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| Message Subject: How Many Lures, Really? | |||
North of 8 |
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| This past season, I participated in a musky league and I noted how much more frequently my partner changed baits than did I. Maybe because he is 30 years younger and not as set in his ways. I really have never been one to use a lot of lures, I have several big boxes of them but really could get by with maybe a dozen. I fished with a guide on Eagle Lake in 2024 and he used four baits, all day. He did switch them back and forth, but only four. I thought of this recently because one of my sister's grandsons has gotten hooked on musky fishing. He is in high school and has a part time job but we all know how expensive gear has gotten. I gave him a net won at a musky seminar and rod I didn't use. I plan to give him some lures that are like new, just sitting in one box or the other. If you were completely honest and ruthless in your assessment, how many lures do you really need (for this exercise, count multiple colors of same lure as one)? | |||
| Solitario Lupo |
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 Location: PA Angler | I have a bunch and I do the same. I switch between 3 rods fly, bait, and spin. Changing all of them after I feel I have used them enough. Probably within a half an hr to an hr sometimes shorter. Got the bigger baits on bait, med to smaller on spin, and then flies. If you ask me to count. I wouldn’t know where to start. Plus I make my own plastics and flies so maybe that addiction got something to do with it also. | ||
| esoxaddict |
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Posts: 8855 | Walk the dog Tail prop Double 10 Double 8 Deep running crank Shallow running crank Jerkbait Spinner bait Glider Rubber That it. | ||
| anderj85 |
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Posts: 286 Location: US | I have hundreds of baits. Realistically, I use 1-3 different baits on any outing, usually 3-7 hours. Double that if you cast and troll on the same outing. This year I caught all of my fish on 6 different baits (not counting color differences). I usually only fish local and don't travel as I have a couple young kids. for that reason time invested is also not as high as previous years. If i fished multiple times a week these numbers would likely be different. I'm big on fishing confidence baits so don't switch a lot and I'm sure there are days that costs me fish though. | ||
| IAJustin |
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Posts: 2082 | North of 8 - 1/9/2026 9:47 AM If you were completely honest and ruthless in your assessment, how many lures do you really need (for this exercise, count multiple colors of same lure as one)? This really depends on how many lakes you fish and if you are an ice-out to ice-up fisherman. I'd have no problem fishing LOTW in July for a month with 5 baits (assuming if they are damaged I get to replace them)....there have been years I've fished 18-20 different lakes Feb-Dec. and caught fish on 40+ different baits...most years I need about 20 baits (this assumes that for example if a mag dawg is destroyed I can replace it) I'm not a bait collector, for the most part the baits I haven't caught fish on are on the bench until a similar bait is retired. EDIT - I'm also assuming two different size baits are 2 baits. a mag dawg vs pounder, something like a small and large pacemaker ...obviously a 6" jake and a 14" jake fish a little different - ha! | ||
| North of 8 |
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IAJustin - 1/9/2026 12:43 PM Yes, I was thinking if you have two Mag Dawgs, but in different colors, I would count as one. And you make a good point about different water. This past summer in league I used some deeper running cranks that I don't use on the shallow chain where I live. In league we fished a number of different lakes.North of 8 - 1/9/2026 9:47 AM If you were completely honest and ruthless in your assessment, how many lures do you really need (for this exercise, count multiple colors of same lure as one)? This really depends on how many lakes you fish and if you are an ice-out to ice-up fisherman. I'd have no problem fishing LOTW in July for a month with 5 baits (assuming if they are damaged I get to replace them)....there have been years I've fished 18-20 different lakes Feb-Dec. and caught fish on 40+ different baits...most years I need about 20 baits (this assumes that for example if a mag dawg is destroyed I can replace it) I'm not a bait collector, for the most part the baits I haven't caught fish on are on the bench until a similar bait is retired. EDIT - I'm also assuming two different size baits are 2 baits. a mag dawg vs pounder, something like a small and large pacemaker ...obviously a 6" jake and a 14" jake fish a little different - ha! | |||
| nar160 |
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Posts: 433 Location: MN | I love this question - not a big fan of excessive complexity and clutter. My roster currently contains 85 baits, which correspond to 39 distinct types after color is removed but still considering variation like size and weight. I use all of them, but realistically the set could be reduced to these 10 and it would cover the ways in which I use them all: - double 12s or 13s built heavy - double 12s built light - 12" red oct tube mid depth - husky medussa - 12" posseidon - 14" sq hellhound - triple d - 12" mattlock - psycho sister or CBJ - creeper | ||
| esoxaddict |
