What worked and what's new?

[muskie guy]

Hello fellow muskie/musky persons. I was interested in hearing what all you pro's had work for you this past year. What new technique and lures do you think are going to be the ticket for muskie world domination?
During last year, before I changed jobs and lost the summer and early fall to my schedule, I was knocking them dead with swimbaits. My favorites being the 6" Storm- Kick'n Minnows, in perch and firetiger. Megabait's - 6" Charlie, in rainbow trout. The Charlie worked very well fishing over the tops of shalow weeds. The kick'n minnow over a little deeper weeds and rock.
I really like the willow buck by Bucher for working deeper strucure and weed lines. The orange blade, black tail worked best for me. This was a good year for 6" bleeding perch Jake's as well. I think the Little Funky Chicken spinnerbaits I grabbed are going to be productive this year.
I bought several poles that worked excellent and would highly recommend to a budget minded angler: 7' Shimano Convergence in heavy action and a 7' St.Croix Triumph heavy action. both worked awsome and tossed and retrieved lures perfectly.
Bought (and love) a bunch of Charlie Runion's florocarbon leaders. Find them on ebay and buy 'em!

And the tourney winning lure this year? It's got to be out there some where, if I find it I'll show you after the tourney!

So, what worked for you this year? What are you going to try out?

[stynkba1t]

Muskie guy; your an eastsider right? Can you give me a hand getting started? I fish for trout but my stuff is too crapy for musky. I want to see one of them things up close.

[muskie guy]

I'll PM you and we'll get a few things worked out for you. And your correct, I'm in the Spokane area, Liberty Lake.

Doesn't look like anyone has much to share so far. Come on people!

[muskyhunter]

Muskie guy,
I threw a lot...alot..mostly bucks early in the year. I fish Tapps mostly. Do to the fact the lake wasnt full pool till July 3rd or so that kinda messed up the fishin early. But I did see and miss 8 whopper fish. Most hit right at the boat which was pretty cool. Finally figured out what I was doing wrong. So basically was working on my hook setting techniques. Hopefully that will give me more fish this year. I would still recommend the Bass Pro IM6 6'6" Heavy action rod. For 29.99 thru the catlog. And 19.99 if you buy thru the internets...Picked up a nice Diawa Millionare reel for dirt cheap at Joes. I've got some 50lb P-Line on that for which I troll with.And a Abu Garcia rod 8'2". Used that combo to get the 44" fish last October trolling a Grandma over a drop off. Trolling..Been planning on doing alot more of that this year. Found that you can use every thing from Wobblers to grandmas and you can get some fish in the net. Trolling in about 18 ft of water next to ledges that fall to 35 ft spotted a lot of fish on the finder. Couple of guys even got some on Rapala shad rap type of baits too. Those baits were in the 3-4 inch length range and produced some toads. Jerk baits...Been looking at some on line..bit pricey but I like them alot so I think I will be using those more this year.Check out www.alleycatlures.com. Found these on Ebay they look TIIGHT...and www.hoosierhandmadebaits.com..awesome lures too. He'll give Chapter members 10% off...So if you dont want to spend a ton of dough go with a brand like an Ugly stick rod and say a reel..Shimano and Ambassador do have some reasonable reels. Like 60 bucks for the Shimano Corvalus or Ambassador 5300 series with some good braided line like or I would recommend P-line rated at about 50 lb 10 bucks or so. A good Flourocarbon leader..I use 100 lb or higher. My opinion is a Tiger can bite thru less than a 80 lb flourocarbon leader. Though I will say the fish I have had on all had the bait and the leader pretty much was away from the gill plates and teeth. I was lucky..well unlucky cause I only put one fish in the net. So, hope this helps. It got my fishin juices flowin abit now. So I might just go sharpen some hooks..One more thing a good net. Knotless. Check out Joes, Sportsmans Warehouse or Cabelas has a great selection too. Can't wait to get on the water!!

[Don Wittenberger]

My favorite bucktails didn't work worth a darn last year and I caught all but one of my 2007 fish on crankbaits. All of my buddies' fish were taken on crankbaits, too. What does this mean? Heck, I don't know. I guess it means we just felt like throwing crankbaits last year. Muskies tend to hit what's in the water, and tend not to hit the lures growing cobwebs in my tackle box.

What works seems to change every year. When we catch fish on something, we stick with it until it doesn't work anymore. Last year, it was crankbaits. The year before, bucktails. 2008? I have no idea. As always, I'll start the season with small bucktails and if they don't work I'll try small crankbaits, maybe even bass-size Rapalas, and after the lakes warm up I usually switch to larger lures.

As for what's new, well, I already own several hundred muskie lures so why do I need more? Nowadays, I only buy replacements for producing lures that were lost or damaged during the previous season. I advise against rushing out to buy the "hot new lures" that come on the market every season. This stuff is mainly designed to catch fishermen.

