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| Me and my brother had a chance to take out a great muskie guide up in Vilas county last year. We caught a few fish, a 34" and a 37" and now we've got the fever! We have our own boat (Lund 1800) but we dont have the gear or knowledge yet for muskie chasing. What do you all suggest that we buy to start, and being that we live in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, where do you think we muskie rookies should start on the water? We dont mind driving and the fever has got us so bad we dont mind spending a little cash to get the right stuff.
Any magic starter ideas to help us get on some fish? |
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Posts: 1310
Location: Washington, PA | If I were you, I'd start out simple. Get a few bucktails, mepps are good, work well, easy to get, and just get a few colors. Then get a few twitch/crank baits, and there are so many options its endless. I like believers/swimwhizz type baits because they are versatile, in one bait you can have a top water, shallow crank, and deep crank.
As far as rods and reels, a good place to start is a 7'6" st. croix, matched with a abu Garcia C3. Relatively inexpensive, and will get you started.
As far as places to go, give slamr an email, he's always looking for fishing partners.
After this, you'll naturally start adding baits, rods, reels, etc. as you need them.
Edited by tomyv 4/1/2004 12:04 PM
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Posts: 1769
Location: Algonquin, ILL | One major help for you and your bro would be to join the local Muskies Inc Chapter
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Posts: 336
Location: Wheeling, IL. | Spence Petros teaches a Musky class at the Palatine Legion hall every year. This year only has one week left, but you can find his info for next year at www.spencepetros.com |
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Posts: 544
Location: Alsip, Il | A few places for you to try close to home or even a weekend, would be Silver Lake just over the border in Wisconsin, Fox Chain (alot of traffic and a **### $60.00 sticker you have to get), Shelbyville (Central Illinois), Evergreen (near Bloomington, need a kicker motor 10 hp. rule, but can use big motor to get boat on and off), Northeast Indiana Lakes best shot at a 30lber. unless you go to Mn. or Canada (Check Indiana DNR website for lakes that are stocked, alot of fishing pressure) and for a long weekend at the prettest lake in Illinois would be Kinkaid. Just some places to try, Al |
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Posts: 336
Location: Wheeling, IL. | A great book to read is available from Dick Pearson at his web sit. Titled Muskies on the shield. about $20.00 |
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Posts: 20248
Location: oswego, il | Hey, you are near my muskies inc chapter. This would be a good thing for you to join. Seminars, outings, the magazine, good people, it's a great organazation. www.frvmuskie.com is our website. |
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Posts: 32922
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Anytime you are near Rhinelander, stop in at the Hideout and I will go through what I have here and show you some of the ropes. Plenty of good water here, too, so easy to get out on the lake from here. Even a place to stay if you wish, a 35 foot fifth wheel. |
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| You live Next Door to me, I am right off Palatine Road in Hoffman Estates. Come check out my monster replicas, and I will educate you on what gear you need and where you can start to fish. I am getting the Lund 1800 Fishermen used next year, so I even know a little about your boat! 
Steve |
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Posts: 1137
Location: Holly, MI | Read this website from front to back. Thousands of tips and knowledge from a lot of mighty serious muskie fisherman. Watch out for the ocassional goofy post tho. Local Muskie chapter is very good advice. Also it wouldn't hurt to start playing the lotto. Welcome to the nut house! We all know exactly what you mean about "The Fever". |
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Posts: 459
Location: New Baden IL | When I started, I had an appetite for information about muskies that I couldn't fill.
I still have it and what I would suggest is start reading everything you can get your hands on.
The major muskie mags, like Musky Hunter, and Esox Angler will definately help. In-Fisherman has some great articles on muskies almost every month.
This site and all the other muskie sites have helped me out more than almost anything. Most guys will help you out if they can.
The best thing I did was joining Muskies, Inc. The people I met there taught me more in a few outings on the water than I could have ever learned on my own. I dont always like the "club" side of Muskies, Inc. but they do so much to improve the fisheries, that I felt like I should join up to help do my part too.
Equipment is the easy thing to attain. Just dont skimp on quality. Save up your money and buy the best you can afford. There is nothing worse than losing a fish due to an equipment failure. You have to bust your butt to get the damn things to bite the way it is.
I have fished with a few really good guides from timet to time. Dont hire a guy to take you out to catch a fish on lake X, instead ask them to teach you something new. Most guys will bend over backwards to try to help you out.
As far as where to start, there is so much good water out there. Cut your teeth on something that has potential for numbers, then try to crack a biggie.
It depends on how far you want to travel, there are opportunities everywhere for muskies right now.
Dont ever hesitate to ask for help here, I know I have never been turned down.
Rodney LaCaze |
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Posts: 3907
| As I've said before....
STOP! STOP NOW!! Dabbling with heroin is a safer, cheaper path.
