|
|
| Hello, I'm new to muskie fishing and I have a lake close by that should make a good starter lake. It seems to be full of small tiger muskies. I caught a 40" muskie earlier the summer, a 26" tiger last weekend, and I another 30" class tiger at the boat last weekend. We also lost one at the boat last year. In 5 trips I've seen 4 muskies. I bass fish a lot, but muskie fishing is completely new for me. The big fish came on a jig head and a leech while walleye fishing. The two last weekend were on a #5 Mepps spinner and the one last year was on a 1/4 spinner bait. We've been having pretty good luck throwing bass type tackle. I was wonder if anyone would have any other suggestions to help put more small tiger muskies in my boat. What would you throw (Size/Color)? Note: The water is stained all year. Any ideas? Thanks! |
|
| |
|
| Check out muskie kids website, full of good info. He seems very knowledgable about the tigers.
http://www.toothycritters.com/muskiekid.html
Scott |
|
| |
|
Posts: 32970
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Hybrids love small crankbaits. Get a couple 5" Slammers, and look at some 1 OZ spinnerbaits. A Doc or equivelent topwater too, and a 6" Reef Hawg and a couple 9" Suicks. There I just spent about a C spot for you... |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1137
Location: Holly, MI | Let me spend some for him. Get a Cranes or two also. If the #5 Mepps are working try the babt Buchertail spinners (just a bit larger than the #4 Mepps) If you are willing to work a slow jig (like you obviously were)Get some big plastics and creatures and do your thing with them.
I'm surprised no one has warned you about esox feaver (especially the musky kind). It has no known cure and the only treatment is lots of money spent on tackle and tons of time casting for them. Just by posting on this board you have admitted to yourself that you have contracted the disease. Welcome to the club!
|
|
| |
|
| Thanks for the replies! That link took me to a lot of tiger information. I just got a copy of Rollie and Helen's catalog. I can see it was a very big mistake to request for one. Thanks again for all of your help! Anyone else have some ideas? How about those bull dawgs? What size and color would you recomend? |
|
| |
|
Location: Athens, Ohio | Oh, you'll need one of each. You are fortunate that Christmas time is coming. Just warn the kids not to handle anything with your name on it since it may have hooks; big hooks.
And, have you considered: large landing nets, release tools (long handled pliers, Knipex cutters, leather gloves), more rods / reels / braided lines, digital camera, large lure box. As I suggested to a previous poster, you might also want to get the wife a new TV since she's not gonna be seeing much of YOU. We're all in the same boat on this so to speak, keep coming back here for help and support. m |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1764
Location: Ogden, Ut | I think Sworral (and the other posters) about have it covered but I'll pitch in my opinion anyway! I've been fishing tigers for about 12 years now out here in Utah. My experience has led me to believe that they break most, if not all of the optimal foraging theory rules (big critters eat big food because there's not enough energy packed in smaller items to make them bioenergetically useful, i.e., they expend more energy in the chase than they gain from the capture). There is an abundance of tigers over 40" and some to 50" in the reservoir that I fish and I have yet to have one look at a bait any bigger than a super shad rap. I've spent (not wasted, mind you) hours throwing Suicks (9"), Believers (8"), Jakes (10"), Burts, without a sniff. For me, the 'bass'-sized cranks have been the most effective along with bucktails no bigger than Mepps Muskie Killers (not the tandem ones); the small Suicks have recently accounted for some fish too. The one bait that does seem to work in larger sizes is spoons. Muskie-sized Red-eyes and big Len Thompson spoons have been reasonably effective. It may be forage-related as these tigers are living on a diet of yellow perch and black crappies. And we all know that in most systems, there's about a bazillion small perch and crappies for each big one! So maybe it's just what their search image is. At any rate, I'd start small, and work up with the bait size. If you put a bait in front of them and make it reasonably easy to attack, you'll probably get bit. Asking others who might be fishing that particular lake would also be most insightful.
K. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 626
Location: ashtabula ohio | jb...stop,go back,turn around...before its too late...it wont be long that you realize bass are jus bait..... |
|
| |
|
Posts: 35
Location: Cudahy, WI | JB....you just starting to get the muskie itch? Been fishing a while and have some bass and walleye gear already but want to tackle the bigger fish?
How old are you? If this is your baptisim into muskie fishing, I'll do what I've done before and send you some stuff to get you started. It might not all be new, but none of it will be junk.
Just as long as you're not over 20 and looking for some handouts......
I'd be glad to send some stuff your way. 3/4 oz or 1 oz Rattletraps. I've got some Cranes and other twitch baits. Stained water? I've got some brighter color lures that you can have and maybe a top water or two. I'm sure this won't be the only offer that you get. People on this site tend to like to make donations to fledgling fishermen.
Where you from and what kind of water you fishing?
Drop me a line or reply here.
Cap'n Ahab |
|
| |
