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Posts: 300
Location: Minocqua, WI | Hi all,
Just looking for some new ideas for 2008, and wondering what you guys are throwing at the Muskies when you wade or boat fish on smaller rivers.
I wade the upper stretches of the Wisconsin River, pretty much a large creek, and in what limited experience I have - 2007 mainly, I have thus far enjoyed throwing Mepps Musky Killers (black/black and anything with some copper & yellow) and smaller Bucher bucks. I made about 10 trips, had 3 fish on, 1 landed.
I recently picked up a few 6-inch Suzy Suckers and shallow-raiders and am hoping to give those a try this year.
So if you wade fish, what kind of lures do you have a preference in using? Any particular reasons? Is there any type of water you specifically like to target?
Also, what do you think about the late-spring Sucker runs in early June? My stretch of the WI river sometimes has it HUGE with the Redhorse. Some very big ones.
thanks.
andrew |
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Posts: 339
Location: Maryland | I dont have a boat so all i do is wade and fish from the banks for muskies. I tend too catch most of mine on mepps magnum muskie killers(black/nickel&firetiger/firetiger). also have caught a few on depth raiders,bagleys and jakes.
Since your wading it is harder too get the right action out of some lures like gliders and jerkbaits so you have too improvise and see what you can use and how well you can use it. If a muskie likes it they will show/tell you.
If there are redhorse suckers i woulld tend too think you should try some redhorse sucker patterns in the stretch you are fishing. Where i fish there are alot of bluegill and creek chubs so i match them mainly but sometimes that doesnt work so you have too throw off the wall colors.
Also what kind of reel/rod are you using? Spinning is the easiest for wading.
Alot easier too control the muskie.
I hope my 2cents helps.
Edited by TheMuskyMan 2/1/2008 6:17 AM
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Posts: 619
Location: Verona, WI | I caught about half of my muskies last year wading in rivers and throw a lot of topwaters and double 10s with an occasional crankbait. For topwaters I like to throw smaller stuff like the Lac Seul Mini Turbo as its small enough that I often get bonus smallies. I just know that a wag the dog like a Lee Lures Fish Stick would be great but like MuskyMan said it's difficult to get the right action. Double 10s work awesome - I have had muskies follow right up to my legs on a follow and my wife had one brush up against her leg on a follow. I had some luck with SS Shads straight cranking them last year when it got cold.
The rivers I fish don't have a lot of public access where you can walk the shoreline for a lot of distance so I bought a 10 ft jon boat so I can drift. I got a used boat, a brand new 2.5 Hp motor, seats, rod holders, and fish locator for <$1000 and plan to really explore some rivers this year.
Probably the best thing I bought was a Shimano back pack tackle box. It holds a couple of Planos, has pouches for soft plastics, a pouch for a handheld GPS, and quick access to release tools.
As for rods/reels I use the same stuff I normally use though I will change up and use a little shorter rod as sometimes I am casting in tight cover and don't want to get hung up on trees and bushes on shore.
Shane
Edited by ShaneW 2/1/2008 8:10 AM
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Posts: 199
Location: Anchorage | I do a lot of wading on the Apple River and almost always carry 4 baits: a 1oz. spinnerbait, 2oz. spinnerbait, Suick and a Super Shad. The spinnerbaits in two sizes can be thrown into any cover and also double as topwaters. I like the shallow running nature of the other two baits and their boyancy allows them to rise over rocks and logs and be pulled quickly into the washout hole downstream of the cover. |
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Location: Athens, Ohio | Since your question involved 'gear', one of the best suggestions I can give is to get you a Frabill lure retriever pole. You will get baits and leaders hung in overhanging branches and in stumps and snags, with the pole you can get them back. m |
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Posts: 300
Location: Minocqua, WI |
If there are redhorse suckers i woulld tend too think you should try some redhorse sucker patterns in the stretch you are fishing. Where i fish there are alot of bluegill and creek chubs so i match them mainly but sometimes that doesnt work so you have too throw off the wall colors.
Also what kind of reel/rod are you using? Spinning is the easiest for wading.
Alot easier too control the muskie.
