Musky America Magazine May 2025 Edition Thank you for visiting Musky America Magazine! The Musky show season is over, and it is time to start preparing for soft water considerations. This month’s edition has tips on getting ready for the 2025 Musky season. Craig Sandell Owner and Fellow Musky Angler The Icons shown here are at the bottom of the Magazine pages. *All Rights Preserved©*
Perspective By Craig Sandell © 2025 During the off-season, most of us will attend Musky shows. These shows provide an opportunity to see the new lures and equipment on the market, but it also gives us a chance to renew old friendships and make some new ones. With all of the off-season things that garner our attention, we tend to lose sight of the fact that, as people who hunt for this shovel nosed prehistoric throw back, we are in the minority among others who fish. I can remember (having never fished for Musky) my first time looking in the throat of a mounted Musky. The impressive array of teeth on the jaws and on the roof of the mouth was a shock. I had never considered that fish had teeth. Even before learning how to cast using the baitcasting reel, I had to learn how to reliably tie the fishing line to a leader. My next memory was learning how to use a bait-casting reel. Mastering the mechanism of casting in free-spool and feathering the spool with my thumb to prevent backlashes was a taxing process. And then, there was being introduced to the different types of artificial lures. I had to get familiar with surface lures,
bucktails, spinners and jerk baits. Each lure type had its own set of guidelines during retrieve. All these learning activities took place over 30+ years ago when I first became addicted to hunting Musky. Over that time, I have managed to gain insight into the nuances of using all the lure types as well as choosing the best line and finding a reel and a net and a trolling motor and, of course, the electronics. I am pretty sure that all of you have had similar experiences as you worked to perfect your Musky fishing skills. The most important thing I have learned is that, regardless of how much success I have had, there is always something more to learn. Tight Lines
Musky Widow's Lament By T. Gayle © 2025 I am a "Musky Widow." Oh, my husband is alive and well, but just before and during Musky season, he "isn’t all there." He is concentrating on getting his equipment ready, on finding out when the ice went out, how the weeds are growing and he actually goes to the gym to work on building his back and shoulder muscles so he can cast better. I, on the other hand, think Musky fishing is simply boring. I am inept with a casting rod, a magnet for biting bugs, uninterested in discussions about "drop-offs," and water temperature. Although I tried Musky fishing, we decided that our marriage would be better served if my husband went fishing and I didn’t. This suits both of us. I am a mildly interested bystander—with the emphasis on bystander. Musky fishing is his obsession, but it definitely isn’t mine. I have known several people who have what can only be termed an obsession. We used to have a neighbor who was determined that his lawn would rival any golf course green. A dandelion was a call to battle. He spent more time and money on seed, fertilizer and almost shaving each blade than any professional gardener would. His wife and I agreed that this was simply his way of having fun so we adopted the call, "If it makes him happy…" Lately, however, I have been hearing about an apparently heated argument between two groups: one group thinks there is something less than "kosher" about current musky world records
and another group is defending these records. I grew up around men and boys who could argue forever over who was the best baseball player of all times, who really deserved to be in the Hall of Fame and who could be counted on as a relief pitcher in a really tight game. The difference is, these men seemed to take a real delight just in the discussion. No one became angry because someone else held a different opinion. They already knew what the other guy would say and would provoke an argument just for the sake of argument. It made them happy…. The current argument about the world record musky doesn’t seem to be that kind of argument. There seems to be real anger and even personal rancor involved. I think it’s time for a reality check. Musky fishing is considered sport fishing. A sport is supposed to be some activity that you do for enjoyment. Yes, I realize that professional ball players make millions of dollars to "play" a sport—but at that point is it really a "sport," or is it a business? Do you fish because you enjoy the sport or do you fish because you truly expect to catch a world record? If you fish for enjoyment, you believe that just being on the water makes the day a good day— catching a legal fish just makes the day better. There is no way we can accurately rewind time. History is just that—a story. History can also be interpreted in various ways depending on the point of view of those who are interpreting. A case in point is our own Revolutionary War. The American Colonists considered George Washington a hero. England considered him a traitor. It all depends on which side of the story you are standing when it is written down. Did Louie Spray catch the world record musky? From the available evidence, it appears that he did. No one has been able
to find actual evidence that he didn’t. Any disagreement with the proffered evidence is based on interpretation. Did Cal Johnson catch a world record musky? Again, from the available evidence, it appears that he did. If he didn’t, there should be some credible evidence of that fact—not just someone’s interpretation. From my admittedly "lay person" point of view, who cares? If my husband catches a fish larger than the monster on our wall, I will be excited for him because he will be thrilled. He will be excited because he caught one bigger than his biggest catch so far. To him, musky fishing is a sport. It gives him enjoyment. It makes him happy…. I feel sorry for those who use time and energy to "prove" or "disprove" something that makes no difference to 99.999% of the world. Why is this such a big issue? Will it change the way people fish for musky? Will it improve the equipment that they buy? Will it improve the way lakes are managed? Will it make them happy? Men like to think that they are superior to women because they don’t gossip. They discuss serious issues. To my female ears, this resembles the sound of women gossiping about other women over incredibly petty issues. I’m tempted to call this a "cat fight." Of course, I am just a non-fishing woman. I could be wrong—but I don’t think I am.
