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Posts: 72
| I'm getting back into Musky after almost a 20 year break. Things have changed a lot. I still have a lot of gear and lures but want to know what newer type baits I should be looking at. Last summer I walked into Rollie and Helens and WOW there are sooooo many lures. They always had a lot but I was overwhelmed. Looking for top 3 baits guys are NOW using and go from there. Hope to get a lot of responses and hopefully a lot of similar answers!!!! Prices are double what they were 20 years ago. |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | Use what you have Suicks, Bobby's,Reef Hawgs , Believers, Jakes , bucktails never stopped working |
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Posts: 72
| ah.....have you been in my tackle box? That sums it up pretty darn close
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Posts: 427
| horsehunter - 4/13/2019 8:39 PM
Use what you have Suicks, Bobby's,Reef Hawgs , Believers, Jakes , bucktails never stopped working Yup. Only thing I'd add is a double 10 or two and some big rubber to start with. |
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Posts: 1084
Location: Aurora | Don't be afraid to swing by R&H's again, grab someone, and explain you're situation just as you have above. Tell them where you're fishing, what you have, and that you're interested in baits that have become effective new tools in the last 20 years rather than the "bait of the week". Your money may be better spent upgrading your gear and release tools rather than your bait collection. |
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Posts: 386
| I would say the biggest advances in the past 20 years have been in the reels and second the rods. Some of the new wiz-bang lures would destroy the equipment most of used 20 years ago. I say use what you got cuz it'll still catch fish. If you decide to go all out from there look at reels and rods and such before you get the triple bladed bucktails and 2lb rubber. Have fun and good luck!
I kind of ignored your question though, top 3:
1. Any Bucktail with quality components
2. Rubber - mag dawg size gets used the most in my boat
3. Shallow cranks - depth raiders (shallow diving), shallow invaders, Storm Flatsticks (these usually need some tuning out of the box but they come with decent hooks and split rings and once tuned, do a fantastic job getting fish in the net) |
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Posts: 416
Location: MN | - big blades (double 8s, 9s, 10s, 12s)
- big soft plastics (bulldawg, medussa, swimbaits, etc.)
- hunting cranks (Headlock, Mattlock, etc)
Those three types of baits have come to the forefront since you've been gone, particularly for catching large muskies. Lots of variation in each category, but seems for the most part like they all work. All your old favorites also still catch fish as well of course  |
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Posts: 2326
Location: Chisholm, MN | Big blades with tinsel skirt, hog wobbler, baby beaver and a pounder bulldawg |
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Posts: 72
| thanks guys KEEP IT COMING. I have updated a few reels...got a super clean 300e curado off this site and recently bought a lews superduty 300 new. Love my lews bass reels so we'll see. Not a huge following around the Midwest and the previous model had issues with the anti reverse...this has a dual system and 25lb drag. FWIW I just don't feel right casting a rod over 8' right now. I'll go 7'6" and move up from there. No plans on tossing huge rubber anytime soon....I do have some smaller ones though |
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Posts: 183
| twofishy4u - 4/14/2019 5:19 PM
thanks guys KEEP IT COMING. I have updated a few reels...got a super clean 300e curado off this site and recently bought a lews superduty 300 new. Love my lews bass reels so we'll see. Not a huge following around the Midwest and the previous model had issues with the anti reverse...this has a dual system and 25lb drag. FWIW I just don't feel right casting a rod over 8' right now. I'll go 7'6" and move up from there. No plans on tossing huge rubber anytime soon....I do have some smaller ones though
Don't worry you'll have a 9' Big Nasty in no time. If you're buying a new rod I'd really hesitate with anything under 8' if you don't have storage/transport restrictions. If that's what you've already got then it's no issue and will still work great. |
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Posts: 386
| If you can find anyone around to go fishing with, and they have a longer rod that they'd let you use, I would highly recommend trying them out. I remember thinking 6'9" was just too long... Now I'd much rather have 8'6" to 9'6". Even my gear for other fish has gotten longer. A 6'9" UL setup is next on my list. I'd go longer but the action isn't quite right with the longer rods for my taste. My 10' cane pole is also money for essentially Czech nymphing with live bait for panfish in shallow water. You can save some $ in the long run if you try before you buy. And if you decide that mid range rod is money for you then no harm no foul. |
