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| I'm going to LOTW this year and have been for the last 10 years. I have fished and seen alot of different lures being thrown. But what are the top 10 lures for LOTW? You decide.... |
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Posts: 5874
| Weagle Black w/Orange Belly
Top Raider
Gerry's Girl in Copper Blades with Red Skirt
BooTail with Chart Blades and Black and Green Boo
Perch weighted Suick
Small Hawg Wobbler in Black
Baby Shallow Raider or Jake in Perch
I know, it's only 7.
Edited by Shep 6/19/2012 6:42 PM
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| Poes giant jackpot- blue/silver
Top raider
Double cowgirl
bulldawg
reef hawg
stump hawg
shallow invader
Joe bucher crankbaits |
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Posts: 100
| Is there one lure that is always on your rod, or are you mixing it up between the listed lures? |
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Location: Contrarian Island | only been there once so i'm no expert but last year in 4 days one lure put 12 in the boat for me with a few 47s..chartreuse blades, black skirt was in the water 95% of the time i was there...i took about 100 lures and I ended up throwing 5....
this year i'll take about 40 lures tops...
topraider
chopper
double 9s
double 10s
a few spinnerbaits
a glider and a few twitch baits will get it done...
Edited by BNelson 6/20/2012 8:18 AM
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | Top 10 is too many for LOTW on most normal weeks, imo....
Like Nelson said you will generally find one or two baits that fish are sucking in repeatedly and switching baits is often simply not required.
That bait for me has been black n silver, either 8's or 10's...I will usually play around with golds of some sort or oranges on slower days too...
a WTD top water, top raider, and a jerk bait with an orange belly are other things I'll use but they are seeing far less water then the bucktails. |
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Posts: 584
| We try to keep it simple. In any given week, it's rare for us to throw anything other than what's on this list:
d10's w/ painted blades (orange/chart) over black on cloudy days
d10's w/ unpainted blades (nickel/brass) over black on sunny days
d9's (with the same general rule of thumb as to color)
Bucher 700 series bucktails (some days they seem to respond to a single blade better)
M/G spinnerbait (good for working through reeds and/or tobacco cabbage)
Topraider
Jackpot
Wade's Wobbler
Mag Dawg
Hellhound
Grandma
80-90% of the time the front angler is throwing 10's and the back angler is throwing either a Wades Wobbler or Grandma.
In my opinion, success on LOTW isn't determined by subtle nuances in bait styles/colors, etc. It's more about being efficient and covering as many good spots as possible. |
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Posts: 331
Location: Stevens Point, Wisconsin | Keep it simple!
Over the last 10 years I would say that over 300 fish caught on Mepps Musky Marabou's out of my boat. Prob another 200 on Top Raider in bull frog.
I will add a couple other go to baits....
Standard size dream cather buck tails.
Low Rider in LOTW chart
And of course double 10's
Colors whites, yellows and flashy crap.
Ed |
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Posts: 925
| I'm going for the 12th or 13th year this year. I used to lug 2 tackle boxes up there until after many years I realized I proibably only threw 10 baits all week. I now have a Flambeau tackle bag that holds 6 of the large Plano plastic containers that takes up much less space than the huge Lakewood I used to carry.
For the last 5 years I have pretty much been throwing the following baits exclusively:
1) Gold blades, gold skirt Jr. Double Cow Girl. I think they have 8's on the them. No need to throw 10's.
2) Musky Buster Top Walker - I used to throw Top Raiders all the time, but have never once had a fish go into the figure 8 on one. The fish will figure 8 on a Top Walker because of it's buck like tail.
3) If you plan on fishing any deeper reefs, bull dawgs are a must.
4) If you are fishing thick cabbage, throw a Radd Dog through there.
5) Weagle baby. This bait has moved fish on LOTW when nothing else would.
Midge, Ball Cap, Moneymaker |
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Posts: 5874
| BNelson - 6/20/2012 8:16 AM
only been there once so i'm no expert but last year in 4 days one lure put 12 in the boat for me with a few 47s..chartreuse blades, black skirt was in the water 95% of the time i was there...i took about 100 lures and I ended up throwing 5....
this year i'll take about 40 lures tops...
topraider
chopper
double 9s
double 10s
a few spinnerbaits
a glider and a few twitch baits will get it done...
