have a son who builds baits. |
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Posts: 481
Location: NW WI |
I get a lot of lures sent to me to try. Some have been not what I like to throw, but most are fine. I haven't bought many for years, and when I do I already know what the bait will do from this place. The new Livingston Lures models have my attention this year. I've done some inventing over the years (creatures and a couple topwaters). It also helps to have a son who builds baits.
Have you gotten to try Livingstons (I forget the name) muskie sized "Slingshot"? That all rubber glide/jerk bait? |
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Posts: 8719
| I'd hate to add up all the money I ever spent back when I had 8 weeks of paid vacation and used it all for fishing trips. Truck boat and travel aside, I'd say I've spent a couple thousand on rods and reels over the years and probably $5,000 on lures. Well spent? The only "regret" I have is the amount I spent on lures in the first couple years not knowing what I was buying and why, and thinking you needed every color in the rainbow. I've sold most of them since then but I still have lures that have never been wet. |
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Posts: 1970
| I've spent roughly $5,500 is rods and reels over the last 25 years chasing these stupid fish, don't feel like trying to add up everything else..worth it? yep! |
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Posts: 157
Location: West Central WI | I'm not sure I care to consider all that I've spent on muskie fishing. It has been enjoyment all the way. Even though a lot of it can be frustrating at times, it's all part of the hobby I choose to continue. Some people spend money on travel, exotic cars, crazy homes and just about anything as long as it gives them joy. If I only thought of muskie fishing as what it cost, I'd quit. It's been a lot, but so has it brought me joy and friendship, I might add. |
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Location: Athens, Ohio | My homeowner's insurance will let me list the boat and gives allowances for tackle and such. Each January, I hang up all the baits and rods and take photos. Ya never know. m |
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Posts: 1186
| Yes, I have way too much stuff plus all the stuff I bought for my dad and he's pasted on. I'm a real happy guy when on the water or in the woods. I'm not a expert on these things but they are never far from my mind. Thanks for putting up with my posts. |
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Posts: 479
Location: Northern Illinois | I have spent, like a lot of others here, a lot of money helping keep bait builders and tackle manufacturers in business. I don't regret any of it. In fact I look forward to it, although my spending has slowed down in recent years only having to maintain my habit. I look at it as 2 seasons: (1) fishing season and (2) buying/selling season. Fishing is the best by far, but I do like the Muskie Expo and flea markets in the winter. |
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Posts: 1186
| Yup bait builders, tackle shops, restaurants, resorts, (the whole north woods economy) Just look when a killer lure comes out and if sales go down or they get bored of making lures and sale to someone else and the quality goes down. Or you buy a lure then it starts catching fish and its off the market. |
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| What is money well spent or not well spent is, like most things, a matter of perspective.
Saw that a nice restaurant in Rhinelander is having some fancy drinks just for the Packer game tomorrow. Both are green in color and will be garnished with lemon and lime to kind of get the 'green and gold' effect. Both the martini and the margarita are priced at $11. I think that is a lot of money for a martini. The people buying them probably think $35 for a rubber bait is a lot of money. Perspective. |
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Posts: 1668
| I'm not what anybody would consider a Muskie guy. I have a few baits that I throw and a few that I troll. Can you put a value on a kids eyes when he touches a bait and asks what's that for? The wonder in their eyes?
In my years I've given away baits & plastics to kids on the shoreline or docks many, many times. I will confess the Muskie stuff is to expensive to give to kids but they do like to talk, touch & look at them, So, like Steve I feel I'm ahead of the game. |
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Posts: 2004
| I've bought an older boat, multiple combos, untold lures blah blah blah... all to chase muskies on Vermilion 4-5 weeks a year. As the bite has changed over the years, I have branched out to different waters. No lure, graph, or new water has improved my numbers. It's the adventure and time on the water I crave. Getting into the spring stripers down here has opened up a new set of adventures as well. Worth it, of course!
Let me add this too, I've met some pretty cool guys and a few great friends along the way. Those connections make this obsession worth it.
Edited by ARmuskyaddict 1/22/2022 1:34 PM
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Posts: 205
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota | Kirby Budrow - 1/21/2022 7:14 AM
Ogandrews - 1/21/2022 6:32 AM
Well in rods and reels I know I have almost 6k. 3 10ft Thorne predators, a legend elite and two legend tournaments. 3 diawa lexa TWS 400, 2 lexa hd 400s, tranx 400, Calcutta d 400, and a tranx 300. Granted some of those I am trying to sell but still stuff I’ve spent money on. I’ve.been musky fishing the last 4 years but didn’t get dedicated to it being the only species I target until 2021 so I don’t have a crazy amount of baits, maybe 1-1.5k. Probably half of the lures I’ve bought used or made myself so didn’t spend that much
Sounds like you have a lot of stuff for having just started!
I got all of the st croix’s, tranx and Calcuttas 3-4 years ago. This summer I picked up one of the predators and liked it enough that I decided that’s all I want to fish. I’m going to be listing everything besides the predators/lexa tws for sale. Those st croixs are awesome rods but my whole idea with getting the predators is that with a h, xh, and xxh I can use those for literally anything musky fishing wise and not ever really need anything else unless I break them. I’ll put the stuff im selling here and the flee market as it’s all lightly used and still in great shape. |
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Posts: 394
Location: WI | Over $2700 in my current rod & reel combos, probably $4000 or more in lures, & about $250 in line & leaders. $80 for a used Lakewood Monster, $50 for a new Frabill Power Catch net (a friend gave me a great deal), another $75 for a bunch of Plano 3700's, $300 for a Gore Tex rainsuit (on sale), $90 for a Musky Bumper, and roughly $80 for release tools. I could've saved about $9000 & alot of frustration if I'd just stuck to walleye & smallmouth fishing. |
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