Too small of lures
Tiger222
Posted 12/23/2017 10:25 AM (#887847)
Subject: Too small of lures




Posts: 90


Do you think muskie's avoid lures that are too small? When I take others fishing with me I usually let them throw bass sized spinnerbaits or 4-6 inch crank baits, as they will enjoy the outing more if they're catching a bass or pike instead of getting skunked. Are they being limited on catching a muskie? Are large, mid 40s and up muskie looking for something bigger?
Muskie Gal
Posted 12/23/2017 10:39 AM (#887848 - in reply to #887847)
Subject: Re: Too small of lures




Posts: 199


Have you heard or numerous muskie caught by bass/walleye fishermen?
mnmusky
Posted 12/23/2017 10:56 AM (#887849 - in reply to #887848)
Subject: Re: Too small of lures




mepps spinners are pretty small and quite effective. caught quite a few on small Rapalas as well on purpose.
Tiger222
Posted 12/23/2017 11:00 AM (#887850 - in reply to #887848)
Subject: Re: Too small of lures




Posts: 90


Muskie Gal - 12/23/2017 10:39 AM

Have you heard or numerous muskie caught by bass/walleye fishermen?


Yes, I catch a lot of muskie on bass lures. Wondering if I'm missing out on some big fish.
Tiger222
Posted 12/23/2017 11:03 AM (#887851 - in reply to #887849)
Subject: Re: Too small of lures




Posts: 90


mnmusky - 12/23/2017 10:56 AM

mepps spinners are pretty small and quite effective. caught quite a few on small Rapalas as well on purpose.



Yes I use the mepps double 5 and musky killer a lot and do pretty well with them. Great lures, bass and pike love them too.
JakeStCroixSkis
Posted 12/23/2017 11:23 AM (#887852 - in reply to #887847)
Subject: Re: Too small of lures





Posts: 1425


Location: St. Lawrence River
I think no, your not missing out. Right place, right time, find an active big fish and your gonna score. Regardless of what you put in front of him.

Many 55+" fish are hooked and boated up here every year by bass and walleye guys.

Edited by JakeStCroixSkis 12/23/2017 11:24 AM
ToddM
Posted 12/23/2017 1:22 PM (#887860 - in reply to #887847)
Subject: Re: Too small of lures





Posts: 20212


Location: oswego, il
There are lures that are good at triggering muskies that require bass gear to throw them. Biggest fish i have ever seen came up on a home made tube spinner with a 4" tube, i picked up and made a couple casts with when my young son took a break. He wanted it back immediately.
Dan111
Posted 12/23/2017 6:51 PM (#887916 - in reply to #887847)
Subject: Re: Too small of lures




Location: ontario
I do the same thing. If i go fishing with friends who don’t fish i let them use med heavy spinning rods and bass sized spinner baits. They usually will get into a bass or pike but haven’t had any of them catch a musky. However i have caught muskies on bass gear pitching jigs in weeds and caught my biggest smallie on a cowgirl, so i guess it all depends what the fish are feeling that day
BMuskyX
Posted 12/24/2017 5:56 PM (#888003 - in reply to #887847)
Subject: Re: Too small of lures




Posts: 275


I usually give them an original Bucher Slopmaster for the reasons you described. Strong enough wire to handle big fish and I have caught Largemouth, Smallmouth, Pike, and many Muskies on them.

Jaimy
Fishysam
Posted 12/26/2017 8:24 AM (#888073 - in reply to #887847)
Subject: Re: Too small of lures




Posts: 1209


Small stuff works and a 55+ will eat a minnow but I go with the theory that the meal must make it worth the fishes effort to catch it. I won’t personally throw bass lures unless it’s tough fishing.
Muskiemetal
Posted 12/26/2017 8:40 AM (#888076 - in reply to #887847)
Subject: Re: Too small of lures





Posts: 676


Location: Wisconsin
Every year Flicker Shads catch numerous 50"+ fish out in Green Bay and the Fox. And in the spring someone manages to get one on a jig and minnow.
Tackle Industries
Posted 12/26/2017 1:36 PM (#888092 - in reply to #887847)
Subject: Re: Too small of lures