The Musky Fisherman’s Net Dilemma Written By Craig Sandell With Input From Ron Heidenreich And Joel Wick © 2023 The fact is that many Musky anglers, at one time or another, fish alone. When you tie into a Musky in the mid 30s or greater while fishing alone, a cornucopia of problems present themselves…not the least of which is landing the Musky. Netting a Musky by yourself will have you trying to get your catch under enough control to handle the rod with one hand while manipulating the net with the other. I refer to this critical procedure as “doing the Musky dance”. Once you net your Musky, the boat chaos is just beginning. The rambunctious netted Musky raises concerns of keeping the net under control while you get the tools you need to safely remove hooks from your catch. In addition, you have to deploy your bump board or other measuring device. Then there is getting your camera ready to snap a photo before you release the Musky. Ron Heidenreich And Joel Wick have come up with an innovative solution to addressing the chaos of the catch. This video link will give you an idea of how a simple addition to your boat can help to reduce the boat chaos once the Musky is in the net: https://youtu.be/F9Xp6Rc7Q7A?t=88 This addition to your boat is even more important when you are fishing alone. Ron fishes out of a Ranger. The pictures below will show you how Ron attached the net straps after sweating the ends of the luggage straps together.
The Ranger has convenient mounting areas where net straps can be easily attached. During our conversation, Ron mentioned that he would have added some additional length to the net straps, so make sure that
you have enough of a loop in the net straps to easily insert the net handle into one or both of the net straps. With our conversation in mind, I set out to add net straps to my Tuffy. I first had to find Velcro straps. I was able to find some adjustable Velcro straps at the ACE Hardware store. The mounting holes were a bit too large, but the addition of washers that would accommodate the 1½ inch mounting screws solved the problem. You will have to drill a starting hole to accept the mounting hardware before you attach the Velcro strap. You should leave some room, so the straps are free to swivel, as shown below.
Once you have installed the net straps, they should look something like the above picture. Once the straps are installed, you will need to check that the net strap can easily fit onto the net handle. NOTE: The Velcro strap can be adjusted to secure the net.
The picture above shows the net handle secured to the Velcro strap with the net bag resting on the gunnel of the boat. The net can be adjusted by sliding the net handle back to keep the Musky from jumping out of the net. This is an easy way to keep the net secure, so your hands are free to get landing tools and get the bump board or other measuring device ready to measure your Musky as well as a camera to take a photo. My sincere thanks to Ron and Joel for sharing this innovative approach to making landing and releasing a Musky catch a bit easier. Tight Lines!
Is It Party Time? Or Is It Musky Time? Rob Meusec © 2020 We have all been there. You know what I mean. Your boat partner can't get up in the morning…. Your day of fishing has been cut short…You are embarrassed by your partners boat etiquette…. This may sound familiar to you. It's all too familiar to me. I was fishing in a musky tournament. It was Sunday morning and our 2-man team was 4 inches short of first place going into the last day. My partner was out late the night before and was partying pretty hard and stumbled into our cabin about about 2:30AM. The tournament hours for the last day were 7:00AM to 12:30 PM. I was up and ready to go at 5:30AM and started getting my buddy up. It was his boat we were using. I tried and tried to get him going but nothing would work. He was trashed and down for the count. We never got out on the water that day…Bummer! I was fishing with two guys on a new lake in late July and we were scouting out some water to hit hard after lunch. We went into this bar on the lake for a burger and then planned to fish the spots we knew would hold some good Muskies. Well, 3 hours later, they decided it was time to go fishing. Well, as you can imagine, the rest of the day was not really fishing, just cruising through the water with about 20 minutes of actually having baits in the water…Bummer!
