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Posts: 28
| This is my first year going after musky. I am feeling a bit overwhelmed by the lure selection and size. Can someone give me on some of the staple lures in the tacklebox for starting out.
Right now I have:
Rapala subwalk 13
Rapala Gliding rap 15
2 Rapala clacking rap 9
Bucher 700 bucktail
Bucher 700 tinsel tale
smithwick rouge
So what should I pick up? my current rod and reel is an abu 5601-c4 and a cabelas tourney trail rod 8' H 1-3 oz.
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Posts: 4269
Location: Ashland WI | I think you should definitely get a prop style topwater. I like topraiders. |
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Posts: 1638
Location: Minnesota | Pick up a 9 inch suick and a top water of your choice |
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Posts: 28
| Great. Do colors matter much, or just a good variety? When bass was my game, I used to love throwing black topwater baits. Does this hold true with musky? |
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| black is always good! |
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Posts: 1360
Location: Lake "y" cause lake"x" got over fished | Yes, black is one of the best in a lot of scenarios. Especially at night.
I prefer big mama top water prob baits but to each his own. I own plenty of topraiders also. both are good. Get a mag sized bulldawg in walleye or black/orange you can never go wrong. I also agree to pick up a 9" suick |
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Posts: 670
Location: mercer wi | Mepps maraboo
9" suick
Baby shallow raider
Top raider
Reg dawg.
You can throw all these baits on one good set up. Dont need 3 diffrent rods to throw baits. If you dont have a rod n reel , I suggest at st croix 8' mh. Either premier or mojo and calcutta 400 b or abu toro. 80# power pro n 130# ballbearing florocarbon leader. You can find these reels on here or check ebay for good deals. Just my spear change. Good luck  |
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Posts: 791
Location: WI | The only 6 baits I need
#8 bucktail
Weighted or plastic suick
M&g spinner
Top water of your choice. ( infamous lil beaver for me)
Crane 105 twitch bait
Rubber of some sort. I like medusas but might be too heavy for your setup |
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Posts: 275
| Regular size Hawg Wobbler in black or baby loon.
Jaimy |
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Posts: 558
| Get a couple of double bladed bucktails, 8 blades and 10 blades. Once again black paired with silver blades is always a goody. Walleye colors also good. |
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Posts: 157
Location: Lincoln, NE | For sure add a Suick, some sort of rubber and a good crank or two. Maybe one you can both cast and troll. |
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Posts: 72
| Spend the time to Learn how to work the glidin rap, the are videos on YouTube for side to side gliders. You can make it erratic, or have rhythm and pause retrieve. Between that and one of your bucktails, you should be off to a good start. There are endless lures and some good advice here already on additions, but its always great to have confidence and time into a couple lures. |
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Posts: 164
| My first year it was all about double bladed bucktails. I moved a lot of fish on double 8's and even had some action just wasn't able to drive it home. If you don't have a proper reel double 10's aren't very fun to reel in. I also had some good luck on Jakes as well as a few follows on Bulldawgs. I stuck to baits that were easiest to work and had some decent days on the water. I did work a suick a few times and some other jerkbaits as well, however, not only was I learning to muskie fish I was now learning how to work baits I have never worked before and I never had any luck with these baits but I didn't put the time in either so that was probably a big reason why. My best advice is stick to easy to run baits your first year and progressively learn from that. Good luck to ya. |
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Posts: 28
| So i need a suick, A topwater, a crank, some bigger double 8s and 10s and some rubber.
My rod is only rated to 3oz. What is some decent rubber that fits this size range, or is the 3oz only a recommendation and 4oz or 5oz will be ok if I am gentle on the rod? |
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Posts: 427
| 700 series Butcher Tail ( BLK/silver….Suick 9 in weighted or 10 in unweighted……Glide bait…..5-8 in. medium diving crank…..any surface lure mentioned. All these lures are productive, easy to use and produce well. This will get you started for a minimal investment and work with the rod and reel you have. If the sport works for you then I would up grade my rods & reels. Also if you decide it's not your thing these baits sell well as used. imo. Good Luck. The best thing you can do to learn how is to find someone to help you learn…..maybe join a club |
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Posts: 782
| Definitely add a super shad rap to your list. Outstanding underrated lure. Kdawg |
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Posts: 369
| I like the le lure prop lure in loon it's built incredibly well and I'm very impressed with it. If you can find any Hoosier handmade muskie lures these are amazing too but hard to find. Another one of my favorites a tackle industries super D they hold up extremely well, I like them much better compared to a bulldawg. |
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Posts: 349
| <p>If you don't want to buy a new rod/reel, I wouldn't recommend getting any double mag 8 or double mag 10 bucktails. If you want a double bladed bucktail get a colorado blade 8, something like a double showgirl or juice mini-8s. Crankbait (super shad rap), topwater (topraider), rubber (reg bulldawg, reg super D, mid size medussa... take your pick).</p><p> </p><p>EDIT: Not sure how I forgot a spinnerbait, but I recommend you definitely pick one of those up. One of the most versatile baits there is... I like rad dogs.<br /></p> |
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Posts: 1283
| I agree bigger blades will beat you up with that rod/reel. Also second the Hawg Wobbler for top water. |
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Posts: 28
| Why do you say that? What do you mean beat up? Is my setup just not stout enough for the bigger blades? |
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Posts: 1360
Location: Lake "y" cause lake"x" got over fished | though the c4 is a good entry level reel. Overtime using big blades will destroy the gears inside of that reel. The rod however, will kinda suck when you go to figure 8 large blades. Big pull from the blades and if the tip is not stout enough it will feel like a huge fish at the end of the line just trying to figure 8. you will find out this summer. You will understand what we are saying after just a few straight hours on the water. Get ready to put in work
I think for starting out you will be just fine. but keep in mind that the baits we throw are VERY VERY hard on the gear we use. Even really expensive reels and rods have their own set of issues after many many hours on the water. doing reel maintenance will help with this but will not eliminate it.