Yep, I definitely need to invest in a few baits with a Redhorse'ish color. 
As for the rod/reel, it's pretty basic and nothing fancy. Garcia 5600C4 and I am planning on getting a new rod for it - most likely either a Shimano Compre 7ft MH Bucktail (3/4-2oz), or I'll up it a level to a 7ft MH Buck/Surface (1/2-3oz)... Just use it for the smaller water. I also have an old heavy-action 6.5ft Quantum baitcasting set-up spooled with 40lb power pro that I once used for Bass. It's a bit on the light side as all it's good for are smaller bucktails up to 1oz with the #4, #5, or #6 blades, but it still works.
Thanks for the responses so far. |
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | I guess I have to disagree with the fact that working gliders from shore doesnt work as well. I cleaned up on the fish with gliders and I actually prefer working them from shore. If you can get them in current they can do things that they cant in standing water. It takes some practice to get used to tossing gliders from shore however, so I can see how some may not like to do it.
Another thing that has worked extremely well for me is pretty much dead floating baits down some faster moving current. Just be sure to be picking up the slack so you can set the hook in the event that a fish eats. The Topraider was just killer this passed season when we tossed it out and just floated it down having the current turning the tail on it. I've also had some fish come up and eat a suick that was floating down.
As for gear I use all my standard stuff. 8ft Diamonback with 6500 C3. Definately carry a backpack with a small plano box in it for baits. I usually carry a topraider, spinnerbait, manta and a suick. Thats it. Hope this helps you out a bit.
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Posts: 57
| I'm with Pointer Pride, don't over look gliders and jerkbaits they can be deadly in the current. I like the round style gliders in the current like Manatas and Hugheys. Also the Baby Wabull was a great bait for me last year. |
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Posts: 339
Location: Maryland | Gliders and jerkbaits do work from the bank/wading but are very hard 2 get the right action. I have caught muskies from the bank with gliders but is easier from a boat. One of my favorites i forgot too mention is the suick from the bank,i have had numerous hits on weighted ones, the extra weight help with the action when ur wading. Never had much luck on topwaters,the occasional hit on bass sized buzzbaits is all i have had-prolly dont use them enough too catch anything on them though. good luck |
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Posts: 392
Location: KY | I have fished a lot out of my canoe. Around these parts it’s all about finding the deepest pool and lay down wood. Deep can be anything more than five or six feet. I have had my best luck with spinner baits and minnow baits like cranes and AC shiner 675. Surprisingly, I have thrown top waters for hours and hours in all kinds of conditions with little success. |
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Posts: 1636
| Andrew, you should invest in a tripod (20 bucks at most wal-marts) if you havnt so you dont have to run around looking for a rock to put your camera on. You can control a fish in shallow water, get the hooks out, and set the tripod up all in one spot. A waterproof camera is also a good idea... about 3 cameras later I finally got one.
I would also up the length of the rod youre going to buy. In the past I had used a 7 footer thinking it was easier to work baits since you were so close to the water. I didnt want to use my good, longer rods in the river just because things can get worn out a lot quicker. One day I used my 7'6" and there was no difference in working baits and you could do your L, figure 8, or O a lot better and farther away from your feet. Then I used my 8 footer and it was even better. So, consider getting an 8 footer or at least a 7'6". That way you can apply it to both river and boat fishing (not that you cant use a 7 footer from a boat)
As for lures, you cant go wrong with grandmas, phantoms, and bulldawgs in ANY color.
Edited by Reelwise 2/1/2008 6:59 PM
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Posts: 35
| I gotta agree with Pointerpride about Gliders from shore. I fished with him a few times this year from shore and I watched him do some things with a glider that were impressive to say the least. |
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Posts: 300
Location: Minocqua, WI |
Andrew, you should invest in a tripod (20 bucks at most wal-marts) if you havnt so you dont have to run around looking for a rock to put your camera on. You can control a fish in shallow water, get the hooks out, and set the tripod up all in one spot. A waterproof camera is also a good idea... about 3 cameras later I finally got one.