When you don't have your own boat and are at the mercy of your partner to fish and fish hard, your trip can end with bad feelings. Friendships can be at stake and/or tournaments can be lost and worst of all your personal safety can be in jeopardy. I have lost a great fishing partner due to drinking. He turned me on to my first 20 pounder. I thought he was my mentor. Alcohol took its toll on our friendship and our fishing. There is a time and a place for everything. When you only have a few weeks a year to pursue your passion, you want to make the best of it. Please don't ruin it for the people who really care about you. Think about the big picture. If you like to party, that's ok. Be responsible and think of your friends. They chose you as a fishing buddy for a reason. You both share the passion to fish for Muskies. Some of the discussions that occur in a boat during a day of Muskie fishing are priceless. You know what I mean. You have been there. Don't jeopardize that camaraderie. It's a bond that could last a lifetime.
The Underwater Seasons Craig Sandell © 2010 During the course of the Musky season, each body of water undergoes changes in its water temperature as well as changes in the oxygen that is dissolved in the water. As the underwater seasons change, the Musky react to those changes driven by their need to eat and their need to breath. The successful Musky angler must tune into these changes. He/she must be prepared to be flexible with regard to lure selection as well as conducting a better evaluation of water and weather conditions. Late season fishing can be marked by drastic weather changes and dramatic changes in the condition of the water. As the water begins to warm after the long winter months and as emergent vegetation adds oxygen to the water, Musky become more active and settle into their seasonal patterns. For the greater part of the Musky season, most bodies of water are locked into the characteristic thermal distribution commonly referred to as the "summer thermal water pattern". The graphic shown here at the left demonstrates this summer thermal pattern. Water at the surface tends to change gradually in water temperature and tends to have higher levels of oxygen than the water layers beneath it. The thermocline is sort of like a buffer area between the warmer surface water and the cooler deeper water. The cooler deeper water tends to have the lowest level of oxygen during this period of time.
Musky tend to populate the upper water levels when they are active and the lower water levels when they are inactive. The hotter the top layer of water, the more likely Musky are to seek a comfortable temperature at greater depths. At these greater depths, they are less likely to be aggressively active. As summer transitions to fall and the water looses its heat to the longer cooler evenings, the temperature difference between the thermal layers of the lake become less distinct. Most of the oxygen is still located in the surface layer of the water and Musky tend to be more active during this time. Typically, this time is associated with late August and early September. Temperatures will vary depending upon the geographic location and the depth of the body of water so you should keep a close watch upon the water that you plan to regularly fish. The graphic at the right will provide you some perspective regarding this gradual shift in water temperatures. Relentlessly, the seasons move on toward fall. The nights get cooler robbing the water of heat as the warming effect of the sun diminishes due to its lower position in the sky. The water temperature tends to equalize the temperature between the upper warmer and more oxygen rich layer and the cooler less oxygen rich lower layer. The thermocline is still in place but as you can see from the graphic at the left the water is on the verge of homogenizing into a uniform
temperature distribution. This time is a prime Musky activity window but the window is very short lived. It is very difficult to accurately predict the exact time of this water temperature circumstance. You'll just have to trust to "luck" if you are trying to hit this period on the head. NOTE: One should also remember that, depending on the spring warm up, pre-summer and Imminent turnover are relatively the same water conditions.Finally, the water succumbs to the persistence of the changing season and "turnover" takes place. The thermocline barrier disappears as the water temperature becomes uniform throughout the body of water. This is typically a very slow period for Musky activity. The blending of the oxygen rich upper water and the oxygen poor lower water causes the overall oxygen level to be less than what the Musky are used to having. The Musky require time to adjust to the new oxygen level as well as to the fact that they are "stuck" with a uniform lower water temperature. As you might suspect, this is not a good time to Musky fish. Every body of water will experience turnover on its own timetable so it is very hard to predict. If you plan to fish late in the season, you must "keep your finger on the pulse" of the body of water that you plan to fish.The Musky soon acclimate to the changes in the water oxygen levels and the temperature. Around late September or
early October the Musky put on their winter feed bag and take advantage of the seasonal movement of forage fish. This is typically the time when you have a better than average chance to tie into a 25 to 45 pound fish. This time of year, however, is not for the "fair weather" Musky angler. You can plan on the weather being wet, cold, snowy and generally miserable.Hopefully, this article has shed some light on the mystery of turnover and its effect upon your chances to have a Musky encounter. As has been said in other articles posted on this website, Musky fishing has a large element of luck associated with any angler success. The best thing you can do is be prepared with as much information as you can muster about the water you are fishing and then trust in the "Musky Spirts" to favor your efforts.