But year a 3oz rated rod for big blades might suck a little bit when 8ing. the reel may feel like the baits are bigger then they are. just keep this in mind when making your purchases.
glad you decided to join the crazy people in the fishing world. Welcome to the dark side!  |
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Posts: 28
| Thanks, I am sure some of the advise here will mean more once I put in some time. The rod is what it is and I understand that but is there anything I can do to the reel to improve it. Power handle, c3 gears? |
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Posts: 1360
Location: Lake "y" cause lake"x" got over fished | power handle might help with your fatigue. just keep up on your maintenance for your reel. Save up for something a little stronger down the line. When your ready to buy one, let this board know what your looking at getting and I promise you will get more info then your brain can handle |
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Posts: 28
| I also have a Calcutta 201B if you think that would be a better reel. |
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Posts: 163
| Skog - 2/8/2015 2:34 PM
Great. Do colors matter much, or just a good variety? When bass was my game, I used to love throwing black topwater baits. Does this hold true with musky?
Black All The Way Man! |
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Posts: 61
Location: Morgantown, WV | You don't have to fish with big blades to catch muskies. My first year I caught most of my fish on a black double six inline. I would also recommend twitch baits like cranes or big game custom. You should have no problem fishing these on your setup. |
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Posts: 1283
| I wont go less then a XH rod for double 10s and mid+ rubber anymore. When the rod is bending and fighting you every cast and figure 8 it gets old quick.
Any 8ft+ XH rod and a Abu NACL 60 5.4 reel(A 9ft TI XH or XXH telescoping rod is awesome and traveling with one is easy)80# Suffix 832 and a stealth 130# fluoro leader.
Get a black double 8 and a black dbl10 a black mid dussa a black hellhound, a black top raider then natural or bright colors of each. All easy to work and proven. Youll be good for any situation. A 4" rattle trap wouldnt hurt either. That would be my set up if I was starting over. |
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Posts: 1283
| Lol I just realized my list is about 700 bucks! Then you need a Just Encase to hold it all 200+ Haha muskie stuff is expensive! |
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Posts: 1906
Location: Oconto Falls, WI | I would suggest finding out what is typically the best lures to use in the area you fish. Remember that all the suggestions we may give are all based on our styles of fishing, and where we specifically fish. Also get baits based on how you like to fish, or would like to fish. What I mean is if you thoroughly enjoy twitching/cranking bass you would also enjoy chasing muskies that way. So you may not want to pick up a bunch of jerkbaits for muskies regardless of what others say.
My suggestion to you would be to hire a guide if you can your first year, and early on. You can save yourself a ton of money by trying various techniques and baits with a guide, and decide from there which direction you want to go with baits. If you cannot fish with a guide fish a some friends that chase muskies.
It may help if you told us the area (not necessarily the lake) you intend to be fishing, and those that fish that area could give you lure specifics to that area based on their experience. |
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Posts: 1283
| Best advice really is join Muskies Inc in your area and go to the meetings, interact on their site. |
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Posts: 1638
Location: Minnesota | Skog don't know where you live but a few times each year I'll post looking for a net man some one to go fishing with.and alot of other guys do the same thing. If you can get out with another musky nut you can learn from others |
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Posts: 28
| Thanks for all the advise. I picked up a lot of lures last night from craigslist. I got a grandma, 2 ernies, 2 manns 30, a super top raider, a mid medusa, a twin tailed bulldawg, a webull, a bondy and 6 other glide type baits. I know some of that stuff is too big for my setup but for $100 I can either get a stouter setup later or sell it.
I will be fishing mid michigan, sanford, smallwood, budd, maybe a couple trips north to skegmog, torch, elk lakes, and maybe a trip to LSC. |
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Posts: 455
| Why are double 10`s an absolute must? I would say get a Rizzo wiz and stick with your set up. I`ve done pretty well never throwing a double 10 in my life. |
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Posts: 115
| I always have a jig tied on. Either with a grub or a swimbait. Octogambo grub or a 5 to 6 inch swimbait, almost always in black or sad color. It's been my go to bait for several years now.Cheap too! |
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Lures for starting out