Agreed. I've decided on ordering a Joby Gorillapod tri-pod this week ($25). Got this idea from Jamie over at Customfish. Think it's a cool little system. For the wading or shore fishing and by looking at this, I don't think there can be any better system. Lots of my areas don't even have rocks or really anywhere to lay a camera down with support for a straight-looking photo, so I should be able to attach this to tree-branches, elevated shorelines, etc. - http://www.joby.com/products/gorillapod/
Next camera I get will for-sure be a waterproof.... Still got two old regular ones that are alive and kickin'.
I would also up the length of the rod youre going to buy. In the past I had used a 7 footer thinking it was easier to work baits since you were so close to the water.
Makes sense and I know what you mean but this reel I'd be using was once mounted to a 7 and a half footer and the balance of this combo was so poor - reel was too small and rod was too heavy for it. Therefore I'm just looking for a rod that would be matched up well to the reel. I also really don't have much uses for this reel while fishing out of the boat unless I decide to fish for Pike.... But hell, I can just sell the reel and buy an entirely new rod and reel for this which I can then apply to fishing from anywhere......
As for lures, you cant go wrong with grandmas, phantoms, and bulldawgs in ANY color.
I've got some of those down on my shopping list!
As for everyone else's input, I will be putting your words of advice into some use. I also do wear a backpack and carry a few Plano boxes and release tools with me. I think some Musky guys should develop a chest pack for the wading - now that would be a cool system if it were to happen!
thanks everyone.  |
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Posts: 102
Location: Bowling Green, KY | I hate to here that about the topwaters, BruceKY. I've bought about 8 different
topwaters to use here on Barren and Green rivers and now I'm starting to wonder
if my favorite way to fish is going to be a bust. What KY rivers do you fish? |
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Posts: 1636
| Performance_Tuned
The fish in a particular river I fish generally pay more attention to topwaters when the water is clearer, rather than the usual murky water, and pay more attention to side to side topwaters. Then again, in a different river the water is usually murky and they will hit topwater regardless and style doesn't seem to matter much. I wouldn't give up. Instead of ruling topwater out completely, try a variety of different styles. Goodluck! |
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | While I don't feel like getting into specifics tacklewise, I would suggest having a couple rods, as they are tools and no tool is right for each job. There are places I fish that it is very brushy, and not possible to get into the water to wade, so a slightly shorter rod is neccessary to 'flip' and get batter cast length from right under the brush. In other situations a longer rod helps. I am not a big fan of using my 8-8'6" rods while shore fishing all that often unless I am using a presentation that I want to keep alot of line off the water, as when hand landing the fish the longer rod can sometimes impede this process for me. I actually had a couple custom shore/wade rods built for my use and really like stuff in the 7'3"-7'7" range), with a shorter stick on occasion when flipping under banks at my feet is needed. Good luck out there!!!
Edited by Reef Hawg 2/2/2008 5:06 PM
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Posts: 392
Location: KY | PT
I have fished the Licking, Green, and KY rivers. Everything I have read and everyone I have talked to recommend top water. I have used Top Raiders, Jackpots, Hawg Wobblers, buzz baits, and creepers without any luck. The closest thing I have had to top water action was a couple of strikes on jirk baits that floated to the surface. I am not going to stop throwing them!
Bruce
Performance_Tuned - 2/2/2008 3:01 PM
I hate to here that about the topwaters, BruceKY. I've bought about 8 different
topwaters to use here on Barren and Green rivers and now I'm starting to wonder
if my favorite way to fish is going to be a bust. What KY rivers do you fish? |
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Posts: 102
Location: Bowling Green, KY | Man, if the rivers around here could stop going up and down like a yo-yo I'd like
to get out put some of this stuff to use! |
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Posts: 1636
| Performance_Tuned - 2/3/2008 8:18 AM
Man, if the rivers around here could stop going up and down like a yo-yo I'd like
to get out put some of this stuff to use!
NO KIDDING!!! |
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| Personally, I think there are some lures that produce better in certain rivers than others. My friends and I have hooked and caught more muskies on a jig and grub than any other lure we've thrown. Can't explain it at all. As for gear, I normally use nothing more than a 7' rod due to being in the water wading. |
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