Small Musky Baits
ajschn06
Posted 6/2/2020 1:24 PM (#960692)
Subject: Small Musky Baits




Posts: 58


What are your favorite small musky baits? I'm thinking in the 6-8" range and under 2 ounces....

Thanks!
mikie
Posted 6/3/2020 11:25 AM (#960728 - in reply to #960692)
Subject: Re: Small Musky Baits





Location: Athens, Ohio
Cranes. Mepps. m
pklingen
Posted 6/3/2020 1:17 PM (#960735 - in reply to #960692)
Subject: Re: Small Musky Baits




Posts: 866


Location: NE Ohio
4" BAKERS RULE!
Slopski
Posted 6/3/2020 2:45 PM (#960740 - in reply to #960692)
Subject: Re: Small Musky Baits




Posts: 166


Location: Cedarburg, WI.
500/700 buchertails
Hawg wobblers
Slopmasters
Crane baits
Mepps musky/giant killers
Hellhounds
luredaddy
Posted 6/3/2020 4:55 PM (#960752 - in reply to #960740)
Subject: Re: Small Musky Baits




Posts: 135


Old Generation BAGLEY MONSTER SHADS with the MEDIUM Lip. NOT THE NEW ONES !!
southern comfort
Posted 6/4/2020 7:46 AM (#960773 - in reply to #960692)
Subject: Re: Small Musky Baits




Posts: 393


Old favorites ... 6" suicks, #5 Mepps and a new one this year Lake X mini basstard.
true tiger tamer
Posted 6/4/2020 11:35 AM (#960790 - in reply to #960692)
Subject: Re: Small Musky Baits




Posts: 343


Whopper Plopper 130. Cordell Redfin.
NPike
Posted 6/4/2020 12:40 PM (#960796 - in reply to #960790)
Subject: Re: Small Musky Baits




Posts: 612


Salt Water Rapala and Baby Depth Raider
Musky Face
Posted 6/4/2020 8:06 PM (#960825 - in reply to #960692)
Subject: Re: Small Musky Baits




Posts: 558


7 1/2 inch grandma
ToddM
Posted 6/4/2020 9:02 PM (#960830 - in reply to #960692)
Subject: Re: Small Musky Baits





Posts: 20229


Location: oswego, il
I can remember the day when an 8" musky bait wasn't small...
chuckski
Posted 6/4/2020 10:12 PM (#960837 - in reply to #960692)
Subject: Re: Small Musky Baits




Posts: 1429


Location: Brighton CO.
I throw all the big baits like the rest of you all but I catch all my fish including my big ones on regular sized baits like Eddie bait Depth Raider 6" and 8", spinnerbaits, Rizzo Wiz, and Mepps. Lots of bait fish in that 6" to 9" (like Perch) not just in the weeds but out deep too.
mikie
Posted 6/5/2020 8:05 AM (#960854 - in reply to #960692)
Subject: Re: Small Musky Baits





Location: Athens, Ohio
Todd, I can remember the day I used to could throw baits bigger than 8". m
jaximus
Posted 6/7/2020 6:03 AM (#960948 - in reply to #960692)
Subject: Re: Small Musky Baits




Posts: 31


baby DR, baby shallow raider, 500 buchertail, spring dawgs, 5" tubes
Masqui-ninja
Posted 6/7/2020 6:21 AM (#960949 - in reply to #960692)
Subject: Re: Small Musky Baits





Posts: 1249


Location: Walker, MN
Bomber Magnum Long-A worked erratically.
IAJustin
Posted 6/7/2020 10:55 AM (#960964 - in reply to #960949)
Subject: Re: Small Musky Baits




Posts: 2017


When I think of small muskie baits, first thing that comes to mind is a jerkbaits that suspends...the ole HJ14 has been really good to me over the years in tough conditions, especially Canadian openers.. several early 2000 trips were saved throwing small 5-6” jerks , added bonus ..getting a few 18”+ bass ..big pike and eyes are regular occurrences too.. Mh spinning rod 15-20 braid whips a big muskie in less than 5 minutes eveytime and way more fun than throwing pounders and fighting a fish on a tuna rod.. although I’ve been known to do that too, ha! ...older ya get the more you appreciate smaller offerings
joh10891
Posted 6/7/2020 4:27 PM (#960971 - in reply to #960692)
Subject: RE: Small Musky Baits




Posts: 112


An off the radar pick would be a 7" bull shad
RyanJoz
Posted 6/7/2020 8:27 PM (#960980 - in reply to #960971)
Subject: Re: Small Musky Baits




Posts: 1726


Location: Mt. Zion, IL
22 long from llungen is my favorite in that category. They have totally replaced depth raiders in my boat due to the quality issues of the current baits.

John Jennings j-shads have been good to me too. Upsize the belly hook if you’re going to cast it
jonsie
Posted 6/9/2020 8:08 AM (#961070 - in reply to #960692)
Subject: Re: Small Musky Baits




Posts: 25


Location: South Central PA
Best small musky bait hands down is a Mega Bass 110 or LuckyCraft jerkbait of some sort with 10# mono while fishing in a bass tournament. Muskies ALWAYS bite them off then.

