figure eighting

[Izzy]

I see a lot of talk and methods for figure 8ing. I have found it easier and more effective to just lift the lure out of the water and have the muskie follow it out of the water and right into the boat. I keep a carpeted area for this to make the landing much easier on the fish. This method spares all the hassle of treble hooks in the landing net, not to mention mr. muskie will have no fatal hook damage. Give it a try.

[Muskiefool]

You may want to change that rug to rubber it's easier on the slime coat

[MLK]

It is extremely pleasant to see anyone protecting our resources in any way! Kudos! :cheers:

Musky Mike

[lost my rig.]

funny funny. just wait till you catch a fish on the 8 and you didn't even realize your lure was being followed. hope your rod doesn't pulled out of your hand...then you'll be singin a different song. but then again you'll never get that chance if you don't do the 8's.

[Izzy]

I was hoping somebody would see a little humor. Like a muskie would actually jump out of the water and into a boat following a bait. Although I have had one slam into the boat while bass fishing with a jitterbug. Not looking for a muskie, the lake where we were was not known for muskie fishing, I lifted the jitterbug out of the water and KA-SLASH. Mr. muskie's tail hit the boat and both me and my partner got wet with the splash. OOOHHHHHH.... Whaaaaat a RUSH! Tried the rest of the evening with some bigger baits but he was never seen again. Thats when I decided I have to start learning the muskie trade. Now my next fishing vacation is to known muskie water.

[Dave B]

I've had that happen a couple of times as well. You never know what is going to happen with these crazy fish. My dad has a great story (which is true) about a northern that jumped into the boat. He was bass fishing with my uncle on the 4th of July about 30 years ago and hooked into a 15 lb northern. He fought the fish to the boat side and realized they didn't have a net. My uncle reached over to try to hand land the fish, and as soon as he touched the fish, it jumped into the air. My uncle lurched back away from the fish, and the small aluminum fishing boat rocked forward and the fish landed right in the boat. I wasn't there to see it, but they swear it's true.

[SteveJ2112]

A few years ago while fishing on Lac Seul in Ontario I had a small 25 inch northern jump into the boat completely unhooked! I was fishing a perch colored original floating Rapala and had reeled it all the way to the boat (18 foot aluminum Lund). I put my pole down to assist my buddy with a northern he had just caught and my lure was still in the water. After that I picked up my pole to cast again and I guess that fish liked the little twitch when I was picking up my pole because as soon as I started to lift the lure out of the water he shot out of the weeds, into the air and into the boat. Never even touched the lure. Funniest thing I ever saw was watching my buddy try to get out of the way of that fish flopping around in the bottom of the boat at his feet.

[crittergitter]

I haven't had one jump into the boat, but had a close call. We netted a nice 32" fish last weekend and as soon as the frame came up out of the water the fish shook it's head(hung the lure on the net), and jumped straight up and out of the net. It bounced off the side of the boat and was gone. I laughed and my uncle said, "I guess he doesn't do nets?"

Things like that are exactly why I love musky fishing. No bass or catfish will ever do that. These fish are amazing fighting machines and have the acrobatic skills of a world class gymnast! When you have a big musky on the end of your line, you got your hands full. Kind like having.........."a tiger by the tail"

cg

[MinnEssox]

I like 2 do 5's. but dont ever do a 7 it will send your musky to the depths. there scared of 7, cause 7 ate 9.

Bam in ur face. didnt see that one coming.

MinnEsox