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| Hello,
My name is Ryan and I just wanted to say a quick hello. I have been browsing your board for the past week or so after coming back from a trip to Ashland/Vilas Counties. We did pretty well for the few days we were up there catching 12 fish the best being 46" 22#. My biggest problem is trying to fix what does not seem to be broken. All the Muskie we catch come on bass equipment (zara spooks, tube jigs etc.) and 10# fluorocarbon line. How can I convince myself to ditch the light gear, and go to the heavy "Muskie" stuff? I am an eager student, and will continue to read your board, and try not to post too much rambling like this.
Thanks,
Ryan | |
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| Welcome!!!
Yeah this is a great board, and it has some pretty great fisherman who can help alot. I switched over to the heavy duty musky gear and lures, because I like the bigger and cooler equipment. I've bass fished forever and I have all the bassmaster gear and little lures and I wanted something new. so i started musky fishing and you automatically catch the fever. Just go out and buy a medium heavy rod and bait caster and some bucktails and jerkbaits and just musky gear. I also found when starting out to not buy the really big baits at first. I worked my way up to the really big stuff. take your time and take out a loan.
later,
shawn | |
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| Welcome aboard Ryan,
As an old Bass guy that got started the same way as you seem to have. That is with catching a lot of Muskies while fishing Bass. What will happen is that you will eventually lose some fish, get bit off numerous times. Get bit by an incredibly large fish and not get to land her because of the light equipment. It is then, that you will become a true addict like the rest of us. Be prepared for this and start saving your $$$$ now. You will have a whole new set of equipment before a long time has passed. Trust me on this one, it will happen. I still throw jigs and tubes at 'em quite a bit but I find myself using bigger baits and stronger line than I used to use. Don't be afraid to post your questions and ideas here, this is one of the most friendly sites in the Muskie world. Lots of folks with good info that they are willing to share. | |
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| Shawn,
Thanks for the quick reply. I have some Muskie gear, my biggest problem is not using it..LOL. I have not been able to part with the $400+ for a calcutta conquest 400 as a Muskie reel, so the garcia will do just fine. As far as baits go I would have to look in the bucket, but I am pretty sureI have a jointed beliver, large black three piece double teaser tail, a few bucktails,a couple really large spinner baits, a squirly burt, black suick, giant jackpot, super shad rap, and a couple others. I have come to the conclusion that I need more though..lol i live on the northwest side of Chicago, so not too much Muskie fishing around here. I was considering joining the Fox Valley chapter of Muskies Inc. Good idea? Again, thanks for the reply. | |
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| Mike,
Thanks a million. I agree with everything you stated, and not using a net to land sizeable fish a few weeks ago was a trick as well. i wish I would have really started 10 years ago. | |
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| I only have Abu-Garcia baitcasting reels...I love the ambassadors. Yeah just post your questions, and they will definetly get answered. You should join a muskie club, it will help you a lot. well talk to you later
shawn[:)] | |
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| slimm,
Welcome and please post often. Like Mike said, we all still throw/use bass gear and get muskies that way, heck... I looked at my history and I've caught more of them while bass fishing than anything.
One thing to remember is that always get the best equipment you can afford. There is a lot of good gear out there. Looks like you also are on your way to a good collection of lures. Before you know it, you be getting extra boxes and such.
Joining a musky club isn't a bad idea either.
Join in the madness!!!
Rob | |
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| Anon,
I have not fished much at all around here. Last week I was out at Loon Lake, and saw 0 fish. I had thoughts of going to a Forrest Preserve Lake called Sterling, and perhaps Marie. Any tips you could give would be great.
Rob,
Thanks for your support. I have been thinking about a St. Croix rod, the calcutta I have is a bit to light, and the Muskie rod I have is 6'6" and I want a longer rod(I think). I must have driven past your factory 50 times going between Glidden and Park Falls a couple weeks ago. Should have stopped in..
Thanks,
Ryan | |
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| Ryan,
Welcome aboard!!!!!!!!![:)]
As Rob said, buy what you can afford, you don't need a $400 reel to catch fish. What you do need is the proper equipment to help you not only catch a fish of a lifetime but to help you unhook that fish and let it go safely so neither of you get hurt! A proper size net, some big pliers, I use a big pair of channel locks, they come in great when trying to get the proper leverage to get hooks out of the toothy critters mouth. A pair of jaw spreaders, a "GOOD" pair of hook cutters, I recomend you talk to Capt. Larry about purchasing a pair of bolt cutters. Cutters are one of the most important tools when Musky fishing.
