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| Hello,
I am just getting into musky fishing at the age of eighteen. I have many heavy duty rods and reels that would work great for fishing musky, but need some lures. A few questions are as follows.
What lure or bait would you buy? I fish rivers and shallow weedy lakes
What color?
What size? I did some research and saw many different sizes
Where to buy them? the cheapest you have seen the bait
Sorry for the newbie type of questions, just need some help.
Thanks
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Posts: 371
Location: Dixon, IL | Everybody want short cut to catch big fish! I suggest is buy good muskie books by Jim Saric, Tom Gelb and other are great! Millions lures and everybody have different prefer lures so heres basic that I like 6 inch Grandma for most of the time. You should have some bucktails, shallow and deep diving crankbaits, topwater and small jerkbaits. Basic color like black and perch is good for start! Cheapest is I cant help you! Musky lures that you can buy online or catalog from Rollie and Helen;s Musky Shop, Smokey and Thro-Brothers! Go out and fish often then your skill will grow! |
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Posts: 153
Location: MN | You must get a Top Raider, that lure has caught alot of big fish, and reel it in real slow, that way the fish will not miss when it attacks it. The inexperienced people that fish with me either get a top water or a Fudallys muskie candy spinnerbait to fish with, both of these lures catch muskies and are real easy to fish with. I enjoy watching what an inexperienced muskie angler does when I give them a spinnerbait to fish with, most reel it in real slow and that drives the muskies crazy. Once, while fishing with my wife she was reeling in a spinnerbait and half way back to the boat she had to change the channel on the radio, she just stopped reeling and the bait sunk to the bottom, when she started reeling it back in I saw she had something behind the bait, I thought it was a clump of weeds but it was a large muskie. when she got to the side of the boat she just stopped and the lure sunk, she had 3' of line out, I watched the muskie hit the lure when it was just sitting there motionless. It was quite funny, I told her to set the hook but the muskie spit it out before she could. I also like Suicks or Reef hawgs terrific jerk baits.
As far as color, when I started muskie fishing I bought mostly natural colors , I have come to realize that the loud, hot colors work well too. Big lures catch big fish, but sometimes the big ones like a smaller offering.
There is a bunch of the manufacturers that have online sales, thats one way to save money on sales taxes, till our money hungry government changes that. I like a online taklel store called MTO, he has low prices and a good selection of muskie lures and gear, you would probably see an add for the store in the Musky Hunter mag.
One other thing you must have is a bolt cutters for cutting hooks for a quick release.
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Posts: 1360
Location: Lake "y" cause lake"x" got over fished | What lure or bait would you buy? I fish rivers and shallow weedy lakes
-DOUBLE COW GIRL BUCKTAIL or MUSKIE UNDERGROUND BUCKTAIL
What color?
-BLK SKIRT - NICKLE BLADES (DCG) or bLACK ORANGE MARABOU (MU)
What size? I did some research and saw many different sizes
-IT REALLY DEPENDS ON WHERE YOU ARE FISHING, BUT I WOULD STICK AND START WITH WITH DOUBLE 10s
Where to buy them? the cheapest you have seen the bait
-HONESTLY, THERE IS NO PLACE THAT IS A TON CHEAPER THAN THE NEXT. GO TO THORNE BROS WEBSITE OR MUSKYSHOP.COM FOR THE DCG.. IF YOU WANT TO CHECK OUT MUSKY UNDERGROUND. SEND ME A PM AND I WILL GET HIM IN CONTACT WITH YOU.
Sorry for the newbie type of questions, just need some help.
-HAPPY TO HELP. SIGN UP FOR AN ACCOUNT AND SEND ME A PM. I WILL SEE IF I CAN DO ANYTHING ELSE FOR YOU
Thanks |
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| If you can afford it, you would do well to get a copy of Saric and Heiting's book, "Guide To Musky Hunting," or some such title. This discusses the various types of musky lures and names names. That said, I would get a few spinners and crankbaits for the lakes; and one or two topwater lures for the river, unless it is really deep. Rivers are notorious for eating baits. Lots of rocks and things to hang up on. For your cranks and tops, try natural colors first. The clearer the water, the more important this is. If the water is dark, you can try louder baits, but don't go any further than firetiger to start. In spinners, silver blade and black skirt is a must have. Gold and black or gold and brown are valuable too. Don't go too big with your first purchases. Just try and catch muskies--any muskies. That is difficult enough. Trophy fish are few and far between. Shallow running cranks you might want to look for are the 6" Jake (with #1 hooks) and 7" Grandma (as is). You might also try the 6" or 7" Believer. Easy to handle and goes a bit deeper. The Mepps Magnum Muskie Killer is the largest spinner I would throw to start. You might also try the Mepps Giant Killer or Windel's Harasser. The Harasser is a very good buy. It will spin true every time. Don't buy anything just because it is cheap. But don't bankrupt yourself either. Get a few good baits and learn to use them. |
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Posts: 548
Location: MN | Don't forget to check the 'Buy Sell Trade' section her on Muskie First.