Ok, nobody listens to me but here's another response to your post...
#1 Don't pass on Steve Worral's offer. He's a master, and a good egg to boot.
#2 Call Rollie and Helen's and request a catalog, 800-453-5224.
#3 Start with reasonably quality gear, like St. Croix rods, Abu reels, PowerPro line in at least 80#, get a good muskie net, etc. Get your flouro and straight wire leaders from me ;).
#4 Look back through the threads on this board. A wealth of information.
#5 Plan to attend an upcoming M1 Outing(s). Great fun. Amazing what you'll learn when you have 30 fellow scouts sharing info every evening over beers.
#6 Secure a good guide on waters you plan to regularly fish in the future. One trip will teach you a ton. Mike's Extreeme comes to mind; the guy, and the waters he haunts, are not too far north of you and he's top drawer. A terrific investment. He's a regular on the board. Many other great guides are out there, too.
#7 Get the right safety gear, learn how to unhook a muskie when it is in the net, in the water, at boatside. Get good mini-bolt-cutters in case you find yourself attached to a thrashing muskie via a large lure. (Only the top pros hold a muskie near their face while the lure is still in the fish (for a photo), but they get paid very well for the risk they take.)
#8 Never miss an opportunity to fish, no matter the conditions. (Well, we must be reasonable, here. No lightning. Otherwise fish.)
#9 Get the best raingear you can afford. Always Gortex. BassPro 100mph and Cabellas Guide Series are popular with the regualrs on this site.
Hmmmm.......what did I miss? TONS I'm sure.
Baits? A few Buchetail or Mepps bucktails, a couple RadDogs spinner baits, a couple Grandmas crank/twitchers, a couple floating and sinking Suick jerkbaits, and a Bucher TopRaider topwater. Don't go wild buying baits at first, that will surely come in time. Oh, get a Flambeau Maximizer box for your baits - you'll need the space sooner or later.
Welcome and great luck to you.
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Posts: 135
Location: Elgin, IL | I also recommend joining a Muskies Inc. chapter. The Fox River Valley chapter isn't too far from your neck of the woods. Meetings are right off I 90 in Elgin, and on-the-water meetings are about an hour north of you on the Fox Chain. It's a good start if you're looking for an open exchange of information and ideas. I've been a member for a few years now and am glad I finally joined.
If you're still looking for gear, you've got a few places within 15 minutes of Palatine. The Salmon Shop (on NW Hwy just S. of Palatine intersection), Ed Shirley's (Dundee Rd) and Galyans (Woodfield) all have good deals, depending on what you're looking for.
Good luck and have fun with your new addiction!
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Posts: 391
| There are a bunch of lakes to fish in the area that are an hour to 2.5 hours away. If you enjoyed the experience with a guide and learned alot I would reccommend hiring a guide on the waters you would like to start working.
In Illinois is Ralph Florio(aka MuskyFever) and he guides a few bodies of water in Illinois and Indiana
In Wisconsin is Mike Koepp(Extreme One) who guides pewaukee and Kevin Moore who guides Okauchee and Oconomowoc.
This way you could get an idea of what gear they use and are successful with so you have an idea of what to load up on before you start shopping. All three guides know a wealth of knowledge and will put you in the right direction to success much faster.
Good luck
Kly
Edited by kly 4/2/2004 9:08 AM
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Posts: 3
| rldourlain - 4/1/2004 1:37 PM
A great book to read is available from Dick Pearson at his web sit. Titled Muskies on the shield. about $20.00 Any chance of getting a web address for above? |
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Location: Athens, Ohio | Ranger is right: run away now while you still have some sanity left! Burn whatever muskie tackle you may have, reformat your hard drive so you lose all saved muskie sites, and have Mr. Bluegill take you out panfishing. Most importantly, do NOT mix Coca Cola and Payday bars, it creates a toxic combination that only makes The Fever worse. m |
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Posts: 336
Location: Wheeling, IL. | Dick Pearsons web site.
http://www.shieldmuskies.bigstep.com/ |
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Posts: 1245
Location: Madtown, WI | I use to live in Arlington Hieghts....and no one has mentioned the Madison Chain...since now I live in madison...don't come this way...no fish at all... 
Also, join muskies inc....I learned, and still learn, a ton of info from speakers, and if you are a freindly type, a lot of the members....
Good luck!
Cory |
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| Hi, I’m in the neighborhood too. There’s a little secret called Busse Woods nearby. Years ago some guys planted a few muskies in there, and it turns out they’re spawning and there’s a decent population. I was out last week walking the shoreline near some spawning areas and spotted a nice 30 pounder and a couple of 15-20 pound males. They were swimming together getting ready to spawn. They’re smart fish and hard to catch, but it’s close by and just as good as the Chain.
Ps. Shhhhhh
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