The Bait Casting Reel Craig Sandell © 2013 The Bait casting reel is the weapon of choice for most Muskie and Northern Pike Anglers. The Abu Garcia reel line is probably the most reels used because of its moderate price and product support, however many anglers elect to use the higher priced Shimano and Penn reels. In this reel review, you will find write ups on the Calcutta 400D, a variety of Abu Garcia Reels and the Penn 965/ Before I get into the reel reviews, I want to encourage all of you to take advantage of the off season and have your reels refurbished. We all have our favorite reels and when one stops working it is like losing an old friend. I was on the brink of losing my favorite reels, the Abu Garcia 6600 SSC3 reel because I did not treat them with respect. Luckily, my good friend Rich Reinert, got me connected with Mat's Reel Repair. I am pleased to say that Mat did one heck of a job on my reels and I will be sending them to him during the off season from now on.
The Calcutta 400D The Calcutta 400D from Shimano is a relative newcomer to the bait casting scene. It carries an MSRP of around $380.00. Don't get turned off by the price...remember the adage that 'You Get What You Pay For'. With this reel that appears to be the case. Unlike other reels on the market, this reel body is made of a solid aluminum block...it is not a casting. The use of 5 bearings results in a very smooth retrieve action. It has a 5.1:1 retrieve ratio and the "backbone" to handle large double bladed bucktails as well as the plastic swim baits from Tackle Industries. If you are using 50 pound Tuf-line or PowerPro, you can fit 275 yards onto the reel. Probably the two most unique features of the reel are the drag star and the Quickfire approach to casting. As you can see from the photo, the drag star is out side of the reel power handle. This should make it easier to adjust your drag in the thick of a battle. the drag star is detented and is accurate and remains stable throughout the casting day. The Quickfire approach to casting disengages the line leveler when the thumb bar is depressed. For those of you, like myself, who are used to the line leveler being engaged during a cast, this
is a bit disconcerting. The concept put forward by Shimano is that by disengaging the line leveler, there is less gear drag as the line is stripped from the reel. The lack of gear drag results in longer and smoother casts. Shimano contends that its field testing had demonstrated that the disengaged level wind has no bad effect one the line once the level wing gearing is re-engaged during retrieve. I will be putting that to the test in June and I will report back as to my field test results. Assuming everything is as advertised, this looks like a great buy for the Musky angler who has the money and plans to take meticulous care of his reel investment. 2014 Update In 2013 I abused the 400D for about 5 weeks. Let me explain; I am very hard on my reels. I leave them out in the rain and sun and I don't always back off the drag when the fishing day is done. If a reel can put up with my persistent abuse, it will likely serve the more "reel friendly" musky angler well. After about 5 weeks of this abuse the drag failed. Regardless of how I tried, the drag would not tighten. I took the reel off the rod and let it dry out for a couple of days with the drag backed all the way off. When I put the reel back on rod, the reel worked for about 3 casts and then the drag failed again. After this lapse of performance, I cannot recommend this reel.
The Abu Garcia The Abu Garcia family of reels comes in many variations and is likely the most used reel for Musky angling. You will find that the models 5500-C3 (pictured) and 6500 are most suited for the Musky angler. The price will vary depending on where you purchase the reel, however the range is $49 to $69. Product Review: This family of reels demonstrates nominal performance on the water. The drag system is adequate, however, it will tend to loosen and tighten with extended use. Line capacity is adequate for 40 lb. test line. The workmanship is adequate and the retrieve ratio varies from 4.7:1 to 6.3:1 depending upon the model. The major problem with the family of reels is its longevity. That is to say that the reel (those manufactured in the 1990's) has a useable life of perhaps two years. A particular annoyance is the propensity of the reels to exhibit a "free spool" failure with heavy use. The failure is directly related to the plunger mechanism used to 'arm' the free spool for casting. The illustration shown here will provide you some perspective. The spring arrowed in red is the key to the whole mechanism. When the free spool plunger is depressed, this spring is stretched placing tension on the internal mechanism. When you turn your reel handle to begin your retrieve, this spring contracts placing the free spool plunger in its original position. Without this spring, the free spool plunger will not
'pop up' when you begin your retrieve. Unfortunately, this spring is made of very cheap material. The persistent amount of expansion & contraction of the spring results in fatigue of the material. Heavy use will result in failure of the free spool mechanism usually at the most inopportune time. Abu Garcia is aware of the problem with the 5500-C3 and our other classic round reels (6500-C3,6000,etc.) from the late 80's and early 90's. At that time changes were being made in the automatic assembly line, which mainly affected the anti-reverse dog/ratchet and the clutch return spring. Since that time we have made a number of design changes in the classic round series of reels which have made them more reliable than ever before. However, due to the loyalty of our customers, many of these reels are still being used. If you own one of our reels with any of these problems please call 1-800-228-4272 and speak with one of our representatives about how to get warranty service performed on your reel. We want all Ambasadeur owners to be happy with their choice and will do whatever it takes to keep them fishing. The Abu Garcia Revo Winch Reel The Revo Winch reel is a relatively new addition to the Abu Garcia family of reels. It is fashioned after the Revo Toro with the same performance enhancements but with one major difference…a lower retrieve ratio of 4.6:1.