On the serious side of things - small flatsticks get my vote.
RLSea
Posted 6/9/2020 9:43 AM (#961075 - in reply to #961070)
Subject: Re: Small Musky Baits




Posts: 492


Location: Northern Illinois
jonsie - 6/9/2020 8:08 AM

Best small musky bait hands down is a Mega Bass 110 or LuckyCraft jerkbait of some sort with 10# mono while fishing in a bass tournament. Muskies ALWAYS bite them off then.

On the serious side of things - small flatsticks get my vote.



Nope. LuckyCraft Pointers can’t catch Muskies (esp. the 128’s)
ajschn06
Posted 6/9/2020 10:28 AM (#961078 - in reply to #960980)
Subject: Re: Small Musky Baits




Posts: 58


RyanJoz - 6/7/2020 8:27 PM

22 long from llungen is my favorite in that category. They have totally replaced depth raiders in my boat due to the quality issues of the current baits.

John Jennings j-shads have been good to me too. Upsize the belly hook if you’re going to cast it :)


It's on my list but that feels like a BIG bait even though it meets my criteria!
RyanJoz
Posted 6/11/2020 2:38 PM (#961194 - in reply to #961078)
Subject: Re: Small Musky Baits




Posts: 1726


Location: Mt. Zion, IL
ajschn06 - 6/9/2020 10:28 AM

RyanJoz - 6/7/2020 8:27 PM

22 long from llungen is my favorite in that category. They have totally replaced depth raiders in my boat due to the quality issues of the current baits.

John Jennings j-shads have been good to me too. Upsize the belly hook if you’re going to cast it :)


It's on my list but that feels like a BIG bait even though it meets my criteria!


which one? 22 long is a 7" body and the J-shad is 5"
ajschn06
Posted 6/11/2020 3:27 PM (#961196 - in reply to #961194)
Subject: Re: Small Musky Baits




Posts: 58


RyanJoz - 6/11/2020 2:38 PM

ajschn06 - 6/9/2020 10:28 AM

RyanJoz - 6/7/2020 8:27 PM

22 long from llungen is my favorite in that category. They have totally replaced depth raiders in my boat due to the quality issues of the current baits.

John Jennings j-shads have been good to me too. Upsize the belly hook if you’re going to cast it :)


It's on my list but that feels like a BIG bait even though it meets my criteria!


which one? 22 long is a 7" body and the J-shad is 5"


The 22 long- I know I said 6-8 inches and I did buy one it just feels like a BIG bait to me. I don't think I could ever throw one of those really big baits like a double 10. I'm about maxed at double 8's, standard swimmin dawg, etc. I have some mini-medussas and I don't think I could even go up to a mid much less a standard. 6" phantom is another that just feels like a big solid bait to me- I can't imagine going to 10" on that....Saw a Magnum swimmin dawg the other day, thing was huge!!!
Jeremy
Posted 6/11/2020 7:42 PM (#961207 - in reply to #960964)
Subject: Re: Small Musky Baits




Posts: 1144


Location: Minnesota.
IAJustin - 6/7/2020 10:55 AM

When I think of small muskie baits, first thing that comes to mind is a jerkbaits that suspends...the ole HJ14 has been really good to me over the years in tough conditions, especially Canadian openers.. several early 2000 trips were saved throwing small 5-6” jerks , added bonus ..getting a few 18”+ bass ..big pike and eyes are regular occurrences too.. Mh spinning rod 15-20 braid whips a big muskie in less than 5 minutes eveytime and way more fun than throwing pounders and fighting a fish on a tuna rod.. although I’ve been known to do that too, ha! ...older ya get the more you appreciate smaller offerings :)




Thank you, I sure appreciate what you just said!!!

70 this year and some miserable low back problems make some days a less than wonderful time. But I still do it. And yeah, I've been to a really good P.T. and do really good back exercises (press-ups) many time every day or I"m impossible to live with.)

Good post that got me to finding some smaller baits this year...
jasonvkop
Posted 6/11/2020 8:17 PM (#961209 - in reply to #960692)
Subject: Re: Small Musky Baits





Posts: 614


Location: Michigan
Prodigies from Musky Bandit Baits, 6" Grandmas, Large x-raps, Husky jerks, 6" phantoms/muskie treats.
RJ_692
Posted 6/12/2020 7:30 AM (#961219 - in reply to #960692)
Subject: Re: Small Musky Baits




Posts: 358


With a mepps musky killer, a poes giant jackpot, a 9" suick, a super shad rap, a spinnerbait and say a topraider or something you could make a pretty good season out of that
Rotorhead
Posted 6/12/2020 10:24 AM (#961230 - in reply to #960692)
Subject: RE: Small Musky Baits




Posts: 157


Location: West Central WI
Slopmaster. I add a snap swivel to change out blades if conditions dictate and add a longer Kalin tail than what came with the bait. Biggest muskie on one was a 50.75" on LOTW last year. Great for slop, reeds, around wood around rocks and open water.