I use Garcia reels and have good success with them, I also have a few Cacutta 400 ($200) reels that I would not trade for nothing, SMOOOOOOOOOTH!!!![:bigsmile:]
You can't beat a St. Croix rod, that is all my clients and I use and you can't beat the service!!!!!
Believe me, you will have more baits than you know what to do with in a while. Just stay away from the gimmics, buy a few of the standard baits in basic colors, Bucktails, topwater, jerk bait, cranks and your ready to hit the water!!!!
Good luck and feel free to ask questions, there are some good sticks on this board willing to answer your questions, remember the only dumb question is the one not asked!!!!!!![;)] | |
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| slimm,
Don't worry about rambling on in a post, that is standard operating proceedure here!!
Ask as many questions as you wish, and check out the Creature articles, too. I also am a 'light gear' nut, but have refined it to be able to whip the fish quickly.
There is NO such thing as a 'stupid question'. Anyone who thinks they have Muskies all figured out is destined to miss alot...[:bigsmile:] [;)] | |
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| Welcome!!
So many welcomes its great to see, you will notice there is no such thing as a "click" here. We welcome folks with all the info they want to know.
I use some Steelhead rods for muskie as well as some bass flipping sticks. Both rods can be used for smaller baits. | |
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| Slim, Move up in your equipment slowly. Let the stuff your comfortable with, move up with the knowledge, your comfortable with. This board is fun, and, will help you learn. Join in often! | |
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| Slim buddy ole pal.How you doing?When your ready to move up to the heavy stuff email me and ill take all the small stuff off your hands!LOL
Welcome
P.S. Watch out for the guy wearing square pants!!!! | |
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| Don't rush out to get heavy muskie tackle right away. Unless you are very lucky, you will end up with a garage full of stuff that isn't just right. Go out with other established muskie fishermen and try their rods of all different lengths. Find one that feels good to you and can handle the tackle that you will be throwing. The standard rod test at the store of bending the tip against the floor and shaking the rod tip in the air (don't laugh everyone does it!), just doesn't tell anyone anything about how a rod will work on the water. Get the best equipement that you can afford. A good St. Croix rod can last many, many years. Their warrenttee is outstanding. Dividing their initial cost of $120, or $200 by 10 or 20 years of use, shows that they are not as expensive as you would initially think.
Welcome to MuskiesFirst![:bigsmile:] | |
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| Slimm,
Welcome to the board, as others said, no question is stupid (there is no such thing as a stupid question, just stupid people who ask questions!), ask all ya want, soon you'll get so much info from the advice on this board that you won't be able to sort through it. Ditch the bass gear, yes Worrall catches fish on his wimpy-*ssed gear, but I saw the fish he caught with me, you didn't need a SNOOPY POLE to bring those MONSTERS in.
Also, I am close to you in the NW 'burbs, probably going to hit Silver or Pewaukee this Sunday, if you are looking to learn some more water here's the rules: bring the coffee, bring the coffee, bring the coffee.....Email me if interested: [email protected]
Slamr | |
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| Thanks alot guys. This seems like a great board. I feel very welcome, its great.I have to say, I am more than a little aggrivated that I did not find this place until now, but better late than never.
Thanks again,
Ryan | |
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| Well Slimm you have found us now. Very few places that you could post on Tuesday and be invited to share a boat on Wednesday. Just the kind of place this is. I have said it before and will stae it again here now............the best web site on the Planet....Muskie First!!![:bigsmile:] | |
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| Slamr/Azrael are going to be taking Slimm out to Silver on Saturday....if no one hears from me by Monday, that means we learned something about Slimm. Wish me/us luck!
Slamr
Head of MuskieFirst New Member Affairs | |
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| Hey Slimm,
Welcome to the addiction. Um, I mean, welcome as a new addition. In my opinion, this Board is the best source of excellent musky advice available anywhere. But some things you'll want to watch out for or otherwise be aware of.....
