musky gear

[mellowyellow]

always catch our share of northern pike, but was<br />wondering the best way to tempt ol' 50" gators.<br />will have a week (if it kills me) in the thousand<br />islands in late june and would like to spend some<br />time goin' 4 broke. if y'all have some experience<br />with tackle/presentation that might help, I would<br />certainly be obliged. been using an old Mitchell<br />302 saltwater with 10lb test trolling sticks mostly.<br />only "netted" 3 in 4 yrs and they was babies.<br />lost a biggie on a black/white rapala stick, but<br />can't really count her.<br /><br />the more snow we get, the more I begin to itch... <br />M.Y.

 

[NOSLEEP]

Re: musky gear

mellowyelow<br />I have caught more than my share of 25 to 30lb <br />pike. But i have never fished for muskie basically, because there are no muskie this far west.<br />I have always used large stick baits when trolling<br />like rapala husky jerk,T6 flat fish,large bucktails & large top water baits. seems that big fish hit big baits. did you see the new muskie record a couple of years ago 64 lbs came out of Georgian Bay or Bay of Quintie ? that lure was a goliath.(name of lure)<br />When i go after big pike i usually use a steel leader, (lost to many $15.00 lures) and a minimum<br />of 17lb test on a levelwind real, bait caster.I guess the real question would be where do you find them.Some one who fishes that water will know better where the big ones are caught.<br />especially if you use the right presentation with the right lure at the right location and place.<br />I bet their are lots of guys who will give you excellent info on where to go in that area<br />Good luck and keep fishing!!

 

[gonfishn]

Re: musky gear

Now your talking some serious fishn my friend. First I'd do some winter arm weights to get ready because for every 1,000 or so casts you may get a hit. Up North I usually will try and find some cabbage or thick weeds and do some crank baits. They normally don't hit because they are hungry but because you p....d em off by invading their territory. My lure of choice is the terminator which comes in assorted mixes. <br /><br />Do a figure of eight before you give up on the cast. Alot of my Muskies hit within a couple feet of the Boat. Hook a huge chubb thru the tail and just let him swim free. Cold water temps is good for live bait. <br /><br />Their is alot of good Muskie sites on the Net to help you along. Patience and time are needed when fishing for Gator Eyes. Once he hits your in for a good time. I've lost more than i have caught. They tend to like to go down and roll in the weed lines before they give up the ghost. Not sure the terrain where you are going but presentation is acute when going for ole gator eyes. Good Luck .

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: musky gear

thanks guys, keep it coming <br />can't even imagine a 64lb gator....better get me<br />a gaf LOL. the funny thing is, whenever I really try for them, I get skunked. the 3 we caught<br />were all small (18-24") and 2 were on live bait<br />and 1 on a mepps spinner....circle 8, interesting!<br />gotta keep my eyes open for some BIG sticks.<br />the terrain in 1000 islands is very diverse. anywhere<br />from 3' to 100', weeds to rocks. what depth in<br />late june do u reccomend? drop offs? are they still nesting?<br />regards,<br />M.Y.

 

[JB]

Re: musky gear

Hi, MY.<br /><br />I catch a lot of 35 to 40" muskys on LOTW and have had on and lost fish in the 50" class.<br /><br />Because I only get there once or twice a year I fish hard for up to a week at a time.<br /><br />Because my old back can't handle tossing heavy lumber for that long I fish smaller, lighter lures than most and collect nice bonuses in big northerns, smallmouth bass and walleyes.<br /><br />My favorite tackle are a GLoomis 7' rod, Garcia Morrum 5600 with 25# superline, 12" titanium leader and lures from 1/2 to 1.5oz. I can cast that rig 2 or 3 times as many times as the heavy stuff.<br /><br />I use a variety of spinners, spinnerbaits, 7"Rapalas and Bagley deep divers in 3 and 5". The closest I use to traditional muskybaits is Mepps single hook Musky Killers. When I fish with guys tossing big jerkbaits and other heavy stuff I outfish them 2 or 3 to 1.<br /><br />I think the main "secrets" to my success are:<br /><br />1. Fish where there are a lot of big muskys and not very many fishermen. Get a professional guide for a day or two to introduce you to the territory and the water.<br /><br />2. When you get a follow but no hit, change types of lure, quick. (I use two or three rods, each with a very different lure, so I can change in 3 seconds. Spinner, topwater or floating Rap and deep diver.<br /><br />3. Contrary to myth, there are frequently several muskys on one choice spot. We once boated seven off of one weedy point. When one hits, the others get very aggressive.<br /><br />4. Big snakes (northerns) are not a problem, they are practice.<br /><br />5. In musky territory an aggressive musky will hit almost anything that appeals to her. I have caught several on walleye and bass lures and light tackle that had refused bigger lures.<br /><br />Enough. Chapter 2 at a later time.

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: musky gear

thanks JB, good stuff! what depth do you think<br />would be best in late june? last year most of<br />the snakes we caught were in about 15-20', only<br />one in the shallows in early morn. the few gators<br />I've caught have been both in shallow (3-5') and<br />deeper. the guide for a day is a good idea <br />regards,<br />M.Y.