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Posts: 8855 | I must admit: I have over 500 lures. I have lures for Cave run. I have lures for N/WI. I have lures for the Yahara chain. I have lures for spring, fall, post turnover…. I have lures for Eagle.. not just Eagle, but for the main lake basin, the West Arm, Osbourne Bay…. I have lures specific to cold fronts, cloudy days, sunny days… I have lures for muddy water, tannic stained water, clear water…. I have lures that are for specific lakes under specific conditions at specific times of year. I have a lure that’s on its last legs that is only for the purpose of that one special fish that will retire it to the wall of fame in the mouth of a replica of a fish worthy of a spot over the fireplace. (I have custom replacements of that exact lure for when that day comes). You will only see that lure on the end of my line as a throw back to a hot fish that is wider than my boots, that I a reasonably certain is going to eat on that cast. I have a few lures I will only throw back at a fish worthy of the privilege of eating them. I have lures that I will give to anyone who catches a fish on them and lures I will keep and fish with because I believe in them even though this far they have proven themselves to be worthless… But the question was how many lures do you actually need. I still say 10. Fast slow, suspend, shallow, deep…. Cover the water. Add a few if you troll and one or two “I’m gonna die on this hill fish or no fish” lures, and I could get to 15…. | ||
| IAJustin |
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Posts: 2082 | Size of lure makes a big difference in musky actually eating not just following in many conditions including but not limited to cold water and clear water, no way would I go a season without 2 sizes of Medussa’s and 2 sizes of dawgs, topwater no way am I fishing a season without the 7 I catch fish on Iowa, Minnesota, and Canada.. the seven top water baits all have a bunch of fish with multiple of 48”…take any out of the rotation? No thanks….then you get to bucktails size and blade configuration differences , easy to take 15 different bucktails alone, if I had to I could trim it to 5 for a season but I’d feel naked.. anyway taking color out of the equation, which actually accounts for very little anyway, I always catch fish on a minimum of 18-20 baits every year… I’m a huge believer in size/action of bait matters WAY more than color… it’s an interesting question to ponder, I have over 40 baits that have multiple fish over 45”… some never see the water now , hmmm. The post will actually probably get more baits in my boat not less, lol | ||
| IAJustin |
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Posts: 2082 | There could be an interesting follow up question to this, excluding color, how many different baits have you caught a musky on? If a single 8 buck tail is different than a double 8 bucktail, I think most would agree it is… I honestly have no idea, but over 200 baits for sure … I’m getting old | ||
| OH Musky |
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Posts: 434 Location: SW Ohio | I have way more baits than I use or need. Most of the time, I'm only throwing 1/2 dozen or so during an outing. More if I'm trolling, though. Our local lake can be a great crankbait lake so most of the lures are crankbaits. Combining all blade baits would be second in quantity (cow girl style, bucktails, Mepps). The lowest numbers would be topwater and rubber. Somewhere in the mix are glides. I'm usually casting medium cranks, a large (10) and smaller (7-8) blade bait, a medium glidebait and maybe a Mepps or #8 bucktail. I'll switch the colors up occasionally. I need to go thru and sort them all based on usage and whether they've caught fish. I carry way too much and could use the extra floor and storage space in the boat. | ||
| North of 8 |
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IAJustin - 1/10/2026 7:29 AM There could be an interesting follow up question to this, excluding color, how many different baits have you caught a musky on? If a single 8 buck tail is different than a double 8 bucktail, I think most would agree it is… I honestly have no idea, but over 200 baits for sure … I’m getting old Another follow up question would be how long do you stick with a bait before changing? Again, in league, I was throwing a Weagle, working it a number of different ways. Had a blow up from a musky that came completely out of the water, maybe low 30s. My partner's comment was, 'you deserved some action, I could never work a bait that long without results'. I checked my phone and guessed it had maybe been an hour, little more. I didn't think that was excessive but he clearly thought so. | |||
| Angling Oracle |
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Posts: 416 Location: Selkirk, Manitoba | esoxaddict - 1/9/2026 11:35 AM Walk the dog Tail prop Double 10 Double 8 Deep running crank Shallow running crank Jerkbait Spinner bait Glider Rubber That it. Agree this is a general selection that someone newer should strive for I would think for sure. The non-specifics is appropriate given at times very specific baits are going to be "hot" and what the fish seem to want a given year, season, week or even day, and then will be relegated to the ineffective pile when something else becomes hot. Walk the dog - not a fish catcher, but good locator bait when conditions tough (calm or light wind) and to cover areas such as big weedy/sandy bays and very tight to shore given they are snag free for the most part. Tail prop - similar to above but higher percentage catching; in areas we fish not as effective in locating fish as WTD, flaptails, and crawlers (all three of which are infrequently thrown here). Double 10 - super effective bait and I would put #1 effective in hooking fish and getting follows. Double 8 - I don't throw much (too many pike) but similar to above, but I feel less likely to attract big fish. Deep running crank - very effective bait that very few throw, great in the rocks and in parts