Since many Musky anglers are using the larger cowgirl lures (Double 10 and 13), the need for a reel that is light weight with the balls to handle those larger heavier lures had become apparent. As with any new product release, there has been a lot of hype around the reel with Musky notables lending their endorsement; but those endorsements are always suspect given the ‘Cash For Endorsement’ practice that infects the sport of Musky fishing. Since I actually go out and buy the reels and products I review, I am beholding to no one. I loaded the Winch reel with 80# test TUF-Line plus (White) and used it during my September Musky outing. In addition, I talked with other anglers who were throwing the larger lures to get their take on the reel…Here are their Pro & Con comments distilled down: Con:
I don’t like the reel because I cannot get the speed I like when retrieving the larger lures. I like to really burn the larger lures and this reel makes me bust my butt to get the lure action that I like. Pro: It is a really great reel. It has the larger lure starting from the first crank and its performance makes it easy to throw those big boys. Here is my take on the Reel: I too found that the reel gave me good lure performance when I used it with the larger lures. I did not feel that the retrieve ratio was too slow and the reel was certainly a consistent performer. The drag system and brake system were consistently predictable and the weight of the reel was comparable to the 5500 and 6500 Abu Garcia reels. I also discovered an additional advantage while using the reel. As many of you know, I like to use surface lures a lot. Almost all surface lures are better when retrieved at a slower pace which seems to entice a Musky strike. There are many times when I have to apply a little self-discipline and slow my retrieve down when using a 5.3:1 or 6.4:1 reel. I found that if I use the Winch with surface lures like creepers, flap tails and hawg wobblers, I got better lure action. I also found that when I used the Winch when throwing a water thumper or Ry-Lure, I did not have the problem of ‘lure roll’ that is a side effect of too fast of a retrieve. I even found that I liked the slower retrieve with a tally wacker.
All things considered, I am very pleased with my purchase of the Revo Winch. I will likely buy another. It has also reminded to me that faster is NOT always better. Abu Garcia 6600 C4 As I begin to make ready for the 2006 Musky season, I recently purchased an Abu Garcia 6600 C4 reel. I purchased the reel because I wanted a reel with smooth action and a 6.3:1 retrieve ratio. The 6600 C4 has 4 stainless steel bearing, a 'FastCast' thumb bar and a 6.3:1 retrieve ratio that should help with imparting action to surface lures without causing fatigue. Aside from its mechanical features, the reel has a cast aluminum casing with a dark blue finish and a contrasting gold finish for the reel, handle and drag star. The reel comes with a power handle and a combination mechanical and magnetic brake that should cut down on those 'professional overruns' (commonly referred to as backlashes). Another interesting feature is the dimpled area of the reel. This is meant to provide a surface for the line to grab as you load the reel with line. Oh yes, the reel also has a 'line click' mode for those of you that want to hang a sucker or do some shoreline sucker fishing. I plan to load this reel with 50 pound test standard TUF line.
All in all, I am pleased with the purchase, and I am chomping at the bit to put it to the test on the water. The reel cost me $90.00, which I consider an excellent value. During my 2013 fishing trip, I found that the reel worked well with light weight bucktails, surface baits and crank baits but had slippage problems with heavier lures and with jerk baits. A Great Reel…If You Can Find One In 2006, I participated in the Lake Chippewa Flowage Musky Tournament. A great feature of the tournament is that at each of the 3 tournament meetings there is a prize drawing for all of the folks registered in the tournament. I was fortunate to win an Abu Garcia 6600 SSC3 reel. I had never heard of the reel or seen it for sale anywhere. As it turns out, the reel is provided by Abu Garcia as a promotional item and it is not generally available over the counter. I am always up to try a new reel, so I loaded the reel with 50 pound test Tuf-Line and put it to work.