As long as you use a lure that runs at the correct depth and speed for the conditions, it should work if the fish are in the mood. If they're not, nothing will catch them. The proven lures that have been catching muskies for the last 25 or 50 years probably will work this season, too. So, instead of spending the winter dreaming up ways to spend all your money, use this time to think about how to put the lures you already own into an active fish's strike zone. If you've got bad cabin fever, get out the file and go through the whole tackle box sharpening hooks. This is also a good time to lube your reels, spool on new line, repair any damaged rod guides, and take care of boat maintenance, so everything's ready to go when fishing season rolls around.

This is also the time of year I read back issues of Musky Hunter Magazine to pick up ideas from the professional guides and seasoned pros who write the articles. (I own a nearly complete collection of this magazine starting with the original issue in 1990.)

[jigman]

This was my 1st year so I stuck with throwing home made bucktails most of the year and had decent luck with them, boating 19 fish. Picked up some cranks and jerks during the off season I'm looking forward to trying, mostly Bucher baits or rapalas. Spent my summer learning the lake, which should pay off this coming up season. i've been building lots of new bucktails this winter, looking forward to throwing them this spring.

[stynkba1t]

Thanks for the help Muskie guy/Scott! I got a few things picked out and the lures you gave me are a great start!!!!! I don't hink i'll ever get tired of buying fishing stuff.

[muskie guy]

I agree, you can't go out and buy every new thing that hit's the market hoping for that one super-lure. I have some very specific criteria for a new lure to join the one's in the box. It's really got to fill a void. I think the best part of the muskie hunt is finding that presentation of the day. What part of the lake, what lure, what color, how deep, how fast? Put it together correctly and CPR. I love it!
I always devote a few minutes to trying some thing new on each outing. Usually simple things, like the difference in running depth between 2 lines or how a crankbait wobbles on this pole vs. that pole. It's shown me alot about my tackle and set-up's. I've seem some nice returns on the small time invested as well. 21 boated last season, many of those because I tested a new swimbait. There's always something to learn in this game, it's really cool.

[Don Wittenberger]

jigman, if you're making your own lures I suggest making some small, short-arm spinnerbaits, if you can. These can be dynamite, and no commercial tackle company is making them so the only way to get them is make them yourself. What you want is something about the size of a bass spinnerbait or slightly larger, but made with heavy wire (.050) and hooks, maybe with a poured lead head (painted black), dressed with deer hair (black, or combinations of black, red, chartreause, or yellow). These lures can be fluttered in weed pockets or retrieved straight-line like a regular bucktail. Make sure they weigh enough (at least 1 oz.) so you can throw them with muskie tackle.

[muskie guy]

Fudally: Musky Candy Spin. Small, heavy wire, closed loop, 1oz. safety-pin style bucktail. Caught a 47" out of Newman lake on the yellow & nickle. Low price too! Check 'em out.

[KUP]

Groan: You just had to put that up there, didn'tcha.
Spent last 20 minutes looking at more lures. ahhhhhhiiii
lol

[Deadeyemark]

This was my 1st year so I stuck with throwing home made bucktails most of the year and had decent luck with them, boating 19 fish. Picked up some cranks and jerks during the off season I'm looking forward to trying, mostly Bucher baits or rapalas. Spent my summer learning the lake, which should pay off this coming up season. i've been building lots of new bucktails this winter, looking forward to throwing them this spring.

Jigman,
Your address last summer was the Lk Tapps boat launch wasn't it???

[Deadeyemark]

jigman, if you're making your own lures I suggest making some small, short-arm spinnerbaits, if you can. These can be dynamite, and no commercial tackle company is making them so the only way to get them is make them yourself. What you want is something about the size of a bass spinnerbait or slightly larger, but made with heavy wire (.050) and hooks, maybe with a poured lead head (painted black), dressed with deer hair (black, or combinations of black, red, chartreause, or yellow). These lures can be fluttered in weed pockets or retrieved straight-line like a regular bucktail. Make sure they weigh enough (at least 1 oz.) so you can throw them with muskie tackle.

