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Posts: 7049
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | This is a question I make sure to ask during all of our chat sessions:
What is just one tip that you would give to a beginner (new) muskie fisherman?
Let's change it around for the general masses: What is one tip that you would give to people who might have a little less "on the water time" than you?
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Posts: 2089
| Keep casting, don't leave fish to find fish. Steve |
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Posts: 1769
Location: Algonquin, ILL | Don't get Discouraged, Keep trying
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Posts: 5874
| Pay attention to detail in everything you do. If you have a weak link, these fish will find it, and leave you frustrated. |
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Posts: 90
Location: ne53 | Make sure your gear is ready to go, sharpen those hooks to the point where they will hang from your thumbnail without sliding. |
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Posts: 1764
Location: Ogden, Ut | I'd suggest that they pay attention. To what you're doing and your surroundings; mainly just be aware of stuff.
I'm totally guilty of this myself, and have to keep doing things to keep my attention on what I am doing. I don't mean that you have to be a total concentration freak and make yourself a boat partner from hell, but do the basics well. Watch behind and below the bait, finish all your casts, keep the boat where it needs to be, keep a bait wet, notice the terns diving on baitfish, notice the thunderhead rolling in, have your plan worked out for when a fish is hooked (know where the release tools are, camera, etc.), and enjoy it. Oh, and let your boat partner handle the suckers, so they don't turn into a knotted mess. 
S. |
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| Stay focused on your lure and watch behind it for follows and wait to feel the weight of the fish before you set the hook |
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| Enjoy yourself!
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | Stop changing your lure every 10 Mins, pick a proven bait and let it ride! |
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Posts: 691
Location: nationwide | Hey Bloss . . . . . did you read the tip about not changing lures every 10 minutes???????
LOL :b
Corey Meyer |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | don't get caught up in the bait thing ... a bucktail, a prop-topwater and start chuckin' |
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Posts: 11
Location: Maple Grove, Minnesota | Measure a successful day by the amount that you learned not by the amount of fish in the boat. Some of my most successful days are the tough ones. Always try to learn something. |
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| hire as many guides on the waters you fish as your budget will allow...pay attention to how they run the boat, work the lures, ask them questions...it can shorten the learning curve by years...
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Location: Grand Rapids, MI | Read: Spoonplugging Your Guide To Lunker Catches by Buck Perry Then read it again. |
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Posts: 291
Location: Madison, WI | sharp hooks, sharp hooks, and sharp hooks. |
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Posts: 1310
Location: Washington, PA | Just keep casting. |
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Posts: 1996
Location: Pelican Lake/Three Lakes Chain | Location, Location, Location. Nothing works if your not in the right spots, and the right spots are more specific than most think. This is the basis for most of my seminars.
That one tip will up your catches more than anything. |
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Posts: 401
| I have to totally agree with bn. I have had the chance to fish with a couple that I build sticks for over the years. It is not learning exact spots but it is how they fish and then try to duplicate it on another part of the lake.
Keith |
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Posts: 670
Location: Otsego, MN | Don't get frustrated and feel defeated, keep plugging away and it will get easier. |
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Posts: 355
Location: Wausau, Wisconsin | Simplify your aresenal. Stick to proven lures in a variety of sizes and colors. Learn how to use the bait in many ways and become confident. I wish someone like a guide would have brought me into a shop and picked out 25 good lures for me rather than me buying 100 and now having 80 of them hanging in the "cemetary".
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Posts: 720
| Lambeau,
You stoled my thunder and I couldn't agree more with what you wrote. Have fun. Thats it and there isn't anymore. Fishing is fun. When it stops being fun its time to quit. Some of my best days on the water have been just being out on the water. Wheather with friends, family or by myself. God, I love this sport.
Dave |
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Posts: 761
| I agree with Norm. I would first say to first pick up a good map of the lake you intend on fishing. Kdawg |
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Posts: 457
| IMO treat free advice like it is just that. Get on the water and experience things for yourself, take very few pieces, from very few people, as being worth its weight in gold. (I'm not baggin on anyone, but making the statement that many will be overwhelmed by this, that, and the other; until they have had the chance to figure out much of it for themselves. Sure, reading, and grabbing info from various sources is a great way, as is listening to the advice of others. Yet, there comes a time when trial and error plays the biggest part of any education.) |
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Posts: 96
| Have everything ready before you start (i.e. net, hook cutters, measuring device, camera, etc.).
Make sure to do the figure 8 EVERY time...I've seen too many missed opportuntities boatside when the lure was pulled away too soon. Unfortunately a number of times myself.  |
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Posts: 32889
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | What NDUski said.
and What Sorno said, too.
