|
|
Posts: 612
| How many of you musky guys enjoy fishing for other Esox (Hybrids and pike) and other fish while musky fishing. Musky are the hardest fighting fish I've encountered like a pike on steroids with their dives, head shaking, and acrobatics, 2nd to none (when in the mood). The ones I get tend to run (43 to 34)" and are thick set, heavy and would generally give a smallmouth a pound for pound battle.
I incrementally catch big bass, pike and walleye while fishing for musky's (My somewhat bigger musky baits (1.5 to 3.6) OZ bring in the bigger fish of various species (quality not quantity). So a 12 pound pike, a 5+ pound bass or an 8 pound walleye are always possible. Even 30 pound carp or 20 pound cat believe it or not. I know some musky fisherman find these other fish a waste of time but I like mixing it up. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1638
Location: Minnesota | Once musky opens I stop fishing for all other fish. I still catch other fish 21 3/4 inch small mouth on a 10 inch appealer 42 inch pike on a jointed pig 29 inch walleye on a suick. Those are my bigest non musky fish wile fishing for musky. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | Musky are superior with acrobatics, but I think big pike fight harder. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 405
| If I am on a flowage, chain of lakes or plan to stay on the water all day w/o a break we will break things up fishing cribs for smallness or break lines for walleyes. It's a nice break, variety is good and all 3 species offer specific challenges and keep your interest and focus sharp all day. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 112
Location: Illinois | I also will throw downsized Muskie lures(and/or bigger bass baits) at times to increase action levels. This has increased my Muskie numbers(even if they run smaller...30-36" common),while also increasing my run ins with bigger pike/bass. I especially have less skilled anglers do this to increase their action/fun level. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 3163
| pike are only good for making tiger muskies
Edited by happy hooker 1/16/2017 3:37 PM
|
|
| |
|
| happy hooker - 1/16/2017 4:19 PM pike are only good for making tiger muskies And fish fries... |
|
| |
|
Posts: 291
Location: Madison, WI | Pike help keep your s#×$ quick. And they never seem to come off. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2388
Location: Chisholm, MN | I think a good fisherman should know how to catch all the fish in the lake. That being said...all other fish are just bait. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 391
| I had an experience last fall where I was jigging a bondy while I munched on a sandwich. Got a hit and was fairly excited, as it got closer to the boat I was thinking, "cool, another 40ish inch fish". And then I noticed it was a pike... It suddenly became a race for the net. ive been shooting for a 40"+ fish out of my local waters for a long time. Unfortunately, that day was not the day. Big pike are definitely worth catching in my book. The bass and eyes are a welcome distraction too but are not as exciting, the rods just don't give them any chance really. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 815
Location: Waukee, IA | I catch a few pike, bass and walleye while I'm muskie fishing. Always fun and they keep your head in the game on days that muskies are scarce. Plus fried pike and walleye are really delicious. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1425
Location: St. Lawrence River | Once musky opens I don't fish for anything else until October I'll mix in some walleye fishing. My dad wants to go on a Lake Ontario charter this summer with my brothers for lakers. Should be a good day to drink! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 541
| When its musky time its musky time but every once in awhile if I see a trophy caliber fish of a different specie I might down size for just a little while but usually not very long. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 431
| Im blessed enough to live on LSC, with a great sturgeon fishery right up the river from the lake. If I have all afternoon Ill musky fish until dark and then cruise up the river and anchor up for a few hours waiting for mr mustache. Pretty cool to get to fish for those 2 species without putting the boat on the trailer. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 633
| When I fish, I usually have a kid in the boat. We will fish muskies, but when things are slow, we will downsize to bass. That is usually when I start seeing the muskies. They are chasing senkos instead of bucktails, and jerkbaits. I have caught plenty of bass and northerns while musky fishing, but we have also caught muskies while bass fishing. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1000
| When I'm musky fishing there usually aren't any rods in the boat. With that said, I definitely fish for a variety of fish during the course of the season.
pike - on light gear and fly rods. They make an excellent fish fry as well
smallies - for obvious reasons
This year I'm going to follow in the steps of Steve and try to master the suspended crappie bite
In my opinion the shoepack muskie is the hardest fighting fish in MN. Those 5-12lb "runts" will put a smile on your face |
|
| |
musky plus?