1. Shady has a thing about mooning people. He's safe and all, but he'll pull you into his prankish ways if he has an opportunity. Be aware that he's at the top of the "payback list" for many of the regulars so don't stand too close to him for any length of time as you may become an innocent victim of "prank splatter".
2. Sponge provides most of the Board's spiritual and moral leadership. He's also quick to serve in the role of peacemaker when discussions go south. Once in a while he becomes a little emotionally exhausted and then he needs support from the rest of us.
3. Slamr is one of the board's tough guys but with a big heart. He doesn't take any "stuff" from anyone, and he's quick to defend his friends, too. A very intense fellow who says what he feels but doesn't take cheap shots. Kinda like John Wayne in the old cowboy movies.
4. The Hulberts are to be approached with caution as they have superhuman party and fishing stamina.
5. Many regulars are experienced musky guys, but a few of the regulars are total musky experts. These are the guys who catch 50+ fish a season, and who have great, patient responses to my rookie questions. You'll begin to spot these guys as time passes.
6. Paul calls himself "Unfortunate One" but he's got over a thousand musky baits so, really now, how unfortunate can be be? Plus he's at LOTW right now, with Doug Johnson(?) so he's pretty lucky if you ask me. But he doesn't think so.
7. I ended up in the hospital with a 6/0 hook in my hand last summer. (Me and a 38" ski ended up attached to the same Poe's Giant Jackpot.) Pay attention to the safety tips offered on the board, I would have avoided these new scars if I had listened to the likes of MuskyOne and Jason Smith.
8. Plan on attending one or more of the future "Musky First Outings". These are a blast and you'll learn a ton, especially if you get to fish with a few of the master nuts.
Well, that's probably enough for now. In fact, little or none of it was really necessary or useful, but that's the sort of stuff you'll get from me. Right boys?!
Ranger | |
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| Welcome Slimm,
I think you will really like the board. Everyone is very helpful and will be more than happy to give you great advice on any questions you have. I have learned alot from the board and its members over the last year.
As far as equipment I took the same route you are on. Started off with small gear and progressively moved myself into bigger stuff. I prefer lighter gear when I can get away with it. I tend to only use heavier gear when the applications call for it. My two favorite rods are a Gloomis Mag Bass rod that handles bucktails and light twitch baits great, and a medium action Thorne bros. Both are very light, sensitive, and easy to use all day long.
You mentioned Sterling, which would be a great lake I think for you to get started with if it is easy for you to get to. I have caught a few fish out of it and would be happy to tell you what I know; if interested email me. Don't know much about Marie or Silver but I am sure other people will help you out on those.
Good luck
Kly
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| Ranger,
That was a great post. I feel lucky to have read that. As Slamr said, we are going out tomorrow morning, so wish us luck.
Slamr,
Don't worry my parole officer and my special doctor both feel i am making great progress and feel as long as I continue with my meds I will not become violent anymore.... [;)] Dammit did I remeber to fill that script....
Kly,
That sounds great, I will shoot you an email. I am planning on draggin g my old man out to that lake and we can putt around it in his jon boat.
Thanks guys,
Ryan | |
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| You feel "lucky" to have read that post? Hmmmm...... Well, ok, thanks. But I honestly think it's a toss up between "lucky" and "watse of your time". Anyhow, best of luck on your trip with Slamr, he seems to be very knowledgable and for sure he's entertaining. (I've never met him in person.) | |
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| I have, and he is both!![:bigsmile:]
Great stick, too. Wish I was along for the trip...[:bigsmile:] | |
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| Did Silver with Slimm, had a good time....busted a PIG of a 25"er......too tired to write much more.
Slamr
*thanks for the coffee and donuts! | |
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| Jeez, fellas! It's still daylight & you've quit already??!! No guts, no glory!!
Steve | |
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| Anytime Slamr, you just name the time and the place. Heavy pressure(in my opinion) on Sliver this morning. I counted 23 boats I could see. Weather was too nice, if only it had started to rain earlier. After Silver, I took a quick spin over to Sterling, and made a few casts before the downpour and the wife started calling...Nothing happening there. Slamr, I still have your leader. Thanks again for taking me out. It was a great time.
Ryan | |
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New to the board, you guys are great!