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Posts: 470
| Hey all,
Looking for some ideas on rigging panfish for Muskie bait. What do you use and how do you use it?
I get lots of younger inexperienced kids wanting to try to catch a Muskie that can't handle the rigors of long hours of casting and this may be a solution for them.
Any assistance appreciated,
RandalB |
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Posts: 735
Location: Apparently where the Muskie aren't | Sucker on a quick strike rig. That would be my first solution. Or if you can't get suckers get large roaches/shiners. If you insist on using bluegill make sure it is legal where you are first. Then I would just hook the bluegill through the back. You could probaly even use a flathead catfish rig. |
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Posts: 1150
Location: Minnesota. | Highly illegal to use a gamefish for bait - check your regs and also ........ educate those kids!!! |
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Posts: 841
Location: Southwest PA | Jeremy - 6/10/2017 11:53 AM
Highly illegal to use a gamefish for bait - check your regs and also ........ educate those kids!!!
Not illegal in PA bud. As long as the game fish is of legal size, is taking by legal means (rod&reel), and is in legal season, it's free game. Trout makes a dandy flathead bait, and we religiously used bluegill for them all summer! As for muskie, perch may be better but I have never used live bait and am clueless as to rigging but I see people using a big J hook through the lips and a big ole bobber. |
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Posts: 3508
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Agreed... it is dependent on the state you live in.
Steve |
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| It is not illegal in WI either. The fish being used for bait counts against your daily bag limit, must meet minimum size limits, etc., but you can use not only pan fish but game fish like walleyes, northern pike for bait as well. Again, they must meet minimum size limits. Northern pike on the chain where I live must be 24" in length to be kept, so I don't think anyone will be using for bait, but they could.
The larger perch on the lake where I live tend to have those black parasites so if I catch any larger ones this year, I may try rigging them on quick strike.
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Posts: 841
Location: Southwest PA | VMS - 6/10/2017 12:45 PM
Agreed... it is dependent on the state you live in.
Steve
Absolutely! I wasn't picking an argument, your point is exactly what I was attempting to clarify brother. Just because it is legal here too, you won't see me throwing on a walleye as bait any time soon either. |
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Posts: 1150
Location: Minnesota. | Hmm, seems I goofed. Sorry'bout that one. I just got schooled.
Jeremy....(hey, it takes a big man to admit he's a nut-job... :)) )
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Posts: 841
Location: Southwest PA | Jeremy - 6/10/2017 1:56 PM
Hmm, seems I goofed. Sorry'bout that one. I just got schooled.
Jeremy....(hey, it takes a big man to admit he's a nut-job... :)) )
Not at all Jeremy, I'd be more worried about ya if you knew the regs of every state lol besides, even if you were a nut job, you're not the only one here... *talking about myself* guess it's better than talking to myself, but I've been known to do both... |
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Posts: 1335
Location: E. Tenn | North of 8 - 6/10/2017 12:56 PM
It is not illegal in WI either. The fish being used for bait counts against your daily bag limit, must meet minimum size limits, etc., but you can use not only pan fish but game fish like walleyes, northern pike for bait as well. Again, they must meet minimum size limits. Northern pike on the chain where I live must be 24" in length to be kept, so I don't think anyone will be using for bait, but they could.
The larger perch on the lake where I live tend to have those black parasites so if I catch any larger ones this year, I may try rigging them on quick strike.
If the bait is longer than 8" one must use either a quick strike rig, or "non offset circle hook".. |
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Posts: 20261
Location: oswego, il | I have done this in indiana but yet to get one. Got to catch them on the lake you are fishing, shorter bait you need a smaller single treble and a small nose hook or rubber band. 1/0 treble. Since the gills are not long you can also use a circle hook rubber banded through the nose. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | muskies hate pike we have caught lots of big skis with quick striked hammer handles...as far as bluegills I'd use a small quick set, 1 small treble like a 2/0...probably have to make your own rig as the store bought rigs are all too big for a gil.
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