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Posts: 58
| I'm just getting back into Musky fishing after a bit of a hiatus so I'm getting all new equipment. Nothing crazy just one rod and about 10-15 lures. If I'm lucky I'll get in 50-60 hours a year probably. Some of these lures out there though man they are huge. I picked up a modest combo, a Daiwa Lexa 300 with a 7'6" Daiwa DMX Heavy Musky rod. Ive purchased a few lures, the largest bucktail I can imagine throwing is a double Showgirl at just under 2 ounces. The heaviest overall bait I've purchased is a 7.5" grandma and a "Spring" Bulldawg both right about two ounces.
Am I going to be missing out?
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Posts: 1901
Location: MN | You don't "need" bigger but there are times you - make that the fish - will want something bigger. I certainly would not be without a Jr or Dbl 10 Cowgirl, if only for the advantage they bring in the figure 8. |
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Posts: 1425
Location: St. Lawrence River | You'll do aight! |
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Posts: 1084
Location: Aurora | You won't be missing out on a thing but give it a little time and yewl begin to think you are.
~nudging & pointing you toward the Buy, Sell, Trade board~
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Posts: 1150
Location: Minnesota. | ajschn06 - 2/28/2016 8:53 PM
I'm just getting back into Musky fishing after a bit of a hiatus so I'm getting all new equipment. Nothing crazy just one rod and about 10-15 lures. If I'm lucky I'll get in 50-60 hours a year probably. Some of these lures out there though man they are huge. I picked up a modest combo, a Daiwa Lexa 300 with a 7'6" Daiwa DMX Heavy Musky rod. Ive purchased a few lures, the largest bucktail I can imagine throwing is a double Showgirl at just under 2 ounces. The heaviest overall bait I've purchased is a 7.5" grandma and a "Spring" Bulldawg both right about two ounces.
Am I going to be missing out?
You'll do okay but a couple Suicks wouldn't hurt you one bit.
Get a 9" er and 10" er and if you go the high impact (H.I.) plastic bait route you'll find they're a good bit easier to toss w/o getting backlashes.
Buy a hook file - I like the two rat-tail files side-by-side but keep your hook-points super-sharp..."sticky-sharp", just the points and you'll hook up.
Don't give up. Sometimes it gets testy...it's that NEXT cast!!! 
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Posts: 3157
| You didn't mention "where"your going to fish,,,come fall in a place.like Minn big lures pounders etc get bit. |
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Posts: 255
| I've been at your limited level of fishing hours for years now, and it all takes place on one body of water, when I can. So, I have no desire to drop money on more than my nice reel on an adequate pole, with the same lures. I could use another topper, few more bucktails for color and vibration. If you are going on a big trip or plan to get more serious you will need more tackle. I'd get a big rubber set up if I got to the next level. |
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Posts: 1000
| on the baits? probably not, but i'd still up to a longer rod for easier casts. |
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| I would second the longer rod. I started fishing musky back in the 1970s when everyone used pool cues. I got back into about 12 years ago and started with a 7'6" rod, which was a huge improvement but then got talked into an 8'6" rod. Wow, what a difference in ease of tossing lures for long hours, figure 8s and since I fish alone a lot, it makes it easier to keep a fish pinned while grabbing the net, etc.
What you have will work just fine, but as some point I would consider a longer rod. |
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Posts: 667
Location: Wisconsin | North of 8 - 2/29/2016 12:29 PM
I would second the longer rod. I started fishing musky back in the 1970s when everyone used pool cues. I got back into about 12 years ago and started with a 7'6" rod, which was a huge improvement but then got talked into an 8'6" rod. Wow, what a difference in ease of tossing lures for long hours, figure 8s and since I fish alone a lot, it makes it easier to keep a fish pinned while grabbing the net, etc.
What you have will work just fine, but as some point I would consider a longer rod.
^^^ sums it up well for me as well! |
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Posts: 58
| To answer a few questions- I will be doing most of my fishing in Minnesota, but mostly in the southern Twin Cities area, not any of the big time lakes like Mille Lacs. Other areas I may venture to would be the Eau Claire area or Hayward in Wisconsin.
Like I said, I'm going to keep my tackle selection fairly simple as I don't know that I'll get out all that often. If all goes as planned I will get 2 full weekends and 4-5 Saturdays. Musky lures are expensive enough so I'm not looking to build a box of about 10-15 lures that can be good options any time of the year. I've seen the double cowgirls and giant bulldogs and right now I don't have any interest in anything that big or heavy. Right now I have:
2 double Showgirl, a bucher 700, a tandem Musky killer, super Shad Rap, baby jointed depthraider, shallow jointed depthraider, 6" grandma, spring Bulldawg, and a whopper Plopper.
As for the rod, I was looking for an 8', but got a really good deal on a 7'6" and figure I would give it a try. I haven't recurves it yet so I don't know. |
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | Double 10s put big fish in the boat.