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Posts: 272
| Just one thing?? Really? Three would be easier than just one.
My ONE tip would be that the last ten feet of your retrieve are the most important ten feet. What you do, and when you do it are paramount to sticking more muskies. Learn to do a good F8, and do it EVERY cast, and do it well on every cast.
One thread that keeps popping up over and over yearly on any site that talks about muskie fishing is from some person who asks how important F8s are, and if anybody has EVER caught a fish on one....or who hasn't. I cringe. Buwaah??
Even if you're a non-believer in the F8 thing, watch The Musky Hunter or Keyes Outdoors. You'll believe. Of the shows I've seen just this year, I'd say that easily a third, probably more like half, of the fish filmed were stuck on a F8.
LEARN IT!!!! DO IT!!!!!! ITS NOT A MYTH!!!!
Edited by muskie-addict 2/13/2008 9:27 AM
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Location: Illinois | Once you learn a lake very well, fish it at night with DCG's! |
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Posts: 299
Location: Ontario, California | Hmm... Sell all the gear you just bought or you will be having nightmares of toothy critters while knocking your wife out of bed with your horizontal hooksets. |
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Posts: 8787
| 1. Before you do anything: Instead of spending thousands of dollars on rods reels and tackle, buy yourself one combo and 10 lures. Take the rest of that money and hire as many guides as you can in as many different places as you can.
2. On the water: Watch, listen, & learn.
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Posts: 1316
Location: Madison, WI | Never fish with Slamr! :P
K now that's out of the way.
Don't forget to toss a couple cast to the back of the boat!
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Posts: 550
Location: So. Illinois | Network with other Muskie enthusiasts before you spend a dime on equipment....
- The best decesion I ever made was to attend a meeting of the local Muskies Inc. Chapter. They answered all my questions, and invited me to go fishing with a club member - no strings atached. They took responsibility for me and taught me everything I needed to know about gear (rods, reels, lines, baits, leaders), safety (release tools and gloves and cutters), CPR (proper fish handling techniques) and my local waters (seasonal patterns, structure, fish movements, etc). I made a ton of new friends and am now an active member. $ for $, the minimal Muskie Inc membership fee is the best muskie investment I have made.
Jerry |
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Posts: 1906
Location: Oconto Falls, WI | The best lure is the one that is wet! This ties into the changing lure thing.
I don't care if you are in the right location (even though I do agree location is important). If you spend most of your limited time/day with your head in the box your chances at boating a fish are that much worse. I don't care if you throw a pig jerkbait (well ok that is going a bit far). That pig has a better chance of getting eaten when in the water then any other bait that you are currently pondering on whether you should put it on or not. |
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Posts: 344
Location: Musky Country | BOAT CONTROL!!!!! |
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Posts: 1289
Location: WI | There are no rules. No right lures for certain times of the day, season, lake, year, etc. Cast anywhere including away from structure.
Finish your casts! I may not do a F8 every cast, but I at least do an L turn. I've caught a lot of pike right at my feet while fishing from shore, and have had my biggest follow there as well. If I just plucked my lure out of the water my catches , or even just fish seen, would have gone down dramatically. |
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Posts: 1083
| Relax. Patience. Have fun. |
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Location: Illinois | Be a good partner to whomever you fish with. Enjoy the pursuit and never be discouraged. Follow DNR regulations. Respect the lake and the land surrounding it. Always be courteous to fellow boaters and lend a helping hand to those in need.
Okay, that was five things, but at least it was brief! |
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Posts: 29
Location: n.ireland | cover water more than once
fish move in and out |
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Posts: 327
| Keep bass fishing , it's cheaper !! HA !!
And if you get the chance to fish woth Captain Fuzzy and witness his Nut Rodeo ... take advantage of it !! You will have fun !!
Edited by RUMBLEFISH 2/13/2008 2:49 PM
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Posts: 158
Location: Burlington, WI | Presence of fish in relation to water temp and structure. I think Chad Cain wrote an article in an issue of Musky Hunter on this referring to their comfort zone. Maybe it was someone else, but I remember seeing the article. There is no sense in throwing bucktails over the weeds when all of the fish are 10 to 15 ft down. |
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Posts: 1046
| Turn around and fish off the opposite side of the boat, and have a blast! |
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Posts: 1536
Location: God's Country......USA..... Western Wisconsin | Keep that bait wet. |
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Posts: 101
| My one tip, and it took me a little bit to learn, but LEARN how to use your lures. The first video I watched was one with Pete M talking about your lures being tools, and the right tool for the right job. Knowing when, and how to throw a lure is most important. Also know "what" type of spot you are fishing is also important. If it's a rock pile 20 yards off shore, and you are 25 yards off throwing to shore most of that cast, and retrieve is wasted.