No jerk bait? |
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| Marv's Black and Gold Spinnerbait, jackpot and my secret bait Northland's Crawfish spinnerbait change the blade to an indiana no. 8 copper stamp blade and you will catch anything that swims there, my biggest was 50.5 inches and you can cast it all day, inexpensive $6 to $7.00 get a couple northerens love it. Don't mind telling can't afford to go there anymore,. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | BNelson - 6/20/2012 8:16 AM
only been there once so i'm no expert but last year in 4 days one lure put 12 in the boat for me with a few 47s..chartreuse blades, black skirt was in the water 95% of the time i was there...i took about 100 lures and I ended up throwing 5....
this year i'll take about 40 lures tops...
topraider
chopper
double 9s
double 10s
a few spinnerbaits
a glider and a few twitch baits will get it done...
No jerk bait?
-----
Tight Lines,
Shep
Shep, I might have taken one but didn't need it...actually I think I own 3 or 4 jerkbaits and don't really throw or need them in my arsenal.... some do ok on em....I prefer other things |
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Posts: 2024
| If I had to lay 10 lures on my front deck and fish only those for one week they would be, in no particular order:
Black/orange-gold Dorazio Comboo
Black/silver DC-8
Spanky double 10 in a variation of their "Killer" pattern with copper/chart blades
Old Top Raider (black/orange dots)
Walk-the-dog topwater (black)
River Rat spinnerbait black/orange
10" unweighted Suick orange/black dots
Squirko
Hellhound
Shallow Invader
Like Matt said above, the emphasis shouldn't be placed on lure selection so much as covering water, fishing spots efficiently (even if that means only fishing a portion of an island as opposed to the whole thing), and fishing as many spots as time allows or your body (and sanity) can handle. Don't forget and stop to smell the roses, too. Awfully pretty country up there that can be easily missed if all you can think about is the fish you haven't caught... |
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| A Daredevil |
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Location: Lake Tomahawk, WI | As mentioned, keep it simple. We've done very well there over the years on just a handful of lures.
Cowgirls
Suicks
Weagle
Topraider
Also, bring some big minnow baits to twitch/crank. Sometimes when all else was failing, ripping a prism Grandma or Jake got'em to wake up and eat.
JS |
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Posts: 374
Location: In the slop! | 15 posts and nobody mentions a believer? I agree with the less is more thing but you still need to have the bases covered. I take one Lakewood muskie medium,(it's FULL),everything I need for a week or two is in there. Cranks, jerks, topwater, bucktails, spinnerbaits, even some soft plastic. Don't limit yourself too much. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | what you take and "need" to take could be dependant on when you go as well....if the fish are going to be more in the weeds, combo, or out on the rocks...or if you think you'll troll...we go in july...for the most part blades are going to rule the week....why would i need a believer? ;o) |
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Posts: 1996
Location: Pelican Lake/Three Lakes Chain | I can get by on just a few baits up there.
My Staples are
Gerry's Girl (Bright Tail with orange and chart. blades)
Top Raider/Night Walker/Pacemaker type bait
10" Unweighted Suick (Bumble Bee or Orange Black Dot)
10" Squirrely Jake (Superman)
10" Weagle
Ace SPinnerbait or Grinder
If the fish get finicky you may want to have a few more
Hellhound
Wabull
Shallow Invader
That is about all I've ever needed up there, hope they are going next week for the Vets in Operation Musky!
Edited by nwild 6/21/2012 8:50 AM
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Posts: 374
Location: In the slop! | Why would you need a believer? Because a 10" squirrley will go through slop better than anything I have ever found. Better than spinnerbaits and certainly much better than inlines. |
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | I'm just about to get on the road for LOTW...might have to do a pit stop and make sure I pick up some squirrely believers on the way, I'd hate to be unprepared  |
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| Pretty much the only lake I fish and have fished for over 25 years. Last Saturday on Muskie Opener I hopped into a big green boat with a black motor. There were two curious looking anglers in there, somewhat shady I would say. I brought three baits with me:
RadDog Spinnerbait
Cowgirl
Topraider
That's pretty much what I fish with all summer. That being said, I do carry a bunch of baits with me. I am from the mentality that an angler has to keep the lure wet, fish good spots and make good casts. If the angler is doing that, the odds of being successful increases. An angler will diminish the success rate if they are constanly changing baits.