To answer your question? Yes, depending on where you fish you could be missing out on trophy caliber fish by not using baits such as that. |
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Posts: 2026
| I'm thinking he subscribes to the Bill Sandy approach... doesn't matter what lure/setup ya got, if you're on active fish you'll get em if all is working well. With that reel you won't be able to throw much more, as far as baits anyway. Maybe add a shadzilla, big fish catchers too, or a regular bulldawg. Just fish and have fun. Good luck and prove the doubters/tackle junkies wrong. |
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| You might wanna be careful with small size plastics in the metro!! Reg Dawgs have a tendency to hook fish DEEP!! |
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Posts: 58
| ARmuskyaddict - 3/1/2016 6:56 AM
I'm thinking he subscribes to the Bill Sandy approach... doesn't matter what lure/setup ya got, if you're on active fish you'll get em if all is working well. With that reel you won't be able to throw much more, as far as baits anyway. Maybe add a shadzilla, big fish catchers too, or a regular bulldawg. Just fish and have fun. Good luck and prove the doubters/tackle junkies wrong.
How heavy should I go with that reel? Would a Calcutta 300d work better? I guess I was trying to find something middle of the road but I may have gone a little light....any suggestion on good setups? I wouldn't mind being able to throw a regular Bulldawg but I also want to be able to fish some smaller bucktails like the Showgirl. |
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Posts: 667
Location: Wisconsin | I have a 301D and it is my favorite reel. Use it on a Slingblade and throw small tails fine. I throw the old 700 series Buchers alot with no problem. It really handles everything well, except pounders and the like. Double 10's are fine, tho the rod has a bit of a loaded feel in the eight. |
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Posts: 1000
| I'd go 400 size if it fits your hand. Pricing is nearly the same and it will handle everything you want to throw while giving you the flexibility of nearly everything on the wall at your local shop. |
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Posts: 58
| tolle141 - 3/1/2016 12:47 PM
I'd go 400 size if it fits your hand. Pricing is nearly the same and it will handle everything you want to throw while giving you the flexibility of nearly everything on the wall at your local shop.
Any suggestions on a rod to pair with the 400 that could handle regular Bulldawg or double 10's, but still able to handle some smaller stuff? Money is an issue, bit at the same time I know that you have to pay for quality Musky stuff. I was looking at the 8'1" or 8'7" Omen Musky Heavy. |
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Posts: 1146
| Okuma EVX 9'3" H is a good all around rod that will throw everything you want for around $135. |
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Posts: 463
| the tackle industry rods are a very good bang for the buck. Look into them. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | use a trick i learned from herbie and when throwing big baits let them sit in the water behind you so your rod is essentially not loaded at all. the bait will come out more like a catapult than conventionally and your body will be happier and there will be less stress on your rod. if you learn to lob baits or throw like i mentioned, you can do a lot without having to buy a zillion rod/reel combos. |
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Posts: 3157
| AJ
Looking at your planned lure selection you don't have anything that's side to side.
You HAVE to have a walk the dog topwater especially in the metro where there are a ton of baby ducklings this imitates them best.
Also a glide bait like a phantom will show fish on slow cold front days.
Also come to the Minnesota musky expo in April that's where you will get your best deals and if you can come that Saturday there's a swap meet where you can pick up used stuff for good deals.
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Posts: 58
| happy hooker - 3/2/2016 6:12 PM
AJ
Looking at your planned lure selection you don't have anything that's side to side.
You HAVE to have a walk the dog topwater especially in the metro where there are a ton of baby ducklings this imitates them best.
Also a glide bait like a phantom will show fish on slow cold front days.
Also come to the Minnesota musky expo in April that's where you will get your best deals and if you can come that Saturday there's a swap meet where you can pick up used stuff for good deals.
Great info, thanks.
I have a list of 5 or 6 lures I still want to get, and the phantom and giant Jackpot are both on that list. |
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Posts: 58
| MartinTD - 3/2/2016 6:47 AM
Okuma EVX 9'3" H is a good all around rod that will throw everything you want for around $135.
I looked at that one, but didn't really want a telescopic. Ended up ordering the Omen 8'1" Heavy..ordered yesterday and arrived today and it's exactly what I was looking for- plus a nice 13 Fishing sweatshirt came with it from RH Muskyshop. The 400D is on the way as well. Hopefully its versatile enough to handle a 5 oz regular Bulldawg, JR Cowgirl, and Showgirl alike.... |
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Posts: 20
Location: Park Rapids, MN | I have both rods that you have mentioned and the Calcutta (along with plenty of other set-ups). Really can't go wrong with either of the rods. The Okuma is a lighter but I like the Omen as well. The reel is a great all around workhorse. Overall I think you will be very happy with your setup. Good luck! |
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Posts: 271
Location: davis,IL | I look at it like this; match your equipment to what your fishing for. A longer heavier rod allows you to throw heavier baits with less effort, it also beats that fish faster allowing you to net the fish quicker. This is a plus as it makes for a fish that's in better shape for release. It also makes for equipment that holds up better to the abuse of heavier, harder pulling baits. Yes it takes some of the thrill out of catching the fish and playing them out, but in the long run its a plus for both you and the fish. |
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