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Muskie Fishing -> Lures,Tackle, and Equipment -> Non-traditional livebaits....
 
Message Subject: Non-traditional livebaits....
Pa Tigers n trout
Posted 11/11/2021 8:00 AM (#999042)
Subject: Non-traditional livebaits....




Posts: 265


Location: Central Pennsylvania
Anyone used bullheads for bait for muskies? I have no access to suckers except for sometimes in the spring when I screw around on the trout creeks in search of holdovers. I have had success with bluegills under bobbers for muskies in my river, have yet to try bullheads and don't really know if it is worth it. I have seen some large tigers caught on stinkin bass sized shiners haha
IAJustin
Posted 11/11/2021 9:12 AM (#999044 - in reply to #999042)
Subject: Re: Non-traditional livebaits....




Posts: 1964


Never have never will fish live bait for muskies, but they work great for flatheads, bullheads stay alive forever..no reason a hungry muskie wouldn't eat one?
Pa Tigers n trout
Posted 11/11/2021 9:14 AM (#999045 - in reply to #999044)
Subject: Re: Non-traditional livebaits....




Posts: 265


Location: Central Pennsylvania
IAJustin - 11/11/2021 10:12 AM

Never have never will fish live bait for muskies, but they work great for flatheads, bullheads stay alive forever..no reason a hungry muskie wouldn't eat one?


Why won't ya?
ToddM
Posted 11/11/2021 10:28 AM (#999048 - in reply to #999042)
Subject: Re: Non-traditional livebaits....





Posts: 20173


Location: oswego, il
For some it's beneath them like trolling. I bet your local bait shop can order them for you. I was buying suckers in Northern Wisconsin a couple weekends ago and they also had brown trout. Another fish to consider. Check for legality but you may want to consider setting up a long term sucker tank and keep fish when you can get them.
IAJustin
Posted 11/11/2021 10:40 AM (#999050 - in reply to #999042)
Subject: Re: Non-traditional livebaits....




Posts: 1964


in my teens I caught hundreds (several dozen pike over 40") on bait.. just made the mental transition in my early 20's "I really don't want to ever use bait again to catch pike".. and then I got into muskies...fast forward almost 30 years, other than drink some beer trips with buddies catfishing a couple times a year...I don't use live bait for anything. Maybe somewhat similar... if I want to kill a deer or turkey I'll only use a bow...just a personal choice I guess.
Pa Tigers n trout
Posted 11/11/2021 10:50 AM (#999051 - in reply to #999048)
Subject: Re: Non-traditional livebaits....




Posts: 265


Location: Central Pennsylvania
I call my local baitshop periodically but the owner says they haven't got any suckers in a while, I have used some 12" stocker rainbows also. Might go ahead and try bullhead
North of 8
Posted 11/11/2021 11:34 AM (#999056 - in reply to #999044)
Subject: Re: Non-traditional livebaits....




IAJustin - 11/11/2021 9:12 AM

Never have never will fish live bait for muskies, but they work great for flatheads, bullheads stay alive forever..no reason a hungry muskie wouldn't eat one?


Yep, know a couple guys who swear by bull heads for catfish. Bullheads are tougher than a $5 steak. When I was a kid growing up in Wis. Rapids in the 1960s, lived two blocks from the river. It was so polluted nothing much lived there besides bullheads and carp. We would have contests where we would see who could catch the most bullheads in 2 hours. Toss them in a pile on the grass behind us. When ready to go, we would count, then kick them back in the river. They always swam away. Of course, back then, the Wis. River had very little dissolved oxygen so they were used to it.
esoxaddict
Posted 11/11/2021 11:43 AM (#999057 - in reply to #999056)
Subject: Re: Non-traditional livebaits....





Posts: 8703


I don't see why it wouldn't work. It might not be their favorite meal, but they'll eat #*^@ near anything.
Ranger
Posted 11/11/2021 1:34 PM (#999060 - in reply to #999042)
Subject: Re: Non-traditional livebaits....





Posts: 3765


Um, Mad Dag baits? Pounded on the bottom? **** yes bullheads. Clip the side barbs off with side cutters, muskies seem to know, extra scent maybe. Ditto that they last FOREVER on the quick strike.

When I was a kid I speared a 14" bullhead while wading for dogfish at night. Flipped it up on shore. Next morning I was walking the shoreline shooting frogs with my trusty Crossman 760 and that ****er was still alive. Mass critter murderer back then. Catfish are as tough as turtles.
Ranger
Posted 11/11/2021 1:48 PM (#999061 - in reply to #999060)
Subject: Re: Non-traditional livebaits....





Posts: 3765


Another non-traditional bait is a toy poodle. But only as a surface bait, they twist the line up if you try to troll them.
Pa Tigers n trout
Posted 11/11/2021 5:01 PM (#999067 - in reply to #999060)
Subject: Re: Non-traditional livebaits....




Posts: 265


Location: Central Pennsylvania
Never heard of mad dag baits LOL, planning on getting a mix of bluegills and bullies for Sunday. Planning on bottom rigging the bullheads.
Kirby Budrow
Posted 11/11/2021 8:40 PM (#999068 - in reply to #999045)
Subject: Re: Non-traditional livebaits....