Posts: 4053


Location: Land of the Musky
Just my opinion but I think lures in the 3" up to 10" are ideal for musky fishing.
North of 8
Posted 12/26/2017 4:19 PM (#888097 - in reply to #887847)
Subject: Re: Too small of lures




Twice in the spring I have had big muskies grab a tiny jig and crappie minnow. Have no idea why in a shallow area, filled with spawning crappies and a lot of 6" perch they would bother with that but they do. Pike as well do this.
kap
Posted 12/26/2017 4:21 PM (#888098 - in reply to #887847)
Subject: Re: Too small of lures




Posts: 549


Location: deephaven mn
small lures do work a muskie will eat a crappie minnow,
if you throw smaller baits it opens the possibility of catching smaller fish, bass and smaller muskies
so you get more action but are you wasting time messing with small fish
that is your choice. many 50" plus fish have been caught on jigs but your chance of catching a 28 is increased
this is based on my friends and my own experience
Fishysam
Posted 12/26/2017 5:17 PM (#888101 - in reply to #887847)
Subject: Re: Too small of lures




Posts: 1209


Flicker minnows trolled buy thousands of walleye anglers definitely get eaten by 50” muskies, but making the most of your time on the water i would make it 5”+. This goes with my post above. Kinda a odds thing walleye anglers get muskies, if we were to take odds on per walleye angler per hour on musky lakes vs musky angler per hour, I would bet the ratio is closer to the amount of big walleyes we catch on musky gear. I think 90% of the fish live in 10% of the water so we overlap
supertrollr
Posted 12/27/2017 9:51 AM (#888155 - in reply to #887847)
Subject: Re: Too small of lures


I've recently start to think we use too much big lures for musky as soon as i noticed the size of saltwater lures used for way bigger species than musky.biologist stomach research were in fact kind of disappointing they found out of many musky lil fish smaller than 6 inch even during the fall.i was one of the guy that was sure they were on bigger pray during the fall but it look like it's not the case.maybe the numbers of fish examined was not a sample big enough for a conclusion but............
Fishysam
Posted 12/27/2017 2:00 PM (#888187 - in reply to #887847)
Subject: Re: Too small of lures




Posts: 1209


Would have liked to have more information on that study and I’d bet the sample size was to small, however the environment can sway a study as well. If it’s done on a lake with abundance of small prey and a lack of adult whitefish/Cisco etcetera
tackleaddict
Posted 12/27/2017 7:07 PM (#888215 - in reply to #887847)
Subject: Re: Too small of lures




Posts: 431


one of the most effective baits for musky on LSC is a crawler harness. I have seen so many muskies hit crawler harnesses it makes me think I could catch more muskies if I just tried for walleyes. I bet a lake erie "weapon rig" would slay all species almost anywhere. downside would be its a crawler harness and I hate messing with those.
TCESOX
Posted 12/28/2017 3:23 PM (#888301 - in reply to #887847)
Subject: Re: Too small of lures





Posts: 1264


Rizzo Whiz! Great lure to give to a newbie. Catches muskies of all sizes, as well as a variety of other things.
TannerAE
Posted 12/28/2017 4:24 PM (#888306 - in reply to #887847)
Subject: Re: Too small of lures




Posts: 72


the weight record (49 pounds) in my state (wv) was caught by an old lady fishing with a worm so...I guess it all depends on the situation. Predation has very few rules.
NPike
Posted 12/28/2017 5:34 PM (#888311 - in reply to #888306)
Subject: Re: Too small of lures




Posts: 612


Not the bait of choice, however I've seen a couple caught on a worm and hook.
Sidejack
Posted 12/28/2017 6:07 PM (#888313 - in reply to #887847)
Subject: Re: Too small of lures




Posts: 1084


Location: Aurora
I'm betting there's a sweet spot size-wise that that each one favours and targets.
The smaller the fish, the less experienced and easier they are to run down.