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Posts: 572
Location: Maplewood, MN | Such as the saying goes, there's no lure or bait too big for musky fishing. But, how small is too small to be successful? This recently came to mind after my purchase of a 4" Phantom. Now, I'm not bashing the lure at all, actually phantoms are my go to bait 95% of the time, but i recently ordered the 4"er and when I opened the box my first reaction was...huh. I guarantee I could kill bass all day with this baby but what are your thoughts on smaller baits for skis? I know people have great success downsizing but does it get to a point where you're fishing too small to get a muskies attention? |
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Posts: 12
Location: 10,000 Lakes | While at the muskie expo this year, I sat there and looked at the 4incher for a while before making a few purchases. Lemme just say this, that lure has already one a HUGE tourney this year in MN. And caught fish over the 50" mark. I think it works  |
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Posts: 572
Location: Maplewood, MN | And what tourney might that be? |
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Posts: 169
Location: Houlton, WI | making alot posts latly muskiefever, had alot success out on the water? |
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Posts: 572
Location: Maplewood, MN | hey kid, i mean Cole, cool your jets |
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Posts: 169
Location: Houlton, WI | #*^@ right you mean cole |
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Posts: 12
Location: 10,000 Lakes | I would tell you but, I wasnt the one that used it to win the tourney. So I am not able to say but I know the lure works, I use it as a throw back lure at fish that bite/blew up on my baits but didnt get hooks. |
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Posts: 646
Location: In a shack in the woods | Look at all the fish caught by walleye and bass fisherman on jigs and cranks. They opportunistic feeders afterall. If it will eat a 3" crank I see no reason why it won't eat a 4" bait. |
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Posts: 572
Location: Maplewood, MN | I know it can obviously produce fish; just like the yahoos who catch muskies on accident while throwing a beetle spin. What I'm asking is, do small baits see a noticeably less amount of production? |
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Posts: 447
Location: Waconia, MN | So on the 4” lures, did you change out your hooks at all, or did you keep them the same size? I have two myself, and keep going back and forth on the hook size, and if they’ll hold up on a big fish or not.
Thanks
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Posts: 2089
| I changed mine out for a Gamakatsu round bend in a size larger as I just can't leave any bait alone. I throw the 4" on a 9'3" MH Predator and a Curado 300. Just short turns of the reel handle make it dance! The rod is soft enough to protect the smaller hooks while maintaining a constant bend in the rod. Only 1 fish on it so far, a fat 44" Iowa 'ski in May. Small baits have their time and place for sure. |
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Posts: 51
| I have a bluegill one that I picked up at the Milwaukee show this past spring. I used it for the first time on my vacation last week and boated a 34 inch pike on my second cast. I then went on to boat the only two muskies that day on it, a 35 and 40.5. This was on a ~300 acre lake. I would say if a 40 incher would bite, then a 50 incher would too. I know 300 pound guys who like to eat shrimp. |
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Posts: 551
Location: Columbus, Georgia | I believe the saying is, "Go big or stay home." |
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Posts: 200
Location: Minnesota | My buddy caught a mid-40 incher on an ice jig and waxie last year through the ice on 6 lb line. |
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Posts: 1405
Location: Detroit River | Some days it seems that all they want is the small stuff no matter what time of the year. Back in Sept 2008 I was fishing LSC with a buddy in an area that holds a lot of musky, pike & smallies at that time of the year. There was a lot of 3"-4" emerald shiners in the area. My buddy was targeting bass & I was after musky. He was using a plain #5 Mepps Aglia w/copper blade & he kicked my butt by landing 5 musky (35" to 45") to my one 35" musky.
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| The 4" phantom looks like it would be a killer early spring lure and a good lure to throw during cold fronts. |
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Posts: 572
Location: Maplewood, MN | cjrich - 8/3/2011 7:52 PM
I believe the saying is, "Go big or stay home."
don't think so. |
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Posts: 272
| I see the 'saying' police are out today, so I better watch it.....
My reprinted phrase is "muskies are where you find them." And "the best bait is whatever you're catching them on."
I think there's alot of merit to going small sometimes, especially in highly pressured areas, clear water and/or areas with smallish forage. Certain water bodies tend to have a color-specific bite, so why not a size-specific bite. |
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Go Big or Go Home