Posts: 2255


Location: Chisholm, MN
Pa Tigers n trout - 11/11/2021 9:14 AM

IAJustin - 11/11/2021 10:12 AM

Never have never will fish live bait for muskies, but they work great for flatheads, bullheads stay alive forever..no reason a hungry muskie wouldn't eat one?


Why won't ya?


Too easy. I’m not above it. I’ve caught lots of muskies on suckers. But I have that up a couple years ago. Rather catch them the hard way. I know muskies eat bullheads though so give it a go. Make sure you’re using quick strike rigs.
chuckski
Posted 11/11/2021 9:58 PM (#999069 - in reply to #999042)
Subject: Re: Non-traditional livebaits....




Posts: 1152


Here in Colorado it's illegal to use live bait above 7000 feet lakes and river this is to protect mountain lakes from non native things. But also you can't use Trout or perch in the plains lakes. I watched a couple guys on my favorate Bass lake catch perch and put them on a big hook and catch Catfish. The Warden would now been happy.
RyanJoz
Posted 11/12/2021 8:19 AM (#999074 - in reply to #999069)
Subject: Re: Non-traditional livebaits....




Posts: 1673


Location: Mt. Zion, IL
White and yellow bass are a local favorite of mine. I’ve had some that didn’t make it 30 seconds.
ToddM
Posted 11/12/2021 8:24 AM (#999075 - in reply to #999051)
Subject: Re: Non-traditional livebaits....





Posts: 20173


Location: oswego, il
Pa Tigers n trout - 11/11/2021 10:50 AM

I call my local baitshop periodically but the owner says they haven't got any suckers in a while, I have used some 12" stocker rainbows also. Might go ahead and try bullhead


My point was they can specifically order them for you. I would listen to what ranger said about bullheads.
jdsplasher
Posted 11/12/2021 9:35 AM (#999076 - in reply to #999075)
Subject: Re: Non-traditional livebaits....





Posts: 2219


Location: SE, WI.

Muskies and Walleyes both Love Bullheads I knew a few guys in the past that cleaned some larger Walleyes, and they said there were 8” bullheads in their gut. They were ice fishin.

 Back in the day, remember Dad telling me about a few guys in a boat that got busted from a warden for too many Pannies. Supposedly they had a fish basket with several bullheads submerged.  What they did was cut part of their whiskers off, and they slowly bled out. Supposedly creating a blood line in the water drawing fish In. 

JD 

M Ruff
Posted 11/13/2021 5:50 PM (#999087 - in reply to #999050)
Subject: Re: Non-traditional livebaits....




Posts: 51


I's a Jason Lucas thing.
He was my hero as a kid.

https://theminimalistfisherman.com/sports-afield-writer-jason-lucas-...
chuckski
Posted 11/13/2021 7:41 PM (#999088 - in reply to #999042)
Subject: Re: Non-traditional livebaits....




Posts: 1152


My dad caught his first Muskie in a river in Northern Wisconsin and it was a kept fish (1950) 40 in 20 pounds and in this spot Bullheads everywhere! If I ever get back to fish that spot i'll put on a 5" weedless Troll Devle Black/yellow and reel along the bottom. In this same area I got tangled up 22-25 inch Northern as a kid with a cane pole and let's just say I spend too much time thinking about the next fish after that.
sworrall
Posted 11/19/2021 9:22 AM (#999191 - in reply to #999061)
Subject: Re: Non-traditional livebaits....





Posts: 32761


Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin
Ranger - 11/11/2021 1:48 PM

Another non-traditional bait is a toy poodle. But only as a surface bait, they twist the line up if you try to troll them.

They are also noisy for a while.
miket55
Posted 11/19/2021 9:41 AM (#999192 - in reply to #999042)
Subject: Re: Non-traditional livebaits....




Posts: 1191


Location: E. Tenn
Back in the '80s, when he was a part of the In'Fisherman show, Dahlberg did a little humor bit where they hear a woman screaming hysterically from a dock. They approach, and she's blubbering about a "giant musky ate my poodle". The camera then pans quickly around the inside of the boat showing the arsenal of huge (for the time) musky baits, and back to Dahlberg. He looks quizzically at his boat partner then asks the woman "What color was it?".
Kirby Budrow
Posted 11/19/2021 11:02 AM (#999195 - in reply to #999192)
Subject: Re: Non-traditional livebaits....





Posts: 2255


Location: Chisholm, MN
miket55 - 11/19/2021 9:41 AM

Back in the '80s, when he was a part of the In'Fisherman show, Dahlberg did a little humor bit where they hear a woman screaming hysterically from a dock. They approach, and she's blubbering about a "giant musky ate my poodle". The camera then pans quickly around the inside of the boat showing the arsenal of huge (for the time) musky baits, and back to Dahlberg. He looks quizzically at his boat partner then asks the woman "What color was it?".


