Jackpots

[Lals]

I need a little help regarding Jackpots. Tuesday evening while fishing LOTW, I had 3 Muskies (one very large) come completely out of the water and I came up with zero. I didn't feel a bite which almost seems impossible. In fact the largest of the 3 took 2 swings at it. I like the action with the bait but I would sure like to stick some Muskies with it.

Lals

PS. We caught a couple of females but they were still pretty beat up from spawning but appear to be getting back to their summer routines. Caught one on Musky Shad Rap and the other on a bass spinner bait. Mostly smaller fish were being caught at Red Wing Lodge upto this point but it is changing now. Water temp was already 70+ degrees and quite a bit of algae has formed. 50% of the weed beds didn't exist due to the low water, I guess. Rocks seem to be the best choice but we did find 1/3 of the Muskies in the weed areas

[Froms]

Lals,

I wish I could help you with the question about Jackpots. I noticed you stayed at Red Wing - going there myself with our group the week of 7/12. We're a bunch of walleye guys - hopefully I could help you if you had a question about walleyes - that want to try our hand at some musky fishing this year in between walleye outings. I know that probably sounds like a sin to the die hard musky fishermen on this site, but we're only just starting to get interested in musky.

Thanks for the musky report and was wondering if you would have any other advice about the area around Red Wing as far as location, patterns, structure etc., and what we might expect when we get there. Like most people were strictly a C+R group.

By the way, how do you like Red Wing? Moved around quite a bit before we found it and we just love it. This will be our third year of (hopefully) many more to come. Thanks in advance for any help. Steve.

[Stillwater]

Lals and From,

That seems to be the nature of Jackpots, you get a lot of action but sometimes the hooking percentage is low, hang in there, you are getting action, the hookups will come.

As far as Red Wing Lodge, it is a nice place (drive in). I have only stayed there 1 time. Nice people.

Scott

[iamwalleye1]

Lals

I would have to say that is the jack pot blues. What I have found from a tip from a friend (thanks Brett) Take the rear hook and lay it on top of the bait. Rotate the hook eye until one of the hook points is pointing up. That might get you better hook ups!

[lindy]

Lals, like scott said it's the nature of the bait. I believe you are talking about sabaskong bay right? I was up to whitefish bay for musky the same week but fished sabaskong a little while from shore cause we were a day early. I was throwing a bass sized buzzbait and got solid hits from 2 smaller muskies on it. Maybe try a propeller type bait like that if they are missing walk the dog baits. Hawg wabblers have good side to side triggering qualities like the poes but are better hook up baits and I would put my money on that if they won't bite straight retrieve propeller baits and miss the poes. Anyways that's my thoughts, Hope they help!

Lindy

[Musky Mike]

Lals;

"T" the front hook on your Jackpot until the hook points extend out beyond the sides of the lure body. Then slow your retrieve a little to lessen the erratic side=to-side zig-zagging action a bit. You'll still generate interest from the muskies but it's easier to have them make contact with the hooks. Don't hit 'em till you feel 'em. Any slack line and you'll never move the hooks in that mouth full of teeth enough to get a solid hookset. After the initial hookset, I reel down quickly and give her a second hookset, just for insurance purposes. Hope this help some. Love them Jackpots.

Cheers and tight lines,

MLK

[BigFishCarlson]

I'm a miserable 0 for 13 on a Z-180. I once asked Bob Meishikomer (sp?) what to do; he suggested beefing up the split rings, hooks, and learning to work the bait in its own footprint to allow the fish to eat it better. It hasn't helped me yet. What did help, as already noted, was going back to these fish another day with a different style bait. I've scored on a Top Raider, a Believer on the shallow eye, and a Hog Wobbler on these fish, as well as a slow-rolled Eagle Tail spinnerbait, my personal favorite. Good luck. Mark