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Posts: 2
| I have a Joe Bucher Topraider and a creeper, since they are top water lures, they do not sink under the surface like a bucktail or a cranckbait, because I was fishing with a topraider and a muskie was following it and then it occured to me that it floats, and I did not know how to do a figure 8 with it. What do you with these lures during a figure 8? 
Muskieteer |
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Posts: 1887
Location: syracuse indiana | you can fig-8 them one of 2 ways..
when u start the fig-8 keep the rod up a little and and that will keep it on top of the water. also a longer rod will help in this situation..
or u can pull the bait under the surface which will also work on getting them commit. its basicaly making them think that it is naticed them there and is trying to excape them. and the usually commit to striking if they are green and hot for it....bill
also the creeper will not go under water. just to let you know.. most propbaits will work for these 2 situations...
Edited by archerynut36 7/18/2006 5:32 PM
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Posts: 3915
| I have never ever had a boatside fish on a topwater bait. Don't know why. A few years ago I boated at least 30% on 8's, mostly hair baits, many at night. I always bring the topwater bait down and go round and round, but never a fish, not a follow down there. That I could see, anyway, cause I like Topraiders at night. Jackpots and Raiders both during the day.
Pay attention to those that fish more and better than me, though. |
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Posts: 425
Location: Elkhart, IN | I doubt that I fish any better than Ranger, but I've caught two on the figure 8 with topwaters this year. The first was a buzzbait and the other was on a Pacemaker. I like to go subsurface with the plunging the rod tip in the water for the 8, it worked on both. The creeper your pretty limited with and will have figure 8 it on the surface like Archerynut described, but I believe the hooking percentages go up when you go under the surface. |
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| Someone should ask Colton....LOL!!
Anyway, I would try and start your figure 8 early, as far away from the boat as possible....the longer the rod the better! As well, you can go sub-surface with prop baits, but I would suggest, with a creeper style bait, taking the big girl for a walk. I would insure that before you go fishing, you have plenty of room to walk up and down the boat. When she comes in, make your turn and start walking slowly, moving as few body parts as possible.
I have caught many fish right behind the boat at the motor, or around the front at the trolling motor.
Just my .02 cents worth!!
Donnie  |
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Posts: 32954
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I look at the fish, and if she's curled up looking like she's ready, I go sub surface and spped it up just a bit. I have LOTS of fish I've caught that way. If sh'es just cruising behind the lure, I take her of one of Donnie's 'walks'. Sometimes they hit, sometimes not. Last week I had one following a Weagle, it began to turn off at the boat, and I dunked it alittle and sped it up. BOOM.
Is what I do 'right' according to the 'best of the best elite'? No idea, and I don't care, it works for me.
Observation:
One can ask any question one can imagine about muskie fishing here and get answers based on personal experience from foks who fish every day, just weekends, or 5 times a year. What's interesting is that most times the combined experience of them all makes for pretty solid advice. Thanks to everone who contributes! |
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Posts: 572
| no expert here.....however, most of the muskies I've caught doing figure 8's have been when I jerk the lure back over the muskie's head at the top of the 8 (fish's head pointed away from boat). If the fish is close, I'll do it the very first opportunity. Sometimes in the first turn of a figure 8. I did that last summer fishing with a Halcomb (?) low-rider topwater bait.
If a fish is interested at all, I think it will nip at the lure when it is brought back over it's head.
I use to think I should wait until I tried a couple of full figure 8's before trying it. Now, I think the fish might lose interest or nip at it and miss. I plan on jerking the bait back over the muskie's head the first opportunity before I screw up or the fish loses interests.
I believe this method also offers greater hooking power as the fish reaches up to grab the lure it will crash down and away from the boat even if it just nips at the bait.
Muskie Bob |
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Posts: 135
Location: Elgin, IL | I second Muskie Bob's point. There are lots of ways to figure 8 a fish... but if they're following really closely, I've had pretty good success by bringing the lure back quickly right over the fishes snout at the end of a turn. Kind of forces their hand I guess? They're sizing up the bait, trying to figure out if it's worth eating, and suddenly it's making a move right over the head. Maybe they figure they eat now or lose sight of their prey. ?? All I know is that it works for me too. Years ago, I heard someone describe that tactic as "feeding her the bone." Said tongue in cheek of course.
Mark |
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Posts: 3518
Location: north central wisconsin | Making your lure gradually rise or dive on the turns is a great trigger. Planing on the straights gives a target, then keep away on the turn. This has been a great strategy for me and increased the hits quite alot. My wife is a walker, and will do one 8 then walk the fish around the back or front of the boat. She does pretty well with following a walk with another 8. I learned from her that some of the very lazy 'looking' fish will get suckered into this deal at times. One thing to remember too is to always do another big wide 8 or two after you think the fish has left. Even some that appeared lazy and sunk away, come up to pounce from underneath the boat just when you think they are gone.
Edited by Reef Hawg 7/20/2006 10:44 AM
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| I draw a large rectangle in the water, and try to get it so that the lure's heading back at the fish on a collsion course, a lot easier said than done haha. Some fish leave from one end and show up from the other more than once. Some surface baits I walk around the bow, on top, then pull them under and come back to the side I'm casting on. That's a great point about surface baits drawn under as a trigger, extra surface disturbance, bubble trail, change of direction etc. Buddy of mine got a 49 on a Jackpot pulled under thru a normal F8 one time, Jackpots actually have a nice look pulled through, not much action but that's probably OK. Lately I've ben really trying to swing wide and deep on the corners of the rectangle, that seems to be when most fish hit, on the corners of the manouver, long rod like 8'0 is a joy to fish, the 6'9 and 7'0 jrk bait rods are a lot tougher but fish love jerkbaits beside the boat too. |
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| Start on top and if the fish sticks around keep digging your 8 deeper and deeper into the water. I have had fish hit a top raider after several 8s so they seem to like the bubble trail down below |
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