of LOTW with the snaggy shale probably one of the smarter baits to throw to stay in the game and not dealing with snags (esp. if fishing new water) Shallow running crank - ditto Jerkbait - Suick - love them. So versatile and resilient (still have first one and has caught hundreds of fish - pike mostly, but big musky, bass and walleye too). Spinner bait - when the weeds get ugly or want to fish some rocks tight and helicopter. I probably don't throw enough, but to the main point, you don't want to spend time changing. Glider - great throwback lure on spots on fish that are educated (on blades and rubber). Also great to take a rest from blades and rubber (same with some of the categories above) Rubber - Musky Innovations, Bondy and Red October - you are doing pretty well off me... Given they all catch and get chewed to heck (less so Bondys getting chewed, the exception being the Royal Orba tail), expensive for someone new, but they catch fish. I throw rubber more than anything else - but blades come out during windows and at dusk. If just one lure - Suick, because it is resilient, can modify to move differently besides imparting your own cadence, don't need any particular gear ratio or rod power to use effectively, and from what I can tell works everywhere. | ||
| Solitario Lupo |
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Location: PA Angler | North of 8 - 1/10/2026 10:45 AM Another follow up question would be how long do you stick with a bait before changing? Again, in league, I was throwing a Weagle, working it a number of different ways. Had a blow up from a musky that came completely out of the water, maybe low 30s. My partner's comment was, 'you deserved some action, I could never work a bait that long without results'. I checked my phone and guessed it had maybe been an hour, little more. I didn't think that was excessive but he clearly thought so. For me it will all depend if I feel like I covered the water (hole’s ) enough. If no action or I don’t see nothing moving I will switch it out. | ||
| esoxaddict |
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Posts: 8855 | As to changing lures: Sometimes I will throw the same lure all day. Boring, but sometimes the lure you have on fits the lake, the structure, light, wind…. Lure selection gets easier as you go. Other times I’ll pull up on a spot, pick up a rod, throw a few casts and just feel like “nope. Not now, not here, not today. Just not feeling it.” I’m not sure what “it” is, but I’ll switch without hesitation until I find a lure that feels right. On a really crap day, I might have half a dozen lures out. And then there’s the moment where you realize today is gonna suck no matter what you do and pick something to throw that you find amusing. I have a glider I call Mary. Mary will raise a fish if there’s one around. It probably won’t get eaten, and it doesn’t hook all that well. But if you just need proof that there are still muskies in the lake… | ||
| TCESOX |
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Posts: 1444 | I have all my lures in my big green Flambeaus, at home, and use one of those blue and gray Planos, to go "shopping" in my big boxes, before each outing. Usually take 6 to 12 lures on a local day trip. Will end up using 3 or 4. Specifics depend on what lake, how long I'm going to fish, and conditions. Longer trips I will bring a lot more with, but still only take a handful in the boat, at a time. | ||
| kap |
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Posts: 592 Location: deephaven mn | there was a year 10 twelve years ago i fished a nickle bladed black skirted cowgirl exclusively for 2 months july and august never used anothr bait caught lots of fish. the wirw was bent the blades needed to be pounded back in to form and the clevises finially wore out and the blades fell of while fishing, iwas mad as this bait squeeled klincked vibrated itwas irrepl | ||
| IAJustin |
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Posts: 2082 | Oracle’s post is a good example of how many of us “fish” differently… I’ve caught so many big fish casting deep diving cranks, I’d need at least 4 sizes/styles minimum to cover the lakes I fish in a season… and the suick comment to end, yes I’ve caught a 1/2 dozen big fish on them over the years, but it’s a bait if I had taken from my rotation I wouldn’t feel bad. It’s actually one of the baits I was referring to that rarely make my rotation anymore, and when I do want to throw a dive/rise in some clean cabbage, 95% of the time I’ll grab a Bobbie… when I’m not seeing the action I want I’m generally not changing baits, I’m changing my entire presentation… I don’t believe there are days muskies can’t be caught, minus stuff like 40 mile hour sustained winds and lightning storms… that’s the best part of muskie fishing use your mind ,adapt and overcome, … go back to hunting muskies and throw all your electronics in the lake, ok off topic a little, ha!! | ||
| nar160 |