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Posts: 4269
Location: Ashland WI | Hers mine:
1) double 8 or 10 bucktail
2) Wade's wobbler (dive rise jerkbait)
3) tail rotating topwater
4) rubber - a lot more in the fall
That was 4 not 3, but that's mostly what I fish. Although I have started throwing some cranks a bit more last year. |
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Posts: 393
| I am guessing you will have lures in your tackle box from 20 years ago that would still be top 3 today. These would include Suicks, a hawg wobbler or creeper and midsize single bucktail. |
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Posts: 3480
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Hiya,
I could say many a fish have fallen to these 3 baits:
1. 6" twitch bait with heavier hooks on it so it just every so slowly rises on the pause
2. 9" unweighted Suick to work over rocks or through clumps of weeds
3. Magnum sized single spin spinner bait. (Pearson Grinder)
Steve
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Posts: 104
| 1) Double 18 bucktail
2) Five pounder
3) Any topwater that costs more than $100
And.....they will all cast farther and you will get better figure 8's if you have at least a 12' rod!!! |
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Posts: 760
| Not in particular order, mepps dble blade musky marabou, mantas, topraider. Kdawg |
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Posts: 7039
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | Weagle 8" in black
Double 9 Spanky Bait in black tail, nickel/red blades
10" Tenn Shad Jake. |
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Posts: 1039
Location: North St. Paul, MN | 6" phantom softail
M&G or Rabid Squirrel Spinnerbait
8" Slammer twitchbait |
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Posts: 20219
Location: oswego, il | Lures are tools. What you need to ask is this is where you.are fishing, what are three good lures for fishing there. All lures will work, it depends on where you are fishing, time of year and conditions. No lures are magic, the magic is using them in the right situation at the right time. |
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Posts: 166
Location: Cedarburg, WI. | 700 tin buck, shallow invader and hawg wobbler |
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Posts: 612
| DDD's, Depthraider, Salt Water Rapala. These and a few bucktails is all I use after 30+ years. |
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| believer, d10,dawg is all you need |
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Posts: 1425
Location: St. Lawrence River | Trolling: DK Fifty Finder platty straight, DK Fifty Finder jointed, 10" Believer
Casting: double 10, tube, dussa/poseidon |
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Posts: 815
Location: Waukee, IA | Bucktails (single or double 8,9 or 10)
Soft plastic swim bait (Poseidon, swim'n dawg, Boggs, shadzilla)
7-9 inch twitch bait (slammer, shallow raider, jake, grandma) |
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Posts: 944
| MX6, Spanky 99 and Suick
Jeff Hanson
madisonmuskyguide.com |
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Posts: 275
| Hawg Wobbler, Twin 8 Buchertail, Crane Bait.
Jaimy |
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Posts: 1
| Hi Ken,
I see you mentioned the "Baby Beaver" lure as one of your favorites earlier in 2019. I bought one a year or so ago but have never thrown it. Why, I'm not sure, but I guess I wonder where it fits in. I picture casting it in a shallow back bay near a river mouth or near some wood laydowns in that area. Probably over thinking it as it could be used anywhere, but was wondering if you had some general idea or purpose of when/where you feel it would be appropriate? I am taking it with me next weekend and may give it some "playing time" in my line up. Any comment? Thanks. |
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Posts: 386
| Chuck, I wouldn't get hung up on the beaver thing. It's one of those baits you can kinda fish however you want. Screw around with it in some clear water and try different retrieves and see what gives you confidence. |
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Posts: 639
Location: Duluth | Double 9's, hawg wob, and a medussa. Should pretty much cover the bases. |
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Location: Northern Illinois | Dbl 10 or a staggered bladed 10/9, Shadzilla, fat basturd |
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Posts: 1141
Location: NorthCentral WI | Hardhead, 9" HI Suick, Weagle - these three are always ready to go. Then add a Topraider, Shallow Invader, and 700 series Buchertail and you're set in my opinion. |
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Top 3 favorite baits