From the first cast, I found myself impressed by the reel. It has a 5.3:1 gear ratio and great performance characteristics. • The centrifugal brake is configured to provide a wide range of casting control. • The reel has 3 bearings and crowned brass gears which give the reel a smooth feel. • The carbon matrix drag system is very responsive and very predictable. I would encourage any of you who come across the reel in a store, to seriously consider adding it to your compliment of reels. The reel goes for about $70.00 - $90.00. PENN International 965 This is a new reel on the market. It is fashioned after popular solid cast aluminum reels. It has a 4.75:1 retrieve ratio, stainless steel gears and 3 stainless steel ball bearings. The suggested retail price is $220.00
Product Review: Since this is a new reel, we do not have any field test data for it. The reel is well made, however, not all of the gears are stainless steel. The reel has a large spool capacity which is well suited for the heavier line that Muskie anglers use. The drag system is, based upon my limited field testing, consistent regardless of the size and weight of the lure. The reel, because of its size, is a bit on the heavy side. The price tag will be a bit steep for many Musky anglers. The reel Does NOT come with any accessories like a tool for disassembly or lubricant...one would think that they could afford to include some lubricant given the price tag. Field Report - July 1998 After less than 100 casts, this reel failed. The failure mode is the inability of the 'level rewind' mechanism to properly place line back on the reel after a cast. Penn's factory repair facility gave no explanation or indication that this is a wide spread failure, however, it is unlikely that they would be forthcoming with such latent defect information. Although we would like to be able to recommend a 'Made In America' reel, the poor quality in performance of this reel prevents me from recommending this one. If you are determined to spend $200+ on a reel, you need to consider other reels on the market. Field Report Follow-up - 1999 Season After waiting about 3 months for Penn to repair this reel, I was ready to try again. I should note that Penn provided no explanation as to why the reel malfunctioned. I used the reel during the 1999 season without a problem. The reel is a bit heavy but is a good performer. Is it worth $220.00?...I don't believe
so...perhaps $150.00 max. My suggestion, buy two or three Abu Garcia reels.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO FISH MUSKIES? Louie Spray Speaks Spring and fall are generally considered the best times, but it hasn't proved out that way for me. I caught one World Record, 59½ pounds in July and another one, 61 lbs., 13 oz., in August. During either of these months they are supposed to have sore teeth and not bite. But it stands to reason they have to eat, sore teeth or not. So Muskies can be caught during the hot season, but fish them deeper. Early morning is by far the best time, if you want to fish the shore line. If you can find a good Muskie lake where there are bars quite far out from the shore, say 8 to 12 feet deep, keep passing over it with any good bait right down about a few feet off the bottom and you are apt to get yourself a nice fish. River fishing is excellent late in the fall; fish sunny side of the stream. It is, I believe, impossible to place in writing the one best way to catch a Muskie, because I don't believe there is any one best way! So use your imagination and ingenuity. Don't be afraid or ashamed to try an idea that comes to mind, no matter how sharp the guy you are fishing with is supposed to be. Old timers, such as myself, flub our dub too! And by no means should you be ashamed to troll for them. It's a little work rowing the boat, but it's a darn good way to hook a Muskie. (Guides will kill me for mentioning this!) So, in conclusion, I just want to say that I don't pretend to be the best Muskie fisherman in the world, or to know everything there is to know about it, but if you will follow somewhat the routine as
herein outlined, you won't wind up being the worst Muskie fisherman either. Editor's Note: We hope that you have enjoyed these articles and perhaps picked up a tip or two. These articles are a glimpse back into the early days of Musky fishing before large outboard motors, trolling motors, depth finders and fancy reels. These articles show Louie Spray for what he really was: a man who loved to fish for Musky and who just happened to catch 3 World Records.
Some Fishing Tips By Al Denninger © 2014 Every fishing season we learn new tricks to improve and increase our enjoyment and hopefully our catch. Talking to people at sports shows, at my seminars, and in the course of a fishing day, I hear many interesting and informative fishing tips. The following are just a few of the fishing tips I feel are worthy of passing along. Keeping Night Crawlers Cool and Dry Keeping a nightcrawler in good condition can be hard, especially in a boat during the heat of a summer day. To keep your crawlers cool and dry in a boat for an extended period of time, simply place in the crawlers in a double sided worm box and then put the worm box in a five quart ice cream bucket that has been set in a large cooler containing ice. The ice will keep the crawlers cool while the ice cream bucket will keep the crawlers dry as the ice melts. The crawlers remain fresh, cool and dry even during the hottest summer day. Vertical Jigging When vertical jigging, your line can become twisted. To prevent this twisting, tying a small barrel swivel about 1ft. up from the jig.
