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Muskie Fishing -> Lures,Tackle, and Equipment -> SPRING MUSKY FISHING?
 
Message Subject: SPRING MUSKY FISHING?
GREENANDBLUE
Posted 3/24/2012 11:50 AM (#548221)
Subject: SPRING MUSKY FISHING?


What are people using as far as rod, reel, line, etc? I'm interested in switching from the heavier 80lb to a 30lb line for the lighter(1-2oz) musky lures. Would this be okay? Also, what strength leader to use? Will a heavier leader impede an action of a lighter lure? Thanks for the help!
shaley
Posted 3/24/2012 12:48 PM (#548230 - in reply to #548221)
Subject: RE: SPRING MUSKY FISHING?





Posts: 1184


Location: Iowa Great Lakes
Same set ups all year, rare I even downsize bait selections...
Ronix
Posted 3/24/2012 1:25 PM (#548234 - in reply to #548230)
Subject: RE: SPRING MUSKY FISHING?




Posts: 977


shaley - 3/24/2012 1:48 PM

Same set ups all year, rare I even downsize bait selections...


agreed...the lowest I would even throw would be 65lbs test. thats for the small baits. Leaders are the same 100lbs fluoro

It could be april and id still be throwing 9" baits
The Swan
Posted 3/25/2012 10:55 AM (#548398 - in reply to #548221)
Subject: RE: SPRING MUSKY FISHING?


Like your color scheme. Here is the question: How many fish of more than 30 pounds have you caught recently? So long as the line is in good shape, and your reel has a decent drag, you should be okay. The traditional thinking is to downsize your baits for spring. Very few would not recommend this. If you are going to use lighter baits, you have to go with the rod, reel and line that will throw the lighter baits. It is as simple as that.
Ronix
Posted 3/25/2012 1:37 PM (#548426 - in reply to #548398)
Subject: Re: SPRING MUSKY FISHING?




Posts: 977


though that may be true it is important to remember that its not clear and cut just about how much a fish weighs that determines line weight...a 35" fish can easily generate enough force to break 30lbs test braid. why chance it?

in the spring i use my pike and tiger rod which is a tackle industries MH rod with a curado and 65 lbs test and can throw anything from 1 oz rapala slash baits, ninja tubes, small bucktails, and jigs perfectly with it.
esoxaddict
Posted 3/25/2012 2:13 PM (#548429 - in reply to #548221)
Subject: Re: SPRING MUSKY FISHING?





Posts: 8702


Conventional wisdom is to downsize in the spring. I really think that's more to do with your local forage base than anything. We've all heard "match the hatch", and if muskies are eating YOY whatever-their-main-diet is, it makes sense to throw something that resembles that. More and more I think the important thing is to get a lure in front of them. They're predators, they have to eat.

That said, I prefer smaller lures in the spring, with a lighter setup. After 6 months of not throwing a lure, it's nice to start out smaller and work your way up to the bigger lures as the water warms up. Besides that, you can catch a lot of other fish with small musky lures.
JKahler
Posted 3/25/2012 2:32 PM (#548435 - in reply to #548221)
Subject: Re: SPRING MUSKY FISHING?




Posts: 1283


Location: WI
Early spring, warmer water = bigger lures. I'm starting with Cowgirls and Pacemakers.
muskie24/7
Posted 3/26/2012 10:28 PM (#548780 - in reply to #548230)
Subject: RE: SPRING MUSKY FISHING?





Posts: 909


Same set ups all year, rare I even downsize bait selections...


+1
jackson
Posted 3/27/2012 7:39 AM (#548805 - in reply to #548221)
Subject: Re: SPRING MUSKY FISHING?




Posts: 582


Same setup all year. ON some lakes i downsize baits but over the last few years i have been using larger baits like the size i use in summer etc... I didn't seem to notice a difference. I just work them a little slower in the spring when the water is cold.
kodiak
Posted 3/27/2012 10:02 AM (#548832 - in reply to #548221)
Subject: Re: SPRING MUSKY FISHING?





Posts: 1224


Location: Okoboji
same same....got to get in muskie shape start large stay large.
Ronix
Posted 3/27/2012 10:19 AM (#548833 - in reply to #548832)
Subject: Re: SPRING MUSKY FISHING?




Posts: 977


kodiak - 3/27/2012 11:02 AM

same same....got to get in muskie shape start large stay large.


haha i like it!
catchandrelease
Posted 3/27/2012 11:11 AM (#548850 - in reply to #548221)
Subject: Re: SPRING MUSKY FISHING?




Well if you're able to fish for them at this time of the year, I would suggest downsizing a bit. I'll use 40lb or 50lb braid on for bass lures (rattlebaits). If you're waiting for the season to open in a few weeks/months, then use the stuff you normally would. I can't speak for parts of the Midwest, but the water temp in NY is 60s and 70s for the opener. No reason to downsize in those conditions.
gomez
Posted 3/28/2012 11:41 AM (#549079 - in reply to #548221)
Subject: Re: SPRING MUSKY FISHING?




Posts: 31


Location: Cleveland
When a knot is tied in anything the strength of knot is only 40 to 80% of whatever the line strength is. There are several variables that determine where in that range a knot will break.
tswoboda
Posted 3/28/2012 12:47 PM (#549094 - in reply to #548221)
Subject: Re: SPRING MUSKY FISHING?




Posts: 349


Spring is a very relative term to where you are in the musky range. Down south you can truly fish prespawn whereas in MN and most of WI and ON the season doesn't open on a normal year until well after the spawn and on years like this, the fish can be close to summer patterns already.

So if you have the option to fish prespawn then likely you will be using small gliders, twitch baits, and rattle baits. For these baits i'd downsize to a 7'6" - 8' H bass flippin stick with a curado 300 or revo 50 HS spooled with 65 lb line and a stealth spring leader.
Here in MN I use the same rod/reel set ups all season because by the time opener comes there is no need for the baby baits. However last year was an exception with the late spring and I was using my pike set up with smaller lures for the majority of the first week of the season.
pike2772
Posted 3/29/2012 10:24 AM (#549282 - in reply to #548221)
Subject: Re: SPRING MUSKY FISHING?




Posts: 147


Location: Chesterton, Indiana
Same all year here too.
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