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Posts: 10
Location: Purcellville, VA | I'm a rookie to Muskie fishing and needed some tips on what equipment (Rod,Reels) is best, and any special tips for specific tackle. Our trip is scheduled for the last week in July and we are staying at Witch Bay.
Thanks
JC
Purcellville,VA |
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Location: Pewaukee, WI | you just opened pandora's box |
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Posts: 10
Location: Purcellville, VA | I know, but this will help me get some opinions and information. |
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Posts: 1335
Location: Chicago, Beverly | First decide what you want to spend. Reels: Garcia 6500/6600 series lots of models; Shimano Corsair 400, calcutta 400 and te400; Okuma; Daiwa; Bass Pro; Phlueger. I like the Garcia's and Shimano's.
Rods: Fig Rig; Lamiglass; St Croix; AllStar; G Loomis; Thorne Bros Custom; Grandt Custom; Franks Custom; Falcon... I like the Stcroix and the Lamiglass. Shop around, find something that feels right and is priced around what you would like to spend. At tackle shops have them get out a couple different reels by a couple different companies and then start putting them on different rods until you have the one that feels right. Right now with the fishing show coming around hose are great places to go and look. If you are just starting out, keep your line choices simple. To start i would reccomend 36lbs Musky Master by Cortland. The super lines may be tough to cast unless you are used to casting them on smaller baitcasters for bass. Superlines I like are Tuff Line by Western Filament and Power Pro. With super lines go with at least a 50-80 lbs line as the diameter is much smaller then something like the Musky Master. Most guys seem to use 65-80lbs line. |
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Posts: 10
Location: Purcellville, VA | Kevin,
Thanks, I've been looking into the St Croix rod and Garcia reel, so that sounds like a good bet. Do you suggest a least a 7 ft rod, medium/heavy or what?
JC |
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Posts: 10
Location: Purcellville, VA | Can anyone give me any info on the best baits that they have had success with on LOTW, and does anyone have any info on Witch Bay?
Thanks,
JC |
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Posts: 32880
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Surface Baits and bucktails/spinnerbaits have produced well for me on LOTW that time of the year. |
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Posts: 1335
Location: Chicago, Beverly | JC, I started with the 6'9" H rod, its a little stiff for some light stuff. 7' med heavy might be a good one. The 6'9" is rated 1-5 oz so you could throw heavier stuff. The 7' is rated 3/4-3oz, so heavier stuff might not be the best for it. |
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Posts: 148
Location: DES MOINES, IOWA | As far as lures, a Topraider has been real good for our family, and medium sized bucktails.A lot of guys even throw the smaller bucktails, and do real good.These are easy lures to throw for beginners, and are successful. |
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Posts: 3861
| Seriously consider the Cortland musky rods. They are about $80 and a great value for the money, your best option under $100. MUCH better than, say, a Rizzo. I have two of the 3 sizes thay make, the 6'6" All Purpose and the 7' Bucktail. (the 3'rd is a 6'er) After hundreds of hours on the water, (well 100 hours anyway) I love them both. Cortland also has an unconditional return policy; you and break the rod in your truck door and send it in to get a brand new one. I've had reel seat problems with all of the 3 Fenwick musky rods I've owned. The one 7'2" St. Croix I have is tried and true, a great rod, but thay are more expensive, like $130? Can't go wrong with St. Croix.
I love my Garcia reels, too. I have about 6 in the 5000 series and 6000 series. Dependable, and very easy to completely take apart to clean, repair and upgrade parts. There are better reels out there, but you'll pay a whole lot more. The thumbbar option (C4's, I believe) is attractive, but those are more prone to breakdown and they freeze up long before the push buttons in cold weather conditions. Start with a pushbutton 6500C3?
Also, when you move from mono to high quality brains, get 80 pound PowerPro line. You may never change after you use the 80# PowerPro.
Get your handmade flourocarbon leaders from me.  |
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Posts: 1046
| Whatever rod you buy, I would make it at least 7`6" they are much more of a do-all rod and alot easier to fish.Shorter/stiffer rods are alot more bait specfic and usually more suckie to fish for long periods of time as they don`t load-up for easier casts.As far as reel selection if you will fish super-lines all you need is the 5500 abu series. There is really no need to lug around a 6500 all day fishing.Personally a 5500 w/ St.Croix in 7`6" or 8` med.heavy w/80# something can be had for around 200$ and is all you would need to throw everything in your box, fish all day, and land everything you hook! My 5cents worth! Good luck! |
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Posts: 10
Location: Purcellville, VA | Thanks for all the info everyone. |
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Rod and Reel