Had a odd idea today while looking at my christmas tree. Crappie cribs have been used for decades to attract and catch smaller gamefish. Is there any way you could make some sort of crib or habitat that could be used to help attract and catch muskies? Or maybe at least use them to attract smaller bait/game fish that may attract muskies? Lets hear some ideas
Posted 11/25/2012 9:38 PM (#599533 - in reply to #599532) Subject: RE: Muskie Cribs
Posts: 16632
Location: The desert
Guest - 11/25/2012 8:32 PM
Had a odd idea today while looking at my christmas tree. Crappie cribs have been used for decades to attract and catch smaller gamefish. Is there any way you could make some sort of crib or habitat that could be used to help attract and catch muskies? Or maybe at least use them to attract smaller bait/game fish that may attract muskies? Lets hear some ideas
Posted 11/25/2012 9:52 PM (#599538 - in reply to #599532) Subject: Re: Muskie Cribs
Posts: 32906
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin
As I said, in most states it's not allowed for just anyone to place a brush shelter or crib.
Guest
Posted 11/25/2012 9:55 PM (#599540 - in reply to #599535) Subject: Re: Muskie Cribs
sworrall - 11/25/2012 9:45 PM
One needs permission from the DNR to place a crib or 'brush shelters' in most states. They usually say no.
once again, im not asking for the legal reasons why i should or should not try this, i would look into that after i decided whether i was going to do this or not. If you wanna shoot the idea down say its a bad one
Posted 11/25/2012 10:06 PM (#599547 - in reply to #599532) Subject: Re: Muskie Cribs
Posts: 32906
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin
Lake Associations can be permitted in most states to place shelters or cribs, and the DNRs frequently do. Most states do not allow anglers to for obvious reasons, if just anyone could there would be a heck of a mess out there. There are exemptions and rules, if you are interested in placing a crib, look into the regs in your state on the State DNR website.
Some DNR websites list Raparian exemptions for placement, and what the construction, substrate, and reinforcing materials can be made from.
Guest
Posted 11/25/2012 10:14 PM (#599552 - in reply to #599532) Subject: RE: Muskie Cribs
What attracts muskies? Cover and baitfish! So yeah, I'm sure it would work. Personally I'm too lazy to drag one out to a spot, but go ahead and try it. Just let us know where it is!
Guest
Posted 11/25/2012 10:15 PM (#599553 - in reply to #599532) Subject: RE: Muskie Cribs
if i wanted the laws on cribs i would call my local CO. I thought i was talking to muskie fisherman on here and not robots, i guess not...
Posted 11/25/2012 10:18 PM (#599555 - in reply to #599532) Subject: Re: Muskie Cribs
Posts: 32906
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin
You commented about fish cribs saying they draw in baitfish. Yes they do. Then you asked about stories placing them. I have worked on crib placement over the years on several lakes, and my son works for the WIDNR. I answered you with factual material.
Then you posted another thread complaining....about something, I'm not sure what.
Posted 11/25/2012 10:31 PM (#599563 - in reply to #599555) Subject: Re: Muskie Cribs
Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi.
opening it up would show you're stating the obvious and that most states restrict the activity...
the answer for your question is "no-schitdt"
Guest
Posted 11/25/2012 10:41 PM (#599569 - in reply to #599532) Subject: Re: Muskie Cribs
sworrall - 11/25/2012 10:36 PM
Read the post.
'Crappie cribs have been used for decades to attract and catch smaller gamefish. Is there any way you could make some sort of crib or habitat that could be used to help attract and catch muskies? Or maybe at least use them to attract smaller bait/game fish that may attract muskies? Lets hear some ideas'
Then read my answers. A good point was made about answering his own q, really.
Yes, really. If you want to build and place brush shelters and cribs, which the guy described, then you need to now how and if it's OK. That's what I offered.
and its obvious that nothing you provided answered my question and all you put forth was some know it all legal reasons for shooting me down
Posted 11/25/2012 10:47 PM (#599571 - in reply to #599532) Subject: Re: Muskie Cribs
Posts: 32906
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin
Not at all. If you are asking if cribs work, you answered your own question out of the gate. If you are asking for stories about building and placing cribs, then you need to look into the legality and what cribs have to be constructed from, etc. as that varies from State to State, and what is OK in Kentucky may not be in Indiana, etc. If you are asking for something else, you seem to have lost most of us here...what is it you want said?
The state you live in may have special regulations if placed by a Raparian, or may require DNR licensing, or whatever. We have LOTS of lakes here in N WI that have cribs placed as described. I have a ton of video of fish using cribs onsite, too, including one of a giant muskie.
Posted 11/26/2012 8:04 AM (#599583 - in reply to #599532) Subject: Re: Muskie Cribs
Posts: 32906
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin
Mid 50's. Very old fish, and it was there all winter feeding on gills caught and tossed back down the holes over the crib. Rarely took one on the way up, but it did the day I got that video, the old gent who had his gill eaten was a little excited.
Posted 11/26/2012 9:56 PM (#599715 - in reply to #599532) Subject: Re: Muskie Cribs
Posts: 20
Location: Bowling Green, Kentucky
I think I can add something to this. Somebody said rocks and weeds, but they are not always where you want them to be. A very beneficial use of "cribs" would be placing one in a barren but otherwise perfect area. A warm flat with all sand and no structure. An otherwise boring drop-off. This type of placement would pull a fish to a specific spot, over and over again.
I know a perfect example. There is a spring in a shallow creek close to my home. The spring draws fish to a flat gravel bottom. There is a big tree trunk that dips underwater, pops out, and dips under again. This big Muskie sits underneath the "pop out". He is there every single time I have looked. (can't catch him after a lost battle). They like a little cozy musky home sometimes. I live in KY, btw, and crappie fisherman throw hides all over the place. Not a bad thing really. Lots of habitat for the little fishes.
Posted 11/30/2012 12:04 PM (#600552 - in reply to #599532) Subject: Re: Muskie Cribs
Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI
Well this is a weird thread. I think we've said this in an around about way but... if cribs attract crappies and other baitfish, aren't those already "musky cribs" too? I'm not sure you'd need to put out other cribs for muskies. Just find the cribs that are already in the lake holding fish.
I have seen LOTS of muskies hanging around cribs in North Central/NW Wi in the winter while catching gills. Seems like the 14-18 foot range is popular for both species in the winter.
In the winter they'll be on these cribs in otherwise featureless areas. Surprising that I don't seem to have much luck on those cribs in the open water season. I catch muskies related to cribs during the musky season but they usually seem to be related to structure they would already be using, and just use the crib as a spot on the spot kind of thing.
Posted 11/30/2012 12:18 PM (#600555 - in reply to #599532) Subject: Re: Muskie Cribs
Posts: 16632
Location: The desert
There have been some dumb threads on here over the years, no doubt I've likely started some. But this thread is in a league of its own. Original poster acknowledges that cribs for crappies attract smaller game fish. Next original poster wants to know if there are cribs that attract bait/smaller game fish?
What ideas would this guy like? He already answers, that yes, there are indeed cribs that attract smaller game fish. Then original poster gets angry because he gets answers he doesn't like. Robots? Seems the only robot here is the original poster since he, apparently unknowingly, answered his own thread question.
Muskie Cribs