| OK Steve,
How come you and Jason don't get to be on the "Ask the Pros" list? You two too humble or somethin'? Here's my question for ya. It seems that soft bait/jig/Creature fishing is one of the last great frontiers for muskie fishing. From what I have heard, you seem to be the lead astronaut on the space ship. How about throwing us a few bones? When do you fish them? Do you rig your own Creatures or buy them rigged? How do you rig them? Does size matter?[:)] How are you retrieving them? Slow? Fast? Big hops or just soft taps? What do you feel that tells you you have a fish on? After the Creature, what else do you use? I've heard you talk about Sluggo's but I just can't make myself buy one. They look like big piece of licorice with a hook in it. Do they work? And if that isn't enough, how about telling us about your dad's role in the invention of the Creature. Oh, and get your's and Jason's names and Bio's up on the Pro's Perspective already.
Jim McCullough |
| I use several different types of Creatures, and different gear for each. The big, 1 to 2 oz. swimmers for the rock bars are coupled with Fliptail tails, 5/0 hook, and 20 pound mono on a high speed reel mounted on a medium heavy casting rod of 6 to 7'' length.
The 1/2 oz. diamond heads rigged to fish the outside weedlines I couple with big twisters, a 4/0 hook, and a high speed spinning reel wound with 17# mono on a 7'' medium action rod.
The 1/3 oz. standup jigs rigged to work the weeds are 4/0 hooks, 14# mono, on a 6'' heavy action spinning rod and standard reel.
The baby creatures are on a 1/4 oz. jig with a 2/0 hook, 10# line, on a medium 6'' rod. These are for very shallow water, and I have caught some of my better Muskies on this rig. No, it is not hard on the fish, I usually whip ''em in under two minutes. The trick is learning how to keep the fish moving, but under some semblance of control,right to the boat!
Cast ''em out, ALWAYS casting with the wind, let the jig hit the bottom, creating a ''bow'' in the line, point the rod directly AT the lure, and turn the reel handle two to three times, let the jig settle,( count it down, usually will sink 1 foot per second) and repeat. A hit usually feels like an electric shock. Rarely will you be confused, unless a Largemouth picks up the jig. They suck the jig, and a few gallons of water, into their yap, so the line simply goes ''soft''. A muskie attacks the lure, grabbing it on the fall, creating a ''click'' that is unmistakable!
Jigs are effective ALL the time, but I use them when the fish are not really active as the technique is slow going.
This is a fair start to answer some of your questions, anything more specific? |
| The leaders are 60# Sevenstrand, about 12" long, with a crane swivel and crosslock snap.I make my own.
The rod is stationary, for the most part, so I am ALWAYS in the optimum hookset position.Point it AT the bait, every time, all the way back to the boat. The shortest distance between any two points is a straight line, so reeling up three feet of line will cause the jig to 'jump' three feet, nearly vertically. |