Don,
Ducktail Lures is making them in a 1 oz size. Even made to order. Contact Jim Korducki at DucktailLures.com

[muskie guy]

Gadzooks!!! All those people peeped in and didn't write down one thing they learned or that did/didn't work. What's to hide? We're all friends here. I thank Mr. Witt and Muskyhunter for dishing up some info. My hooks were sharpened and the reel lubed after the last trip out, be proactive!
Thank's Muskyhunter for your information. I would look at a Phantom if your looking for a glide bait. They have a great sub-surface walk-the-dog action. Can be worked fast or slow and sinks slowly to work most depths. Smallmouth's love to chase the 6" perch one I use too, even though it's a bit big for them. That 6'6" hvy. rod you have would be perfect.
Did ANYONE else do any trolling this past season. I am interested in hearing about which baits you used and how deep they ran. I know there are those books out there with running depth info. But I like first hand knowledge. I trolled some 9" Bulldawgs, out at 70 ft. on 50# power pro they ran 8 - 10 ft. I think this is going to be a good year for trolling in Newman and Curlew. Silver will be good even if you are throwing rocks.
I mentioned swim baits, the 6" kick'n minnow by storm would be a good choice for you westerly peeps to toss in Mayfield and burn across the weed tops in the Northern weed beds. And I bet twitching it along the shoreline timber in Mayfield and Merwin would be productive too. With any luck I'm going to try it this year at the M.I. tourneys. The 10" one is a chore to work with though, even on a 3-8 oz. rated pole.
I saw an....um...interesting article were a fella was recommending you run out and buy a "plug" that was a minimum of 12" long, 15" would be better, for the tiger's in our state. Is anyone using lures that size and are they catching mooskies?

[jigman]

I stocked up on a number of baits I thought would be productive this coming year.....baby jointed depth raiders, baby shallow raiders and a number of Rapalas. J-13 jointed's, super shad raps and jointed x-raps. Also going to throw the Ducktail spinnerbaits this year. Threw bucktails all year last season and want to try some different lures this year, though the bucktails will be my go to lures since I like to run and gun, and they're perfect for that style fishing. I'm also making some bucktails similar to the DCG's that are so popular but down sized for the Tigers. Mike.

[Deadeyemark]

All right Muskie Guy, ya talked me into it.
Gliders(Bikini Bait Co) worked in a Walk the Dog fashon in the spring and into summer. Spinnerbaits and Bucktails(Ducktail Lures) as the summer wore on.
I'll throw whatever the fish want. Keep an open mind and don't get stuck on one lure or one pattern. Let the fish decide cuz it'll change sometimes from day to day.

[Rosann G]

Scott, Bill and I trolled alot last year as Bill's wrists can't take casting and retrieving very long at a time. I have told him about this thread and he is going to try to answer some of your questions when he gets home from work. I don't know what to call all the lures we used. We didn't get out on the lake as much as we normally do because he, like you, had to work alot of fishing season last year.

Rosann

[Bill G]

Scot, Rosann said we trolled a lot and she's not kidding. I'm not able to fish like I used too. I kind of came by the trolling techneque by accedent then used the rest of the time profecting it.
To start with go faster than you think you should. I use my 90hp and at an idle we are running 3 to 3.5 mph I don't think 5 mph is too fast but when you snag a stump it will jerk the rod out of you're hand at the speed of light. I was lucky that the reel snaged on the steering cable and didn't go over.
Anyway I try to use baits that dive down to where the small mouth are hanging out. The way I find them is by fishing a known dropoff. Working with crank baits that run 10 to 12 feet in 1/4 to 3/8 oz size and studing the sonor I find active smallies. I'll up size my baits to 1 to 1 1/4 oz. to atract musky's, but ones that maintaine the desired depth. Use the S patern and play with the speed to make the baits change depth. I also pump the rod forward and drift back I think the fish think it running away then I drop it back into there mouths.
I am parshall to dark baits on overcast day's and natural colors on bright day's. My go to colors are dark to light reds next firetiger then shades of silvers and blues. Naturals are the perch, sucker and shad colors.
Starting out the year I will do the samethings that worked last year and change as needed.
I hope this is what you asked about.
Bill

[muskie guy]

Thanks for the input Marko, Bill and Rosann. I agree with Mark, use what the fish are responding too and don't get tunnel vision. Bill, I bet with timber you showed me at the first M.I. meeting in Tapps you must have a good lure retriever. Thanks again everyone.

[Deadeyemark]

Darn, I almost forgot the secret weapon: FIGURE 8 every time. Make it a planned event like it's part of the retrieve and smoothly go into it prior to the lure getting to the boat. Run your rod tip down in the water a ways to keep the lure on course or make it change course.
Always watch behind and below the lure. If I'm just running banks or running from spot to spot, I'll usually just make an 'L' turn at the end of each cast but make sure you do something.
My wife caught her first figure 8 fish last year. Hit on the first turn. I've caught plenty in the 8 that wouldn't have gotten caught if I'd have skipped doing it.
Another trick is to speed up the retrieve for the last 20' or so and if you see a fish coming in, definitely speed it up. Fast as you can reel. The fish thinks the bait(supper for her)has seen her and is trying to get away so the rapid increase in speed will very often trigger a strike.
If ya hook one at the boat, set the hooks hard and either back off the drag some or thumb the reel to allow this "Hot" fish to get away from the boat to burn off some energy without throwing the lure. Then tighten it back up to put her in the net.