 

[gonfishn]

Re: musky gear

Try this site MellowYellow and click on Muskie links. http://www.toothycritters.com/muskiekid.html <br /><br />I recently found this site and it should provide you with everything and anything you need to know about Gator Eyes. I still say that she is the most exciting and explosive freshwater predator around. <br /><br />I fish for Muskies a little different in Ohio than in the North Woods. Once you get hooked on these monsters(and you will) join me in Ohio in September for some serious Gator Eye fishn.....

 

[Jacques321]

Re: musky gear

The key is to have strong tackle, be prepared, as you know they fight much harder than Pike !! <br />Once they realize they're hooked they go nuts. I once caught a 30LB. + musky(on a rattling rap) on the Ottawa river (right where the Gatineau river dumps in)and all I had was medium tackle with 8Lb test.(Mistake). The fish nearly spooled me twice. I caught it in late august(trolling) near the river's edge in an area that combined both weeds and sand in about 5-10 feet of water.<br /><br />On at least two occasions i figured I had lost the beast, but it had just changed direction so fast that my line would go limp until I reeled in the slack. Seeing this fish jump on three occasions was simply amazing.<br /><br />Go with a good casting reel, a long leader, and a minumum of 20lb test mono.You need strong hooks as well, I've heard of muskies being able to straighten, or literally break cheap hooks.

 

[Scoop]

Re: musky gear

Just a couple tips. Not an expert, just what I have experienced. <br /><br />Use a titanium leader. they will not kink as quickly as the steel leaders. You will have to rig less. <br /><br />Cleos work well. I have seen more Muskies caught on these than the traditional lures like french spinners and surface poppers.<br /><br />Here is a link to some good pictures. Rollie & Helen's Musky Shop is supposedly the worlds largest. I pass it on the way up north all the time. They have some great Muskie pictures on the bulletin board.<br /><br /> http://www.muskyshop.com/modules/cart/

 

[miloman]

Re: musky gear

hey mellow I have had a lot of experience with the 1000 islands first if you pull your own boat get insurance on the motor as water levels are really down watch the water there!!!!!!. Fish honey harbour but better is point a baril for the big ones I think you said late June so I would fish a lot of really long 8 inch top water poppers. Fish early morning just as the sun is coming out cast the weedlines agressivly and if there is a muskie to be found thats where youll find him adhere a weedless screw a lot of short casts 8 to 10 feet and crank the popper really hard. If later in the day drop a thermometer in the water check for temp look for 65 and fish a deep diving 10 inch crank bait with really agressive movement side to side ripping etc...I think during the day youll not have a lot of luck but hey what the heck. As I said I would fish them early till about 10 then break for bass etc... Muskie are a wierd fish you never know with them I have jigged in 20 feet of water with a worm looking foe walleye and hooked my share of small ones. I take a trip around the first or second week of july up there looking for them where are you staying or looking to stay

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: musky gear

howdy milo <br />last year we rented a cottage with dockage a little<br />south of Clayton. when camping we usually stay at<br />wellsley island state park. 4th of July is really <br />the beginning of the season up there, so after that<br />there seems 2 be a lot more boats around. but as<br />you probably know, there's still plenty of places<br />to find a spot of your own. water levels were good<br />last year. lk. ontario is normal and seems like<br />it was normal all the way up through the St. Lawrence river.<br />as for being careful... u bet your bimini!<br />strange rock formations. 30' of water all around<br />and 1 huge rock you can't see right in the middle<br />is the norm. very dangerous, go slow!!!<br />haven't made reservations yet.... perhaps we can<br />"hook up" <br />know some great smallmouth spots there. the hardest<br />part is getting past the kazillion perch up there.<br />they'll even hit a 7" stick. my daughter caught 2<br />6" perch on the same 3" rapala last yr... funny!<br />PS. what's a canadian non resident lic. cost these days?

 

[Dman]

Re: musky gear

While I'm not familiar where you will be fishing, try creek inlets in the spring if there are any. I use 50 lb Whiplash for Musky Hunting. That's what I would try along with the other places mentioned.<br />Dman

 

[roscoe]

Re: musky gear

Cast, cast, and cast again.<br />My best spots are wind blown grassy points, 2 to 6 feet of water.<br />Around here (WI) trolling is generally saved for fall fishing, and frowned on by many muskie hunters as it draws fish up from the deep which lessens their survival rate after being released.<br />Do the figure 8's.<br />If you are getting follows, toss a smaller lure on subsequent casts, it can trigger a strike.<br /><br />JB's advice is right on.<br />Use tackle only as big as you need to. <br />If your drag is set correctly, neither your rod or line will break.<br />If using live suckers, try not to spook the fish, just play it out. Better for fish and better chance of landing it.<br /><br />I sat very impatiently for 45 minutes as dad played out a 37 incher one day. He had it lip hooked on a crappie jig and 8 lb test. She never broke the surface and just got tired enough to get her in the net.<br /><br />Oh yeah, CPR,<br />unless you know you have a new world record.

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: musky gear

got my first Grandma lure today complete with<br />purple hair (back)LOL