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Posts: 16
| So this season, I have decided to go for Muskie. I'm 18 and have been fishing bass in the northern Illinois area all of my life, only takin a few casts for Muskie in the eagle river area off the dock. Never caught one. Caught a few tiny pike before but nothin real nice. I bought a boat recently and plan on primarily throwing buck tails. Shabbona is a real easy drive for me so I figure I will fish there a lot along with headin up to the eagle river area a few times. Any tips on gear and strategies would be greatly appreciated. I'm dying to catch one of the fish. |
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Posts: 97
Location: Milwaukee, WI | Read this board, read some books, and read all the articles you can. Remember that there is absolutely no substitute for time on the water. And no time on the water is better spent than time with a guide or experienced fisherman.
Good luck! |
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Posts: 225
Location: Nordeast Minneapolis | +1 on the experienced fisherman... Are you planning on mostly fishing alone? It can certainly be done, but starting out it's a lot harder and can be more frustrating. Plus, when you do get one, an extra pair of hands make it a lot easier to deal with- and not just for the fish's sake! |
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Posts: 8842
| Run. Do not walk. RUN. Once you catch one, it's all over. You can still escape with your future earnings intact!  |
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Posts: 20263
Location: oswego, il | Since you lice in northern illinois come to one of our meetings which resume in august. Frvmuskie.com keep reading and participating in this forum. |
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Posts: 682
Location: Sycamore, IL | There is a muskie rescue planned at Shabbona on Tuesday night at 5:30pm...This can be a great event to meet some other muskie fisherman and pick their brains on that lake. Bring a big net and be prepared to get wet! The other positive about this event is you will get some experience handling all sizes of fish...wish I could make it but I have to work:(
Matt
P.S. Good advice about positioning your boat deeper than you would if bass fishing(especially at Shab). |
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| For someone just starting out I'd recommend paying the most attention to methods and tools for releasing fish. It is much smarter to spend your money in this area than growing your tackle selection. You can find detailed info, but here's a start:
> Large, coated, tangle-free nets
> Hook cutters that are capable of cutting hooks (duh)
> Long pliers are a must - it never hurts to have a few spares in the boat
> Jaw spreader - they don't get used too often, but it doesn't hurt having a pair for emergencies
> Gloves are nice to have so you don't get cut holding the fish for a picture
It's also important to use the proper equipment
> braided line 65lb to 100lb - 80lb is a good start
> leaders - 130lb+ fluorocarbon with quality components
If I missed anything I'm sure others will add to it. |
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| First off good luck to you! As far as tackle goes I bought a 7ft MH rod with a Abu c3 spooled with 80lb braid for my first combo pretty decent for throwing bucktails and small to medium crankbaits. Just dont get anything too heavy or it will be difficult to throw lighter lures. As others have stated read and talk to as many people as possible, most importantly dont give up, muskie arent called the fish of 10,000 cast for no reason! |
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Posts: 415
| Joining your local club and getting to know some local muskie guys. It will cut down on your learning curve as much or more than anything you can do. Also like others have mentioned if you can somehow fish with someone with some experience that will help even more. Not too many people have success early unless its plain accidental. Took me almost 3 years to catch my first, You've come to a good place to get advice and seem to have a good mindset about it so I'm sure you'll get one sooner than that. Good Luck. |
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Posts: 147
Location: Northern New Jersey | esoxaddict - 5/21/2012 4:16 PM
Run. Do not walk. RUN. Once you catch one, it's all over. You can still escape with your future earnings intact! ;)
no, you cant escape. i havent caught one yet myself, had plenty of follows (close to 30 now im sure) but haven't connected yet. it will come though, just keep the faith. good luck |
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Posts: 16
| Thanks for the responses. I was already plannin on goin to the Muskie rescue at shabbona on Tuesday, and found a guy who guides muskies in my area, I will keep posting and reading here and in 10,000 + casts I will post my first Muskie on here. Thanks again,
Sean |
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Posts: 456
Location: Kansas City BBQ Capitol of the world | Good luck kid going for the Muskie at 18 years old. I'm sure your gonna get all the correct information on reels and rods and baits in your charter for the most elusive and explosive game fish. However; I'm gonna tell you about the other side of the story. Muskie fishing is not for everyone. For the common man it's like trying to date a Supermodel, but they give you that chance and that chance you'll take. You will cast and cast until your arms fall off. You will read and read and think you learned something new. You will buy baits and maps and a GPS unit thinking you you have evened the score. You'll catch a fish, maybe a few but it's not the one you envision when you go to bed at night holding in your arms. If by some dumb luck you get a 57 right out of the gate I pitty you. You will think for the rest of your life you will better that. Although you may.
