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Posts: 13
Location: Eden Prairie, MN | Hi guys thanks for all the help kinda a rookie here in the muskie world. In the last two weeks of fishing have gotten 7 follows on a bucktails, few of them upper 40's. what should I do different? Brought them in casing the blades and fig 8'd the heck out of them but nothing. Do I change up baits and put something different right in front of them? I did grab a walleye super d and just kinda jigged it right under me since I figured I brought them in this far might still be under me. Any other suggestions? Thanks for the help! |
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Posts: 46
| What time of day are you getting these follows? You've clearly found the fish but there may just be some environmental trigger that has them in a following mood as opposed to a biting mood. Going back to where a fish followed after dark is often a good way to get them to commit. You could also try working through a stretch with a slower more subtle presentation if you raise a fish on blades. Its also entirely possible that you did everything right and the muskies are just being muskies (which is often the case). |
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Posts: 2015
| Are you changing speed and direction once you know a fish is following? A nice steady retrieve will usually get you a nice slow follow  Here is a couple things to try if you are getting a lot of follows on tails: Get the bait to buldge, or at least be very visable the last 1/3 of the cast (or all the cast if they are aggressive) Being able to know a fish is behind the bait before it gets to the boat is key as you can exaggerate triggers..often you can get the fish fired up, and sometimes eat before you ever get to the boat. When a fish engages the bait, swing your rod hard to one side (9' rods help), if they dont eat this direction change, I may try another direction change or sometimes.. i actuallly stop reeling for just a split second and quickly pick up all the slack with your rod, almost like a small hook set, this cuases the skirt to "puff" and the quick stop start give the illusion the bait might get away... if diection change and speed isn't getting her to commit - hopefully you have at least fired her up.. transition into a smooth 8 and read the fish - take the bait away and give the fish a chance to eat high outside corner is key - this all obviously takes some practice but many follows on tails can be converted. One last thing if the fish spins off fast at the boat KEEP GOING....these fish are notorious for coming back blind....its the one that just slowing sink off (you can almost see them lose interest) that almost never bite. Knowing where muskies are and getting them to follow is 80% of the game.. Go back at key time and you'll start converting. Good luck!
Edited by IAJustin 7/1/2013 9:17 AM
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Posts: 1247
Location: Walker, MN | Great info guys.
I would only add that sometimes down sizing your bucktail and burning it as fast as possible can get them fired up too. |
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Posts: 46
Location: Plymouth, MN | One thing I have found effective with lazy fish that don't follow all the way through the 8 but are still near boat side is stopping the 8 and bringing the lure slowly back to them within inches of their mouth. This has produced a quick reaction strike for me a few times on fish that weren't otherwise interested.
The key is to do this slowly then once you get close to their mouth speed up. I have spooked a couple by starting to bring it back to them too fast. |
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Posts: 9
| Agreed to all the above,
Also keep in mind the depth of your bait through the 8. Change depth and speed. Gregg Thomas did a great talk on this at this year's Musky Expo. |
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Posts: 3867
| Above is good. In addition consider
How hot is the fish? Flaring gills and opening and closing of the mouth is a hot fish you can get to hit the 8. Or with a throw back. Otherwise come back later.
Always have a throw back rod ready. I use a heavy action bass flipping rod, Abu 4500, sorta light line and either jig/creature or a Rapala Risto Rap. Lighter and longer Sevenstrand leaders crimped to the bait, no snap. Jig/creature is subtle and the Risto is crazy fast fat which does tight 8's under the boat. My most successful throw back is a heavy hook bass flipping jig, trimmed down, tipped with a 5" sucker minnow. I keep the rod handy with the minnow already hooked (thru mouth and up thru snout) in a livewell/cooler. Use light weight jigs, the minnow is the action.
Last, watch for deep follows, these are often the bigger fish and most people don't see them because they don't look.
Good luck!
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Posts: 50
Location: Hobart, Indiana | You could try and have another rod set up with a crankbait, a jerkbait or topwater and cast right back to the same area. Also try a different color or size bucktail. Make sure you mark the spot on you GPS and go back to it a lil later. Try a moon phase or sunrise / sunset. Seems to work for me. |
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Getting follows, what to do next?