SouthernMNMuskie - 7/16/2026 11:12 AM

I find it funny that everyone is attacking the money aspect on it when that is the exact reason my friends don't muskie fish. I have asked my friends. We do talk every once in a while (even face-to-face if you would believe it). Mille Lacs, Vermillion, LOTW, Leech, Cass, Minnetonka are all huge lakes that require a little more than a 16ft boat. Yes, you can fish the small lakes in Southern MN just fine with a 16ft boat pulled by a SUV (look at used car prices, still very expensive) but you're going to spend hours upon hours chasing mid 30s to low 40s fish. Mind as well just pike fish lakes instead with the same size structure and more action.

I see how you may think it costs less than that to get into the sport but in reality, it IS that much. You can't expect any sane person (even the type that wants to muskie fish) to drop 10k for a trash setup that lets you fish small southern MN lakes for low density fish.

I also find it funny the older generation always blames phones, attention spans, and lack of ambition for why hobbies are dying out. No, it's the fact that a double cowgirl is the same cost as two hours at most kids' minimum wage job haha. Not everyone lived in a time where college was cheap, you could buy a house for $100K, and your state pension and social security could allow you to safely float through retirement. Yes, the younger generations are far from perfect and have their problems but accessibility and barriers to entry are to blame along with the surly gatekeepers of information that refuse to help anyone out. I'm all for putting in the work and figuring it out yourself but just remember someone taught all of you to walk, talk, and read. But maybe I'm just wrong and "spoon fed" for realizing that I was fortunate enough to have someone help me get into the sport.