what size gear for muskie fishing

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Craig Bukowski on March 10, 2014 at 11:27am

Ken,

Many people have different opinions but I would rather be more on the heavy side than  light.  If you are throwing bucktails, spinners and crankbaits or gliders, I would look at either 60lb or 80lb Powerpro braided line.  The reels I like are the Luna (Daiwa) or Shimano Calcutta baitcasters.  Some like the Okuma but I have never used one.  Finally, the Revo Toro by Abu Garcia is awesome.  I used one up at Lake of the Woods a few years ago and it was very smooth.  The biggest consideration is size - the newer ones are smaller and fit your hand better.  After that, price.  They are all pretty expensive and I would look for a good one on Ebay.  If not, new ones are over $300.  Good used ones can be purchased for $100 - $200.

Rod selection depends on what you are throwing - bucktail versus crankbait, glider or tube.  A good all around rod would be a 7 1/2 to 8 foot, medium/heavy action.  That way, you could throw a spinnerbait, bucktail and even a crankbait with the same rod.  You would want a shorter, far stiffer rod for a glider or tube jig.  Lamiglass, St Croix and even Daiwa make great rods.

Finally, leaders are critical - only use steel if you are throwing a glider.  It lets you keep the leader from getting fouled in the hooks.  Otherwise, use a 90 to 120lb fluorocarbon leader.  They last forever and are easy to use.

I recommend looking at our website - www.cascademusky.com . You could also look at musky hunter magazine or Muskies Inc online.

Hope that helps - www.cascademusky.com has a list of sponsors that we often use for equipment, etc that we all stand by.

Thanks,

Craig

Permalink Reply by ken larson on March 10, 2014 at 9:28pm

Ive got a Penn 965 which would be the equivalent to the Calcutta 400 and I've got  a Calcutta 251 which size would be better? Also whats a glider?

Permalink Reply by Craig Bukowski on March 11, 2014 at 12:46pm

Ken,

Either reel would be fine - I think the 400 just holds more line.  I think the 251 would be easier to use since it will fit easier in your hand. 

A glider is a bait which is similar to a jerk bait.  You tug on the bait with a sweeping motion usually down and to the right (or left if you are left handed). This causes the bait to dart to one side and then back to the other.  It is a great "wounded fish" bait that really adds excitement when you can see it in the water and fish begin to follow.  Look up some videos on You tube - you won't regret it!

Permalink Reply by ken larson on March 11, 2014 at 9:31pm

The glider videos made them look like a blast, especially in clear water. What colors do you tend to throw mostly, I guess conditions matter to be sure but do you find yourself throwing bright colors or naturals, do you use bright greens like fire tigers, reds, whites black?? There seems to be a lot of debate on this subject, so a bit of local knowledge might help me pick lures. I'd like to get a couple gliders and also some more bucktails, the more I read the more it seems like these are sort of the go to musky lures, also what sizes do you throw, there seems a massive difference in sizes available. I was getting things from 6 to 8 inches but I've been seeing things up to a foot so.... yeah. Thanks for all the advice you're giving I really appreciate it

Permalink Reply by Craig Bukowski on March 12, 2014 at 12:11pm

Here in the Pacific NW, most people throw the smaller variety - usually 12 inches or under.  However, just because a lot of folks don't throw the Midwest sized baits here doesn't mean they don't work.  Color - red and white are great, natural sucker/black/gold are also good.  It usually depends on the water clarity and sunlight.  Clear water, smaller baits and shinier and lighter colors.  Cloudy or dark days, darker colors like black and oranges/reds work well.  It really depends and you should always have a variety.  If you get a lot of lazy follows, try downsizing your bait, slowing your retrieve and consider slow cranks, jigs or gliders.  Bucktails are great for locating active fish because you can throw them easily and quickly cover a lot of water.  Spinnerbaits are also great slower baits.  You can slow roll them over weeds or around docks.  You can also swim-jig them to entice a bite.  The general rule is a fast or erratic move can usually trigger a response strike.

Feel free to contact anyone form CMA and we are doing a membership drive right now.  Anyone in the club will share whatever knowledge they can and will often take you out fishing for a day.  We are not snobs and only want people to experience musky fishing safely.  It really comes down to education and if you don't know how to fish for and handle them, you can really accidentally harm or kill a lot of fish. 

Permalink Reply by Todd Reis on March 16, 2014 at 12:20pm

Hey Ken,

If you are not looking so much into the high end equipment try these guys. Known as "the working man's musky rods." Hit up www.bulldawgrods.com From beginners to the pros. I've got a few of these and they are affordable and built incredibly.

Also try www.muskyinnovations.com and www.muskyarmour.com

Abu Garcia has some really good reels. Their 5500 and new 6500c series are less than a hundred bucks and put a lot of muskies in my frabill over the years.