Locate New Weeds This is one for the summer angler who plans on fishing walleye next May. Weed growth is at its peak in July and August. Locate weed beds on your favorite walleye lake for the following spring. Smart walleye fishermen realize that newly emerging weeds are prime early season walleye hot spots. Scout on a clear day. Put on your polarized sunglasses and cruise the shoreline and shallow bars, visually seeking cabbage and coon tail weed beds and mark them on your map. Deeper weeds are also much easier to spot on the electronics at this time of year. For the River Fishermen Rising dirty river conditions often mean a slow, tough bite. A trick that works well it is to go to a completely artificial lure presentation. Favorite lures for this technique include jigs with 2 inch twister tail, 2 inch double tails, or sassy shads. Apply a little fish sent and try fishing these plastic lowers against the current as much as possible. The current resistance against these plastic baits creates vibrations and presents a better target for the walleye. Vertical jigging and river fishing go together like Fridays and fish fries. To increase your chances of catching your next fish fry from a river, try this trick when the fishing actions slows down. Change your presentation by dragging your jig. Occasionally, lift it slightly off the bottom. Veteran river rats have found this change will trigger some of the non-aggressive fish. However, have plenty of jigs because you tend to snag more using this method.
Summer Walleyes Walleyes can be taken not only on crawlers and leeches during the summer months, but also on minnows. Minnows fall from favor with anglers not because they stop catching fish, but due to the fact that it is almost impossible to keep most species alive. Not so with the lowly "mud" minnow. Many fishermen know that mud minnows are dynamite for largemouth bass, but very few use them for walleyes. They are by far and away the best minnows for warm weather. Northern and Musky love them also. They stayed on a hook and remain a live much longer than any chub. A 3 inch "mud" tipped on a 1/16 ounce weedless jig worked through the weeds is tough to beat on certain lakes. A mud minnow will survive all day in the minnow bucket in 90° weather with no special handling. Try that with chubs and they are dead in an hour without ice and aeration. Musky Tips. Since most Musky strike a lure as it hits the water to within the first 3ft. of the retrieve, a shorter cast increases your odds of producing a strike. Make 1500 short casts of about 75 to 80ft. long. During an average day of a musky fishing, this will give you a 1/3 better chance of a strike then your partner who makes 1000 longer casts that day. Follow Ups. Many times when a musky follows your bucktail to the boat aggressively but does not strike...try casting out the same color pattern, only in a smaller overall size. Many times this will provoke a strike. With catch and release fishing, many well meaning anglers keep their catch out of the water longer than necessary. If your boat is
equipped with a live well, simply remove hooks from the Musky’s jaw while keeping the fish and the net in the water. Then place your hand along the gill plate, removing the fish from the net and placing it in the live well (pre-filled of course). This will give the fish time to regain its strength and allow you/or your fishing partner time to ready the camera. When all is set, hold the fish up supporting its weight with your other hand while your partner snaps a couple of quick pictures. Now, put the Musky back into the lake while holding the fish just above the tail. With a gentle back and forth a motion, the fish will soon pull away from you ready to fight again another day. You will have pictures of your prize and a special feeling that comes only with seeing this great fish swim away, hopefully to spawn again next spring. The key here is to never a keep a fish you plan on releasing out of the water any longer than you can hold your breath underwater! If your boat does not have a live well, simply keep the fish in the net alongside the boat. On bigger fish, this can get a little hairy, but it’s better than having a trophy that you intend to release flopping on the floor of your boat. Tight Lines
By Rob Meusec © 2010 I recently wrote an article about tackle management, a few hints to help keep you organized while on the water. The article basically described a system for taking only the tackle you need to fish for a day on your favorite water. Well, let's go one step further. I have been working on a system called Simplify. The system involves getting good at one thing at a time. The background for this system was taught to me in the early 70's when I was dappling with walleye fishing in the early spring. An old man saw me casting off a pier one early evening in May and asked" How's the fishin? I replied " kind of slow." He said " When you're done here, meet me up at the bar and we'll talk. So I packed up my gear and headed for the bar. I saw the old man at the bar and stood behind him cause there were no stools left. We exchanged pleasantries and after a round of shots he said: "You gotta get good at one thing at a time." I said "What do mean"? He said " Tomorrow when you go walleye fishing, take only a handful of jigs and a minnow bucket full of minnows. Fish everywhere with the jigs. Fish in the weeds, the rocks, the wood, the boat docks, the river channels, just fish everywhere but only use your jigs and minnows.