DanKlis |
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Posts: 69
| MuskyTime - 6/20/2012 9:29 AM
Keep it simple!
Over the last 10 years I would say that over 300 fish caught on Mepps Musky Marabou's out of my boat. Prob another 200 on Top Raider in bull frog.
I will add a couple other go to baits....
Standard size dream cather buck tails.
Low Rider in LOTW chart
And of course double 10's
Colors whites, yellows and flashy crap.
Ed
Spot on!! Been fishin the woods for 20 years and it started with the killer and now the marabou shines in my boat year after year. Easy to throw and they go nuts for it. There is a reason Bill Sandy's bait is an almost identical colorado blade/body. The thing catches fish on the woods! |
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Posts: 427
Location: Roseau | How was opener for you Dan? We saw you south of Windigo Saturday morning. We only fished for 2 hours, didnt stay out for the rain. Had one nice one come from under to boat but missed the lure and one other follow.
Shhhh, believers in the weeds! It does work and is alot of fun to watch the strikes, not much for follows doing that.
Believer
Rad Dog
Top Raider
10" Jake
Shallow Invader
Baby Depth Raider |
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| Safari bucktails with hatchet blades is the ticket for me |
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| Is Fisher a Hovda? We saw about 15 and DJ lost one at the boat. Not great weather for an opener. |
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| I'm going to LOTW to fish muskie this year for the first time and was told that you won't catch muskie their if you use steel leaders. Is this true? |
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Posts: 59
Location: Aurora IL | I have caught all my fish with leaders.
Simple bait box
Mepps Musky Killer magnum single treble hook -casts really well,won't kill you physically
Double bladed 8s (silver or flo. red blades/black skirts) -rides high through gaps in weeds
Topraider or Super Topraider (black with red spots)
M+G spinnerbait (silver blades/black) for super thick weeds only
I can do an 84 hour week on one plastic box of lures up there.If I picked two-Mepps/Topraider. |
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Posts: 3
| Always use flouro leaders
Bull dawg
double dawg
shallow invader
crusader
leena custom spinnerbaits white or firetiger
cabelas musky no roll spinnerbait |
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| Wow the doubledawg is one of your top lures? It just came out last year. Must of put a lot of fish in your boat. |
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| How about a Livid Fish? |
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Posts: 264
| MuskyTime - 6/20/2012 9:29 AM
Keep it simple!
Over the last 10 years I would say that over 300 fish caught on Mepps Musky Marabou's out of my boat. Prob another 200 on Top Raider in bull frog.
I will add a couple other go to baits....
Standard size dream cather buck tails.
Low Rider in LOTW chart
And of course double 10's
Colors whites, yellows and flashy crap.
Ed
This guy knows his stuff. Fished with him last year and he's right on how regular sized bucktails will work great. Cowgirls worked for us too. Keep those figure eights good. |
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| Guest - 6/24/2012 3:07 PM
I'm going to LOTW to fish muskie this year for the first time and was told that you won't catch muskie their if you use steel leaders. Is this true?
Whoever told you that is ignorant. Steel leaders will catch just as many fish as fluoro leaders there. Maybe that person was talking about Whitefish Bay (gin clear water)? The rest of LOTW is stained or ice tea color. Don't worry about leader material. Focus on fishing good spots. |
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Posts: 97
Location: Milwaukee, WI | I use florocarbon exclusively at LOTW because of the large number of fish that we catch boat side every year. I figure that the floro gives me a SLIGHT (and I do mean slight) advantage when it comes to converting follows into strikes.
Do I think it is necessary? No. But I figure that if it gives me even a 3% better chance of getting that fish to open its mouth, then that is 1 more strike out of every 30 or so follows. That probably adds up to an extra fish caught in a week.
Of course, I could be completely wrong, but I'll take every advantage I can get! |
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Best Lures for LOTW