Good luck, Todd

Craig, how many members does your club have now?

Permalink Reply by Craig Bukowski on March 17, 2014 at 7:14pm

Todd,

You would have to ask Steve Jackson.  I know numbers have drawn down a bit with the price of gas and the economy.  We are trying to build up the membership again this year so as things in the economy get better, so will the membership.  I know all the fishing clubs are down quite a bit.

Permalink Reply by ken larson on March 17, 2014 at 8:27pm

Todd,

Ive seen your name come up a few times while I was looking at musky fishing here in Washington. Are you a guide? And if so do you run those bull dawg rods on your boat for clients? They look pretty sharp on their website but I've had a bear of a time finding them for sale anywhere but eBay.

Craig,

Thanks again for all the info, you've definitely put me on a good track, now I really need to get out and try to get one. Which lake would be the best place to start first? Ive got a 12 foot aluminum with a 6 horse so my range is fairly limited but I still really want to get out and give musky a go

On a side note what do you use for your main line? Ive been seeing a lot of debate between braid and just straight mono and a lot of debate on breaking strength. I'm thinking 25 lb mono would be sufficient, I'm no stranger to catching large toothy fish on light line, king mackerel mostly, but I'm not sure how the fight is with musky. Should I go heavier? I'd prefer not to go with braid I understand theres less stretch thinner line etc, but its so damned expensive

Permalink Reply by Todd Reis on March 18, 2014 at 8:34pm

Ken,

Yes I am and yes I do have a couple of those rods in my boat. I have a contact that I can talk to and can see if I can get you on to one or two. Give me a bit to talk to him. He's been doing the Musky expo tours back in Wisconsin right now. Look and see which ones entice you the most. The Select rods are great for beginners and around $100.

As far as getting on the water right now. Tapps is down still about 6 feet to full pool. I would recommend Mayfield. Its the most stable as of late. A friend of mine was down there a couple weeks ago and actually saw a small musky cruising around.

 And the park at Mayfield Lake Park is free to launch and is very good for small boats to use.

Line..I primarily use 80lb Power Pro on my bucktail rods and 100lb on my jerk bait and dawg rods. I am though pretty happy with the Tuff Line I tried. I did pick up some Suffix 832 Braid. A pretty good bass guy uses it and is very happy with it and he recommended it. So, I will see. I've got some mono on my trolling rods but I stick strictly with braid for everything else. Like Craig said, a good leader is recommended as well. I use flourocarbon 100 to 120 lb. A young gent on Ebay, Charlie R makes them. I've got the best leaders made from this fine gent.

Maybe we can hit the water? Let me know. See ya, Todd

 

Permalink Reply by Craig Bukowski on March 20, 2014 at 7:19am

Hi Ken and thanks for jumping in Todd.  I agree with Mayfield being the best and easiest to fish, especially over the weed flat when it warms up.  I also use nothing but braided with the fluorocarbon leaders and would never use mono.  I would also focus on bass or other species until at least the end of May or early June unless we get a real heat wave and the water really warms up.  Otherwise, it will only frustrate you because they are not very active and hard to pin down.

Permalink Reply by ken larson on March 22, 2014 at 8:23pm

Todd, why so you use such a heavy breaking strength on your braided line? I didn't think they got all that big, I was thinking 50 lbs. would be a monster. Am I missing the boat or do these fish really put the hammer down on tackle? I'm not trying to be disagreeable in any way I'm just an absolute newb with regards to musky fishing.

Craig, ill take your advice and wait for warmer water before I start pursuing them in earnest, theres plenty of bass here in Issaquah to keep me busy till then. I also just blew a head gasket on my boat motor today while trying to figure out sturgeon fishing, so its out of commission till I pull it down to the case and rebuild it. The impeller quit or at least slowed and the engine overheated and the pressure had to go somewhere... thankfully its not seized up so the repairs are fairly minor, still irritating but not nearly as much as it could. be.

Permalink Reply by Todd Reis on March 26, 2014 at 5:39pm

Ken,

I grew up using heavy line for muskies and northern pike. For a lot of reasons. The baits that I am throwing range from 3/4 oz to up to 8 oz. Haven't chucked the pounders yet but I am working on that. Speed and the force that the fish hit at times along with the force i am pulling back the baits back to the boat is also a reason for the heavier line. Throw in later in the year, ripping through the weeds or tree cover, the line is almost unbreakable. So any advantage I can get helps. And hook set is kind of important. You are trying to punch a hook through bone and across teeth so heavier line does the trick. The new braid is alot better than the old catgut stuff of the past. Heavy yet thin in diameter so it is pretty easy to throw. So hope this explains a little of my reasoning. Talk at you later, Todd

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