Nick |
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Posts: 1360
Location: Lake "y" cause lake"x" got over fished | Nick59 - 6/5/2013 10:50 AM
Don't forget to check the 'Buy Sell Trade' section her on Muskie First.
Nick
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Good point. You should even look 5-10 pages back. tons of stuff on there at a cheaper price |
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Posts: 833
| The best advice, IMO, is to hire a guide in your area with a strong reputation for being a good teacher. That will help you narrow your needs as well as give you some great first hand knowledge on a vast array of topics. |
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Location: sneaking out to get on the water ;-) | When I first started I got a couple different bucktails, a crankbait, bulldawg reg 9", a topwater like pacemaker or topraider or whopper plopper, top water like the topper stopper, and a good twitch bait I like slammers. Learn how to use and work each one then build your collection after you find what works for you. Perch or black and orange is where I'd start. Get good release tools long needle nose pliers, hook cutters, hook file you need super sharp hooks, a good net I like frabil, jaw spreader, and don't forget a camera to get a pic before you release the beast. |
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Posts: 772
Location: Ames, Iowa | Well first of all I'm figuring since you're 18 and maybe just graduated from high school that you won't be hiring a guide cause you probably can't afford it. At this point I think that's good. Could you tell us what kinds of rods and reels you have (baitcasting or spinning?). I ask because if I go and say buy some double tens then find out you have spinning rods I don't think that would help. Where will you be fishing and what will you fish out of. It's expensive so I'm thinking of ways to make you a bit more versatile as far as baits and set up. Hope to here back from you soon and good luck. |
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Posts: 2
| Thanks for all the tips! They are greatly appreciated! I usually fish shallow stained weedy waters and rivers. I fish from shore or from boat. I hope this helps!
THANKS AGAIN! |
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Posts: 661
Location: Roscoe IL | Brad P - 6/5/2013 11:43 AM
The best advice, IMO, is to hire a guide in your area with a strong reputation for being a good teacher. That will help you narrow your needs as well as give you some great first hand knowledge on a vast array of topics.
+1 |
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Posts: 772
Location: Ames, Iowa | Sent you a private message. Look for a red "inbox" at the top of the page. |
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Posts: 1360
Location: Lake "y" cause lake"x" got over fished | djwilliams - 6/5/2013 2:55 PM
Sent you a private message. Look for a red "inbox" at the top of the page.
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I too did the same |
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Posts: 26
| Watch some you tube videos of how to properly handle the fish first off. Then watch a few videos of how to complete figure 8. Watch what baits they are using and how they are retreiving them. This is not rocket science, fish the typical key areas and you will do fine, points, rock reefs, weed edges saddles. Good luck |
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Posts: 772
Location: Ames, Iowa | You'll need to make a trip to Rollie and Helen's since you're in God's Country. Fleet Farm has affordable stuff too but you know that. Remember that this is an expensive sport and a time consuming one. If you have a girlfriend, plan to see her less or better yet, take her fishing with you. First thing I'd do is invest in a good net that will hold a big fish comfortably while you work on it in the water. Get some good release tools like a pair of linesman pliers, long pliers made for big fish, and Knipex (they are as great as everyone says they are) or something like them. Worst thing is to have great baits but nothing that will get them out of a fish's mouth. Been there 1x long ago and the fish died. Buy a few good wire leaders at your sporting goods store or order online. I like Power Pro at #80.
Baits break down into topwaters, cranks, wood pull, bucktails and spinnerbaits, plastic/rubber. As far as topwaters I always use the Rumbler, Top Raider or the Jackpot. Often I am the only one in the boat throwing a top, cause I have good success with them. It's usually the first bait I throw. Cranks- I'd start with 6 or 7 inch Slammers, Grandmas, or Jakes. You can twitch them, pull them, troll them. When twitched they are basically a topwater. Slammers cost less and are of great quality. 8-10 inchers troll better. Bigger sizes out there if you want em. Bucktails- I'd buy a few smaller 7-9 inch tails and go up from there if you think you need them. Mepps, Inhalers, Harassers are all good. If you have the equipment to crank em, buy some double 10s like a Cowgirl. I throw Double Showgirls. If you like to fish with spinnerbaits for bass I suggest you buy a couple muskie sized tandem hooked spinnerbaits. They work in timber and rocks and they troll well. Wood- I like Reef Hawgs (they have them in 6, 8, 10 inch) and weighted Suicks, but there are so many good ones out there. Plastic- I think Bulldawgs are great and they are versatile. Susie Sucker is a rubber swim bait that looks like the real thing swimmin in the water. I'd look at some bigger buzzbaits too since you're in the weeds.
I'd get on Moore's Lures site online and look at his catalog for leader parts. Call Dick if you need to. Tell him what you want to make. He'll give great advice. Watch some vids and learn to make your own leaders. It's not hard and it is rewarding. Borrow some muskie fishing videos. Stay on Muskie First and use the search feature to view the archives.
I got on here in July of 2001 and have stayed as active as I can. I went to an outing soon after as a muskie virgin and learned a ton. I got with a guide for a day and learned a lot but he admitted what I already knew- I was doing everything right but just needed more Time On the Water. By the way, that's a great book to read. Good luck to you.
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