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Posts: 433 Location: MN | IAJustin - 1/10/2026 7:11 AM Size of lure makes a big difference in musky actually eating not just following in many conditions including but not limited to cold water and clear water, no way would I go a season without 2 sizes of Medussa’s and 2 sizes of dawgs, topwater no way am I fishing a season without the 7 I catch fish on Iowa, Minnesota, and Canada.. the seven top water baits all have a bunch of fish with multiple of 48”…take any out of the rotation? No thanks….then you get to bucktails size and blade configuration differences , easy to take 15 different bucktails alone, if I had to I could trim it to 5 for a season but I’d feel naked.. anyway taking color out of the equation, which actually accounts for very little anyway, I always catch fish on a minimum of 18-20 baits every year… I’m a huge believer in size/action of bait matters WAY more than color… it’s an interesting question to ponder, I have over 40 baits that have multiple fish over 45”… some never see the water now , hmmm. The post will actually probably get more baits in my boat not less, lol How granular of a size difference do you think makes an actual difference? Are you talking monster vs mini medussa or something like husky vs. reg? I can see different blades having a different result due to vibration, or dawg vs. tube as the movement and vibration are different. I guess I'm skeptical about minor size variation in a bait with similar action making a huge difference, or at least impacting results at the same scale as bait class or how you work the bait. I have played with this a limited amount, but never really noticed much difference. Of course that doesn't mean it's not a thing. If you could choose an ideal set of available sizes - for example with medussas, what would that look like? You have each size available? Or a small, medium, and large? Or just one small one a a big one? IAJustin - 1/10/2026 7:29 AM There could be an interesting follow up question to this, excluding color, how many different baits have you caught a musky on? If a single 8 buck tail is different than a double 8 bucktail, I think most would agree it is… I honestly have no idea, but over 200 baits for sure … I’m getting old The number is not that high for me, about 35-40 but I only have 10 years of proper experience and a smattering of trips before that. I used to dink around with a lot of bait variations but starting around 5 years ago simplified my approach. Looking at the recent records in detail, over 2022-2025, I've caught on 23 distinct baits (ignoring color). Of those, 5/23 have just one small fish, so really 18 baits have done the work. That's 342 total fish with 43 50+ so not a tiny sample. It is only MN and NW ON, so a pretty limited set of lakes and I don't really do any prespawn or immediate post spawn fishing. | ||
| Angling Oracle |
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Posts: 416 Location: Selkirk, Manitoba | ^ For sure Justin, I fish completely different than anyone in our group, and the corollary is true as well. The Suick comment is if you could only take one lure - as in no others. Suggestion for a rank beginner, not anyone experienced. Rubber won't last and snaggy, blades if you have to cut trebles or if bend the shank are also not as resilient, plus frankly can't throw all the time (well I can't). Most of the other types situational and simply don't get the action a Suick does where I fish. So if I was to start someone with one lure or forced to take one and only lure I could take, Suick (or Bobbie, similar concept) would be my choice given I have confidence can get it done with it and likely would last a week, even if one needed to cut a tine or two. Other might have their own bait that has the same resilient categories for their area. That said, I use Suicks situationally and frankly sometimes doesn't get wet for days, if at all on a trip. I throw what is working when that gets figured out one way or other - mostly by letting the fish tell me/us. As for switching, last year I casted one rubber lure type, brand and size for a week straight (destroyed 3 of them on muskies and pike) and because my partners didn't have that brand lure, let them use them and they caught too. They had different brands, but the action on those brands not what the fish wanted. I didn't switch other than the odd specific situation or where made not sense for several of us to throw the same lure, as was way too effective in getting bites - certainly in comparison to four others in the group. "Switching" - kind of different meaning when referring to a beginner with one rod and those of who have several more ready to go. If I'm fishing solo, I am often switching on spots to suite the situation and to cover a spot more thoroughly, but with others when we decide on next spot we often will discuss on way or slowing on arrival what each is planning to throw knowing in advance what the spot entails habitat-wise. We do have the odd beginner and they make the same mistakes we did, one of which is making lure changes at inappropriate times and then wondering why someone else is always saying get the net. There are other reasons to switch baits (ie safety in the wind or at dusk, night) and so on, so a bit more complicated than how often as related to getting action. | ||
| IAJustin |
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Posts: 2082 | Size can make a huge difference in my experience, SO many examples.. here’s a good one..I remember one opener in NW Ontario , a few fish were still spawning majority had just finished… good thing was the entire fleet was shallow. The bad thing SUPER lazy. Weagles and jackpots, 20-30 followers in a 1/2 day, none in the boat…water was crystal clear… long story short, got the heavy bass tackle out with a 5” Zara spook… it was so effective both guys in the boat are throwing it by end of day, fish are sipping it off the surface like a bluegill (dead stick soon after fish engaged). 13 muskies netted in 5 hours multiple 47-49” fish… | ||
| ToddM |
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Posts: 20273 Location: oswego, il | Lures are tools. I have around 750 tools. People who change baits a lot typically lack experience and confidence where they are fishing unless it's the first trip of the year and they bought 75 new baits at the musky show. The few baits you would throw on one lake during a certain time of year will vary from lake to lake. Being able to select those few from a bigger selection gives you better tool options. | ||
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