If you catch a 42 and want the 57 you may spend the rest of your life trying to achieve that. It's a double edged swored. It's chasing the dream. I have seen this fish for a hardcore Muskie angler ruin his family and then his life. He was chasing the dream. I wish you much success in what your about to experience. Be careful what you wish for. Now your fishing Muskies.
Good luck and keep us posted on how your doing. You have all the help in the world right here.
Ron |
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Posts: 2754
Location: Mauston, Wisconsin | Don't worry about super tough gear or even lure's - I caught my first 50" on a suspending #14 Rapala with a Shimano Curado 200 reel on a Bill Dance bass rod spooled W/17 lb mono. If you know how to fight a fish, you can catch muskies. But like others have said, it can be/is an addiction!!!!! After your first muskie, your wallet will be thinner and you will be doomed to the addiction. Run away, run away! Take up something sensible like skydiving!
Good Luck!
Al |
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Posts: 433
Location: Cedarburg, Wisconsin | If you can catch bass proficiently, you can catch muskies. About the only difference I would mention is that muskies can be attracted to lures moving a lot faster than the typical bass presentation, and can be found away from structure more often. If you can fish a spinnerbait for bass, and know the best places to fish it, simply upsize your lure and work similar spots for muskies. That will give you a starting point, or something to fall back on while you explore different lures and presentations.
If you have the patience for it musky fishing will grow on you and slowly take up more and more of your fishing time. If you don't you'll be back to bass and will have learned a few new tricks, so either way you win.
As mentioned, the fastest ways to learn are by joining a club, getting to fish with experienced musky guys, and if you can swing it, by getting a guide sometime to pick his brains about lures, presentations, and patterns.
Have fun, that's the important part. Good luck!
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Posts: 156
| Sean,
I don't really intend to put my boat into Shabonna again. Too many trips without seeing a fish, and too much frustration seeing smoky 10hp 2 strokes burn down the lake while my quiet 50hp Honda can't even idle down the lake. If you really want to get your first Muskie there I wouldn't even consider going without getting some really good local advice, and really hiring a guide would be better.
I am by no means a good muskie fisherman. Still learning, but I have put muskies in the boat in Twin Valley (electric only), Yellowstone, and Lake Wisconsin. Never even a whiff in Shab. You might also talk to Ben Modica about a muskie trip on the Fox chain.
If you still haven't caught a muskie by October: Plan a day trip to Twin Valley in Dodgeville, WI middle or end of Oct. Watch a few videos and read up on quick strike rigging live suckers. Call ahead to Rickey Ridge Taxidermy and reserve a few suckers. Drift the shores at different depths until you get a rip. If the weather is decent you should should do OK. |
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Posts: 133
Location: South Bend, Indiana | Ohh.... first mistake... you made: Wanted to catch one of these.
JK, it can be tough, but very rewarding... but now, you have no choice
Good Luck!!! |
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| If you live in northern Illinois check out the fox chain. Also join a local Muskie inc club. A lot of good information from those guys. The chain is a tough body of water but if you take the time to learn it you will reap the benefits. Also make sure you keep a boat load of advil or ibpreofun on board because your arms and back will be sore from 12 hours of casting. |
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Location: Minneapolis | bmxrider11976 - 5/21/2012 9:54 PM
esoxaddict - 5/21/2012 4:16 PM
Run. Do not walk. RUN. Once you catch one, it's all over. You can still escape with your future earnings intact! ;)
no, you cant escape. i havent caught one yet myself, had plenty of follows (close to 30 now im sure ) but haven't connected yet. it will come though, just keep the faith. good luck
Wait 'til you catch one. It only gets worse... |
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Posts: 16
| Shabbona Muskie rescue was awesome. We pulled around 15 muskies out of the creek, I got one of them in my net. I was amazed by the power of the fish even in a net. Got some pointers on chasin muskies and some guys told me about lakes to go to where my odds may be pretty good.
Sean |
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Posts: 317
| Todd M is right on. Join FRV, come on into Muskytales store in Fox River grove and we will set you up. Shab is a waste, the Chain is full of Muskie.
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| Get Saric and Heiting's Complete Guide to Muskyhunting |
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Posts: 3913
| If you really get the bug in 10 years you'll look back and wonder how in the heck you spent so much money on all that stuff. But smile because there's not a single wasted penny. Oh, your wife left you 5 years ago. |
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Posts: 59
Location: Aurora IL | Ranger - 5/26/2012 1:09 AM
If you really get the bug in 10 years you'll look back and wonder how in the heck you spent so much money on all that stuff. But smile because there's not a single wasted penny. Oh, your wife left you 5 years ago. So there is an upside. |
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