General tips

[MuskieHunter]

What a task I have begun. I have just started muskie fishing and need to know a lot of the basics. What general types of lures (and colors, I have heard black of white are fail-safe) are good for what conditions. Where to locate Muskies in differerent parts of the season, and basic presentations. I am very new to all this, but I am an experienced angler. If anyone has tips and suggestions for the beginner, please feel free to inform those less fortunate! Thanks a Ton!
MuskieHunter

[ToddM]

Whew, not that we could not answer all your questions but it's alot to cover. For lure colors, I like naturals like black/silver, gold/silver, crappie, cisco and perch colors. For loud colors, firetiger, orange tiger, and jailbird are good, just to name a few of each.

For locations, it would be best two know where you will be fishing, if not what lake, what area of the country.

[MUSKIE HUNTER]

TO BE MORE SPECIFIC TODDM - DEER LAKE (POLK CO. WI), BALD EAGLE, WHITE BEAR. OWASSO. Thanks for the color advice, I hope it will help I am going in the morning!
thanks
MUSKIEHUNTER

[Colby Simms]

Generally with lures you want a variety of baits for different situations and depths of water to fish. Don't go to crazy at first though, the first thing that you'll probably notice is that purchasing musky baits can make you poor. Just pick a few quality baits from each category and stick with them for a while.

You'll need a few crankbaits and minnowbaits from shallow to deep divers, a couple of bucktails and spinnerbaits, a jerkbait or two (a diver and a glider), a couple of topwater baits and big jig and plastic combos. As for colors you'll also need a variety. I tend to use natural colors (white & gray, silver shad, gold) in clear water and bright colors (chartruse, firetiger, parott) in stained water or early and late in the day.

Location is another small question with a huge answer, but I'll long and short it as best as possible. Spring musky fishing finds the fish mostly shallow, in and around spawning bays and coves. Find warmer water. Look for shallow dark bottom areas that are seperated from the main lake and protected from wind. The north side of the lake is usually the best place to find warmer water in spring. During summer and early fall fish move more into the larger deeper areas of the lake. Offshore structure like islands and reefs can be very productive as well as main lake shorelines and points. As late fall rolls around and into winter shoreline breaks are a good place to fish. Look for irregular shorelines and fish the primary dropoff from shallow to deep water. It's also good to try open water fishing if things are slow on the structures. Another tip is to always be on the look out for schools of baitfish. Where you find the bait you'll find muskies.

Musky tackle is great if you can purchase a few new rods and reels, especially for the bigger baits. Heavy bass equiptment like flippin sticks will work fine too. 7 to 8 foot long strong rods with a little bit of give for shock absorbtion are my favorites. I only use the pool que action rods for a few specific tasks. Stout line, tough leaders and you're ready to fish. Don't forget a big net, pliers and release tools and a pair of hook cutters. It's best to leave the fish in the net in the water for the unhooking and measuring process. Then just pull her out for a few quick photos and get her back as quickly as possible. You might need to work the fish back and forth in the water for a while before she can take off.

When you're casting, keep your drag tight and use a very hard hookset, then back off the drag for the fight. When you're trolling, keep your drag loose, just tight enough to keep line from peeling off, then tighten up as the boat slows down. Experiment with both casting and trolling and experiment with different speeds and retrieves. Always make a figure eight at the end of every cast. A hat and polarized sunglasses help a lot to spot following fish. Generally use a run and gun approach and cover water quickly until you start moving fish and then slow down and work productive areas more thoroughly. Be patient and most of all have fun.

Good Luck.

Colby Simms

[Quebec Guy]

Welcome to the greatest sportsfishing species in the world! Well, there is a lot that you should learn, and I believe time on the water will let you know a lot of things about Mr. Muskie. On the other hand, here is some bit of advice. Do not go berserk as you are watching a display of muskie lures in a tackle store. Select three to six of them carefully, and learn the techniques associated to each of them before you start buying all that there is left in the store (they call that "muskie fever", you know!). Hence, here are some choices I would make. Color would certainly depend on the water you fish:

- Silver blade / black bucktail (Mepps is good, and so are Ghosttails, Grim Reaper, Hi Fin, and many others)

- 9" Suick, black or chartreuse / black spots
(must learn to work this baby, really)

- Trinity Muskie Special 7" or Drifter Muskie Stalker JTD or Wiley jointed lure (great for high speed trolling as well as for casting applications)

Next, remember to STAY FOCUSED AT ALL TIMES. Muskies have this tendency to follow and bite when you are not even ready to set the hook. Retrieve the line QUICKLY, for this is no trout fishing. And if it sounds silly, be patient. Your first fish might take lots of time to land, but the next ones will be easier to get. Finally, let them go and let them grow, so that you can catch them again (this implies the purchase of a good camera!). Tight lines! Pat

[MUSKIE HUNTER]

Thanks to everyone who has been contributing to my growing knowledge of this awsome fish. For those who are just looking in on this message, please feel free to drop a line of two on any tips they hasve found usefull!
thanks again!
Muskie Hunter

[Musk Rat]

One more bit of advice. Try something you are familiar with from your other angling expeiriences. Muskie fishing isn`t much different than bass or walleye fishing. The main difference is you are most often useing an active approach. Spinnerbaiting, casting bucktails,trolling plugs, jerk baiting. Jigging and live baiting have limmited applications. Generaly when you have fish located in the fall. For the most part you will be trying to cover as much good looking water as you can fast and efficiently. This will help you locate good spots and catch fish. Don`t go too crazy with the lures better to master one teknique than be sloppy at many. I catch 95% of my fish on two lures and they don`t change from spring until freeze up. Most of the best fisherman only use a few different lures they trust. Do yourself a favor and get a good muskie net some long pliers and some cutters just incase you score the first time out. Unhook the fish in the net in the water don`t lift them into the boat for unhooking. Liveing in WI you can easily find a good guide. Try one who specializes in the type of muskie fishing you want to try. Like trolling casting or whatever. Something about being taught in person makes it alot easier than just reading about it. Andy

[Famous_Shoes]

Certainly not an expert, but have fished a week each the last 2 summers at Deer Lake. Early morning (read: at sunrise) and evenings seem to be best action times. Fish fast, bucktails and topwaters on the weed edges and over the humps on the north side of the lake.

Heavy crappie population in the lake, so silver and black is a favorite.

[Musky Mike]

Hi MuskieHunter, welcome to our illness with no cure!

Everyone has given you pretty good time tested advice on lure and location choices. Follow their suggestions and you'll be well on your way. The two points I would offer are:

1. Don't fish beneath the fish. I made this mistake for far too long. It figured that muskies were large fish and spent most of their time in deep water. Not necessarily true about deep water, they also cruise shallow areas more than many realize. Keep in mind that a musky's eyes are on the top of their head - they look UP. With a flip or two of their tail they can rise from quite a distance to engulf a meal, but if the bait is only a few inches beneath them they in all likelihood will never even see it. Fish deep water on occasion for sure but don't think that you have to have your lures constantly banging the bottom.

2. Treat each cast as if it were the 9,999th. Muskies have a way of striking a lure when the angler has lost focus and is not paying proper attention. The end result of such timing is almost ALWAYS a lost opportunity. Don't become distracted or lackadaisical in your approach, stay focussed. And try not to watch the lure itself, rather look behind and below the lure, that's where most follows will occur.

As you've said, you've taken on quite a task - but it's an enjoyable task to be sure. With that first musky you'll be hooked for life, just like all the rest of us muskie-holics! We welcome you.

MLK