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| In recent years, it has seemed like more and more fish have been caught on figure 8's. Personally over 75% of my fish the last couple years have been on them. Why do you think that is and is anybody else also notice this? Is there something we can do to trigger them more out on the cast? |
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Posts: 425
| I think that the muskies are starting too see EVERY bait out there tons of times. Maybe they have been caught on that lure before. There just being very precautious and don't just want too pounce on the bait the second they see it, so the follow them and investigate on there way over too the boat. Then once you speed up and make the turn they just don't care anymore and smack it. Well, thats my guess
Edited by 50"skie 6/5/2009 9:20 AM
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Location: Oswego, IL | Absolutely its the change it speed and direction that get them to strike. Thats why a lot of my fish that have been away from the boat have been on lures that have crazy irratic action when it hits the water. IMO |
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Posts: 697
Location: Minnetonka | If they want to eat on the figure 8, let them. Isn't that why we fish muskies and not bass? We get to see the ultimate predator stalk its prey and, with complete disregard for it's surroundings, overtake the lure right in front of you, after your hopefully well executed finishing move makes her come unglued. Instead of trying to get them to eat on the straight retrieve, focus that thought on what to do after they eat on the high-and-outside and keep them hooked. And, man, what a rush... right???
Would there be as many muskie fishermen if muskies ONLY ate on the figure 8???
Edited by Hammskie 6/5/2009 10:51 AM
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Posts: 8781
| It took me almost three full seasons to catch one on a figure 8. Since then, better than 80% of my fish have been on figure 8's. When you think about it though, it makes sense. When you see a fish following, most of the time if that fish was going to eat it would have eaten already. A well executed figure 8 is a trigger -- you are stimulating that fish in a way that triggers a feeding response. If you weren't doing that those are fish that would not be caught.
Now, in your particular case? I suspect it has a bit to do with where you are fishing (Eagle) Seems to me from what I've seen, experienced, and heard from others that if you're not catching fish on the figure 8, you're just not catching fsih on Eagle. |
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Posts: 2015
| Zak
Are you throwing DBL 10's/ blades mostly? If yes -75% of fish in the 8 sounds about right. If your throwing a weagle all day - maybe 10% would eat in the 8. The lake your on and what baits you throw will determine if you should expect to have fish eat by the boat. LOTW fish are notorious for eating at your feet.
Edited by IAJustin 6/5/2009 11:19 AM
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Posts: 264
| had one hit at boatside today. i think its because it changes direction and speeds so the fish might be afraid the baits geting away so it reacts and hits. |
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Posts: 7038
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | esoxaddict - 6/5/2009 11:15 AM
Now, in your particular case? I suspect it has a bit to do with where you are fishing (Eagle) Seems to me from what I've seen, experienced, and heard from others that if you're not catching fish on the figure 8, you're just not catching fsih on Eagle.
Funny, I catch or get bit most often while at Eagle far out on the cast or the middle of the cast, but have also caught fish on the 8.
I think muskies follow. Something about their nature makes it such that they follow and can be enticed into eating. It's what they do. The idea that muskies "learn" is about as plausible as Steve Jonesi citing Thomas Jefferson to explain why he chose the pancakes over the waffles for breakfast. Sure, it's POSSIBLE that this could happen, but the basic brain makeup says that they can't learn like a human learns.
I personally think it is much more reasonable to think that more fish are being caught on the figure 8 because more fisherman are doing more and better figure 8s?
And btw, we moved 2 and Jonesi boated a nasty ugly 42" today, at the beginning of the cast today. I however boated an anchor with anchor rope, hooked a tree and had a follow from a loon. ROCKSTAR! |
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Posts: 169
Location: Houlton, WI | its because of the change of speed, direction and depth that triggers in there brain for them to strike |
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Posts: 1220
| Musky fishing is simply getting to be a more skilled activity. Whether it be seminars, schools, the great magazines or just the serious quest to be a better angler, more folks now know the figure eight to be the real deal. It's practiced more often so the catch rate has gone up--no real mystery--sort of like when you learned you'd get more dates with regular showers. I do agree that pulling "doubles" will decrease the away hits however compared to something like a soft plastic or a jerk (twitch) bait. The only important statistic though is that you will catch more muskies if you are faithful to the eight. Marty Forman |
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Location: Oswego, IL | Has anyone tried the pretzel at boat side yet? Mine are more like that, not a perfect 8 but more like a pretzel. I like it that way, im hungry now gotta go! |
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Posts: 20218
Location: oswego, il | I have been noticing the opposite less muskies on the 8. In 07 I caught over half my fish on the eight and in previous years about the same. This season and last, 0 fish on the eight. One nip and one hooked and got off. The only thing I can think of is the more pressured these fish get the more leary they are of boats, not that they know what a boat is but the movement , how very little, in the boat spooks them from going into an 8. |
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Posts: 298
| I think the recent increase in figure eight catches is due to the popularity of longer rods and the renewed popularity of the bucktail/DCG. Even the average fisherman can do better 8's with these 8 and 9 foot rods and there is no doubt the bucktail is the most maneuverable and best hooking lure in the figure eight. |
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| Im sure some of you have, but how many of your figure 8 fish did you catch while wearing bright shirts? I know it's almost none for me. |
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| bright shirts or black shirts,fish dosnt care same thing for the under boat colors |
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Posts: 613
Location: Michigan | zak olson - 6/10/2009 12:18 PM
Im sure some of you have, but how many of your figure 8 fish did you catch while wearing bright shirts? I know it's almost none for me.
Totally agree....I wear light blues/whites/greys and try to blend in with what color the sky is. Fish will still hit when one is wearing a bright shirt but I just think it can only help to blend in. I have seen my figure 8 strike rate go up since switching to 'musky camouflage' but it could also be due to better figure 8's, longer rods, etc. I guess it just give me a little more confidence. |
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Posts: 413
Location: Madison WI | I still haven't caught a fish on the figure 8, I have had a few follow into the 8 for the 1st or 2nd turn but after that they are gone. I think part of it is that they don't like coming right next to shore for the 8, I have had a few fish eat on the L as I am about to figure 8 though. |
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| I think many people consider fish caught on the "L" turn as fish caught on the 8 including myself. If you think about it, it is the start of the 8.
Edited by Baby Mallard 6/12/2009 7:33 PM
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Location: Northern Wisconsin | Well after 6 years musky fishing this week had my first two actual figure 8 strikes. i have had a few hit right on the "L" turn but these two were on the actualy 8. I think its because they feel their prey is trying to escape and they want to eat before it gets away. or maybe it looks more like an actualy baitfish when it goes in the 8 pattern rather then just a straight line. |
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Figure 8 Fish