My first musky shoppin' trip

[JohnH]

I'm just about to make my first shopping trip to the musky store. Here's what I'm looking at. First 7 are on the shopping list. The rest are future buys. I would very much appreciate opinions on my selections. I fish mostly green water in IL, MN (Minnetonka), ONT (Lac Seul).

1. Top Raider, color=Bullfrog
2. Dancing Raider, color=Black w/ orange dots
3. 9" Ernie, color=Walleye
4. 7" Jerko, color=??
5. 7" Bull Dawg, color=Black w/ orange tail
6. Bucher 700 Series bucktail, Black w/ orange blade
7. 8" Believer, color=Firetiger

8. Shallow Raider, color=Black/Silver w/ red
9. Countdown Depth Raider, color=Firetiger
10. 8" Jake, color=Firetiger
11. 9" Floating Burt, color=Firetiger
12. 8" Reef Hawg, color=Firetiger

I'm assuming these baits work equally well for Pike. Is this generally true? Anyone use these types of baits for Western Florida Saltwater?

Thanks,
JohnH

[HerbB]

I think your lures might be kind of big for early in the year. I'd add a few lures like a Baby Depthraider, a Giant Killer, a 500 Buchertail, and a Baby Shallow Raider to your list as well. The eight inch and up stuff seems to usually work better after about August 1st, but won't draw nearly as many strikes early in the year as the smaller baits - at least on the MN waters I fish.

The smaller Muskie baits will usually work much better for Pike than the big Muskie baits too. And, on many waters, the smaller baits work better for big Muskies for much of year.

Hope this helps.

[happy hooker]

Lose the buchter bucktail and go with an eagle tail bucktail more muskys caught over 50inches on these then any other lure according to the MI records

[BTPF]

Without a doubt the small Rizzo Whiz, then the Rizzo Whiz, then the large Rizzo whiz, then maybe a few Rizzo trophy tails.

A deadly spring lure!

[Finbar]

Ask 3 muskie guys this question and get 5 different answers, but:

Change the 9" Ernie to a Lil' Ernie.

Drop the Dancin' Raider for a muskie candy or other small bucktail with a flashy blade (for those pike).

[Turgeon]

pretty good list,

maybe too much firetiger as a color,

need a couple more good jerk baits...phantoms are super all year

a 10 inch Jake in a flashy color would not hurt either.

Good luck with your new musky fishing disease.......