I remember that old one though I thought it was Dan Sura and Jim Lindner. I was prettt young so I don’t know for sure. Hilarious stuff back then!
miket55
Posted 11/19/2021 1:40 PM (#999197 - in reply to #999195)
Subject: Re: Non-traditional livebaits....




Posts: 1191


Location: E. Tenn
Kirby Budrow - 11/19/2021 12:02 PM

miket55 - 11/19/2021 9:41 AM

Back in the '80s, when he was a part of the In'Fisherman show, Dahlberg did a little humor bit where they hear a woman screaming hysterically from a dock. They approach, and she's blubbering about a "giant musky ate my poodle". The camera then pans quickly around the inside of the boat showing the arsenal of huge (for the time) musky baits, and back to Dahlberg. He looks quizzically at his boat partner then asks the woman "What color was it?".


I remember that old one though I thought it was Dan Sura and Jim Lindner. I was prettt young so I don’t know for sure. Hilarious stuff back then!


Could have been, but no matter... It was still a funny skit. Too bad I couldn't find the video..
North of 8
Posted 11/19/2021 2:14 PM (#999198 - in reply to #999197)
Subject: Re: Non-traditional livebaits....




My neighbor has a musky that hangs out in the area of his dock. He has had follows numerous times, but no hits. He has a little chihuahua rescue dog, that has a tiny life jacket. I told him instead of casting from his dock, to toss the dog in with an attached quick strike rig. So far, he has not taken me up on my offer of a custom quick strike rig.
miket55
Posted 11/19/2021 2:34 PM (#999201 - in reply to #999198)
Subject: Re: Non-traditional livebaits....




Posts: 1191


Location: E. Tenn
North of 8 - 11/19/2021 3:14 PM

My neighbor has a musky that hangs out in the area of his dock. He has had follows numerous times, but no hits. He has a little chihuahua rescue dog, that has a tiny life jacket. I told him instead of casting from his dock, to toss the dog in with an attached quick strike rig. So far, he has not taken me up on my offer of a custom quick strike rig.


Hmmm.... one of the places I stay at up north has a muskrat problem...
North of 8
Posted 11/19/2021 6:32 PM (#999207 - in reply to #999201)
Subject: Re: Non-traditional livebaits....




miket55 - 11/19/2021 2:34 PM

North of 8 - 11/19/2021 3:14 PM

My neighbor has a musky that hangs out in the area of his dock. He has had follows numerous times, but no hits. He has a little chihuahua rescue dog, that has a tiny life jacket. I told him instead of casting from his dock, to toss the dog in with an attached quick strike rig. So far, he has not taken me up on my offer of a custom quick strike rig.


Hmmm.... one of the places I stay at up north has a muskrat problem...


Years ago I had worked all day on the cabin that stood where we built our retirement home. Was beat but had got a lot done and felt good about it. Took a couple beers and a cigar, sat on a bench on our dock under the stars. Heard something swimming along shore and by the light at the end of the dock, saw a muskrat swim under the dock and continue down the shore. I walked back toward shore, hoping to see where it had its home. To my surprise, an upper 30s muskie was swimming in the shallow water, following the route the rat took. No way it could have eaten the muskrat but it was interested.
MNFisherman2
Posted 11/19/2021 9:02 PM (#999208 - in reply to #999207)
Subject: Re: Non-traditional livebaits....




Posts: 7


I have seen people use salamanders for bait.
happy hooker
Posted 11/20/2021 9:33 AM (#999209 - in reply to #999208)
Subject: Re: Non-traditional livebaits....




Posts: 3136


I heard trout named nobody mentioned baby ducklings!!! Why not then that way we can have trout unlimited and ducks unlimited mad at us
In any case please don't prod St Croix to bring back that dam poodle ad that was on the back of every musky publication for 3 years.
Headlock
Posted 11/21/2021 7:06 PM (#999239 - in reply to #999042)
Subject: Re: Non-traditional livebaits....




Posts: 115


I’m up in Minoqua area trolling and guys are using live Cisco they netted.
Ranger
Posted 11/27/2021 3:40 PM (#999379 - in reply to #999042)
Subject: Re: Non-traditional livebaits....





Posts: 3765


I once took a newbie fishing on a small, highly pressured lake in SW MI. He shows up at the landing with a dozen pike suckers, the ones about 6" long. He has a plan. I'm skeptical.

He lips a sucker minnow on an Earie Dearie (if you don't know, look it up - a wire with beads, a blade, a heavy lead weight and a single hook) and flings it out. The lead weight drops it into the weeds and he strips the bait pulling the lure out of the slop. He does this over and over, loses half his bait in 15 minutes, until he learns to rip the bait back to the boat as soon as it hits the water. As fast as he can reel. Now here's the trip...

I'm running thru my usual litany of hair and wood, surface and subsurface, large to small, bright to natural colors, and never got a fish or even a follow. He never hooked a fish but Jiminy Christmas he had maybe 10 follows in 2 hours. It reminded me of fishing with Treats who threw a small RizzoTail and just screamed it back to the boat. And caught a fish.
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