Musky vs. Saltwater baits

[PAkev]

I've got a question for the Musky Gurus........<br /><br />Although I've boated several northern pike, I am relatively new to fishing for the "lunge" <br /><br />I was at BPS (Bass Pro Shops) yesterday and thought I'd pick up a few musky baits. I bought a Grandma perch, halographic trout, a few Zara Spooks, and a few large bucktail spinners.<br /><br />Across the isle were saltwater baits BUT cost almost half the price of the musky stuff. I would have thought the saltwater lures would cost more due to more non corrosive metals and hooks.<br /><br />This leads to my question.........<br />Are there any saltwater baits you can recommend that have potential of serving double duty as musky baits? I would guess the structural integrity demands would be similar as many saltwater species share similar dentistry as musky. Other than the obvious imitation of profile, color patterns, etc. are there any other inherent features a musky bait has that salt water lures don't?<br /><br />Helpful Thoughts Appreciated<br />Kevin

 

[JB]

Re: Musky vs. Saltwater baits

I caught a lot of mahi-mahi, tuna and even one marlin on musky baits (spoons and big rapalas) but never tried it the other way around.<br /><br />Most salt water lures that I used were intended to be speed trolled. I suspect that some of the skirted trolling lures would attract esox if speed trolled.

 

[gonfishn]

Re: Musky vs. Saltwater baits

Have never tried fishn for the Gator with salt water lures..But I do alot of speed trolling for the warrior in the summer when the water temps are higher..<br /><br />Since most of the time they hit not because they got the feed bag on but hit cause you have invaded there territory...I would try em..Especially if it has duck features..

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: Musky vs. Saltwater baits

lure's is lure's...<br />anything that has the name "musky" attatched to<br />it costs twice as much for same lure IMO. I've<br />caught some big northerns trolling rapala magnum<br />SW lures, but no gators... yet.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Musky vs. Saltwater baits

Musky lures are mostly manufactured by smaller companies and target a smaller market.<br />Salt water lures can be made in much larger numbers, and marketed worldwide.<br />I suspect that at is one reason that sw lures may be cheaper.<br />Also, muskyhunters have "the fever". <br /><br />I bought a lot of 27 sw lures on ebay (cheap) a couple years ago, which included some huge sw Rapalas and some other big sw spinners. They have worked well for me when northern fishing. But I have only caught 1 musky in the last 2 years so I can't say they work on musky. But I suspect they will/would if I targeted the musky.

 

[muskyone]

Re: Musky vs. Saltwater baits

have you looked at jeffs tackle that stuff dosent look anything like i've ever seen swiming in our northern waters i belive a musky hits cuse you ticked it off my biggest gater was cought on a small bass spinner and my smallest 8 in was cought on a mouldys hog wabbler 9in i would try anything that shakes rattles vibreats or bubbles so if thay have that in saltwater lures give it a try

 

[gonfishn]

Re: Musky vs. Saltwater baits

Now that lumber I got Joel is when the water warms up and the bait fish have grown some..<br /><br />A good rule of thumb is use a lure about the size of the baitfish.. In the Spring I use a medium Lightning Shad..A good troling speed in the spring would be 1.5 or do a turtle troll.<br /><br />Summer pick up the speed,depending on the water temps..Thats when I reak out the big boys..<br /><br />Think we will get a little pool going this year Joel..Twenty bucks a head ,first legal Musky caught(30" or more..Winner takes all...

 

[muskyone]

Re: Musky vs. Saltwater baits

make it fifty and i''l troll a treable at 80 if the weathers like last year i'm going to the casino

 

[teamstromer]

Re: Musky vs. Saltwater baits

PAKEV,<br />i fish the st. lawrence rive in upstate NY. i use nothing but #5's mepps blackfury buck tails with black blade and flourescent orange dots. i fish the shallows in spring and the mepps is deadly.

 

[PAkev]

Re: Musky vs. Saltwater baits

Teamstrommer,<br /><br />Been there....Done That. The St. Lawrence offers some of the best fishing I've done. I've caught several Northerns there but only ever caught one juvenile musky. However, it has been my goal to boat a 40+ inch musky this year so I am trying to gear up for the task. Each year I try to get up there for the undebatable spring fishing but can never seem to make it. It is about a 5hr. trip up I-81 from my house pulling the boat. We usually camp at Grassy Point or Cedar Point State Parks so that the kids and wife can hang out on the beach while I am off fishing. Unfortunatey, this time of year isn't quite conducive to enjoying the beach and therefore is harder to convince the wife to visit the St. Lawrence in the spring. I am hoping that perhaps we can do a hotel that has a pool for the kids to enjoy one of these times.<br /> <br />I will keep your suggestion in mind and give it a try when I do get the opportunity to fish the St. Lawrence in the spring.