Also, one can never say it enough Figure 8!
~Dawg |
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Posts: 781
Location: Ames, Iowa | Good advice Musky Brian- I change my baits way too often- and move way too often.
Thanks,
djwilliams |
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Posts: 688
Location: Northern IL | Will,
You surprised me with that,,,, Why don't you come over to our winter seminar in March, it's good time and there are still a few of the Ole timers hanging around. That's worth the drive alone, just to get a few minutes with Vic Saunders who was right there in the early days and who's picture is all over the "Green book". Great guy and a lot stories.
Edited by jerryb 2/13/2008 9:09 PM
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Posts: 227
Location: Maple Grove | Watch the small details and keep focused. I've learned the hard way too many times. Hmmm...so I guess I haven't truly learned yet. |
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Posts: 232
Location: Sun Prairie, WI | Be prepared,
Have your hook removal gear ready, know the location of everything you will need and have it where you can get it.
Know how to use your camera. |
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| Pick your friends well....Don't underestimate greed. |
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Posts: 12
| GET A GOOD PAIR OF SUN GLASSES! nothing is more frustraiting then your partner telling you a monster was on your baits ass and you not seeing it because you bought your glasses at walmart or some gas station-they will help you catch more fish! |
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Posts: 31
Location: Syracuse, New York | This is definitely cliche, but remember that safety comes first. In the heat of the moment, there are alot of ways for serious injuries to occur. They can all be prevented with a little preparation and good communication. |
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Posts: 208
Location: North East PA , 20 mins from Chautauqua | Learn how to launch and load your boat quickly !
THE FERD |
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Posts: 223
Location: Victoria,MN | Everyone who has spent time on the water pursuing these critters has been burned , and me especially, I believe the biggest thing is try to stay focused. Also laugh and learn from your mistakes! |
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Posts: 305
Location: Illinois | Enjoy the natural aspects of the sport,the sunsets, the Loons, the Eagles. It may sound corny, but since I got older, I tend to notice the little things more. It makes for a great experience, whether the fish are moving or not.
Fishing tip-If your lure is being followed by perch, stripers, constantly, move. I used to think this was a good sign, but if they're comfortable enough to follow your lure on every cast, there probably aren't many predators around. Besides, I've never caught a musky in this situation |
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Posts: 90
| The one thing that I haven't seen on here yet unless I missed it is the most common complaint I hear from Guides about their clients especially those new the sport...SET THE #*^@ HOOK!!!!!!!!! |
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Posts: 906
Location: Warroad, Mn | Learn how to cast and cast accurately! Biggest problem I have with beginners is that they can't cast well. Lots of backlashes, lots of lure in the rocks, lots of lost time. You can learn to do this in your back yard!
Doug Johnson |
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Posts: 66
| Make sure you check your line for fraying and check your leader for weak spots.
Brian |
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Posts: 157
Location: Collegeville Pa | They are just fish, don't over complicate things, and keep at it, eventually you will catch one. Then it gets easier. |
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| FIGURE 8, FIGURE 8, FIGURE 8, FIGURE 8, FIGURE 8, FIGURE 8
And hire an experienced guide - lots of Newbies out there. |
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Posts: 271
Location: davis,IL | Not a tip just a suggestion, don't morgage the house for equipment. Get the basics and give it a try.
TIP: Enjoy yourself!! If you make this some kind of a do or die job, you won't be doing it long. Pay attention to the details (the trail to success). Listen and read anything that can furter your knowledge, and start out fishing the easy stuff ( rocks & weeds). Remember your first few fish if only 30" long will still be a thrill. |
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Posts: 2274
Location: SE, WI. | Tell the beginner that hook preparation is HUGE, so get a10" fine tooth file, file the 3 sides and don't forget to sharpen the barb and slightly open the gap about 10 degrees to get a better bite...and Hang On!!!  |
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| Practice, practice, practice!!
And have a memory like an elephant!! |
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Location: Madison, WI | Fish only low light periods and ahead of approaching fronts to gain confidence.
Choose simple baits and keep your hook points extremely sharp.
Figure-8 after every cast.
Buy a bigger net then you expect to need.
Have fun and learn to take great photos!
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| Use your minds eye and visualize the action of your bait and the ambush points of the fish and there feeding habits such as moon periods and weather patterns.
Ben |
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Posts: 1430
Location: Eastern Ontario | Just fish and have fun. |
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Posts: 331
Location: Stevens Point, Wisconsin | Spend the extra $$ to buy a good reel and rod. Don't get into the trap of slowly upgrading equipment year after year; buy a good quality set up and you will save a lot of money over the long run.
Ed
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Just One Tip!?