So, I went back to my cabin and took my big tackle box out and picked out all my jigs. It was hard not to take a few Rapalas, small Mepps and a couple of other baits, but I did what the old man suggested. At that time in my life I was a sponge for fishing knowledge. I had nothing to lose. The next morning after getting a bucket full of minnows, I got in the boat and instantly starting missing my old tackle box. All I had on the boat seat was a plastic bag full of jigs and a bucket of minnows. So I tried his method. I was very uncomfortable. Snagging jigs in wood, bringing back a jig full of weeds and always snagging the boat docks. But then I started to get the hang of things. I was forced to get better or not fish. I finally learned how to feel my way through the rocks, wood and weeds. A lift now and then, a pause, a jiggle, it was working. A couple of fish here and there started to show up. It wasn't a blockbuster day but it was a day that would last forever in my library of fishing knowledge. I really learned how to fish jigs-anywhere! When I came back in the late afternoon I asked the resort owner where the old man was. I wanted to thank him and show him how good I got at jig fishing. He said " He went back to Wisconsin Rapids this morning." I never saw him again but his knowledge will live with me forever. So let us get back to musky fishing. Does this article get you thinking about your musky fishing? Take a look at your musky arsenal. It's probably huge! If you want to improve your musky fishing production, get good at one thing at a time. Next time you go out, grab a handful of bucktails and leave everything else in the truck. Fish it slow, fish it fast, tick the weeds, bump the rocks, pitch it under the docks, glide it through the wood. You won't believe how good you'll get!
Picking The Right Rod For Muskie From: Len Hartman © 2000 - All Rights Reserved If you are a newcomer to Muskie fishing it's easy to pick a rod to catch Muskie with. If you are a regular Muskie fisherman, you are too set in your ways to make a change and nothing will convince you otherwise. But just for the heck of it, try a lighter rod one day, and notice with what ease you will be fishing and at the end of the day you won't feel so tired out. The jerk bait fisherman relies on a short stiff rod and his arms to catch his Muskie. As he gets older he soon goes to a lighter longer rod and wonders why his stubbornness didn't allowed him to change sooner. Jerk baits, being the bigger heavier type lures, one gets the idea that a five foot rod is the way to go. Now I have used the Suick lures and because of their weights soon whittled my size Suick plug. I found a five inch lure weighing three quarters of an ounce was perfect for my needs and took some good size Muskie on them. As I recall, a 37½ pounder was my limit, but the possibilities were there, it is just that I didn't allow enough fishing time with the lure. I fished the Suick on Lake St. Francis, one of the lakes created when they dammed the "Larry" [St. Lawrence]. This was as close as you could get to a typical Wisconsin lake. In casting with regular casting rods and level wind reels you pick the action by the size lure. A stiff tip 5 to 5½ feet long for one ounce or better lures. Here you add two feet by extending the arm
in the cast. Pure work, and only if you are in top physical condition will you be able to cast all day. You pick your line weight by your casting ability. Big lures heavy lines...that's the rule of thumb. While experienced jerk bait fishermen use lines to thirty pound test, you will find some going to fifty pound test lines. I don't know why because you are equipped to land a 500 pound fish with that test of line. Figure ten pounds [of Muskie] for each pound of line test. 99 out of a hundred Muskie fishermen are over tackled for their type of fishing and only because they dream of seventy pound Muskie. Most will never catch one over thirty pounds. The Muskie caught by experienced Muskie fishermen do, on occasion, top forty pounds, but they are few and far between. In tie casting rods, as you use smaller lures in Muskie fishing you can lower the weights of lines and switch to a medium tip. Here I would recommend the 5½ and six foot rods and a top quality reel. With the lighter outfit, you will rely more on the drag of the reel instead of the horsing tackle. As you go to ultra light lures you can drop to extra light rods and get back into the feel of top quality fishing with ultra light lines. Here you will reed the best reels money can buy. In spin fishing, you pick your rod by the lure weight. One ounce or better lures call for a 7 to 7½ foot stiff rod often referred to as a surf rod. The two hand grip rods work well, but you will tire out in a few hours of this grueling casting. Lines to fifteen pound test are adequate as the reel will do all the work. Use a top quality reel and try to buy a spinning reel that has limited bail spring breakage. You will find the American made reels in the larger size far surpass the foreign made reels. In spin fishing, it is a whole
new ball game. As you master the skills in landing good size Muskie, you can get more enjoyment out of going to lighter weight lure which means lighter rod and reel combinations. Using lures under three quarters of an ounce, you can go to medium weight rod and reel using lines to ten pound test. This way you can fish all day casting and not feel you are working but enjoying your Muskie fishing. If you desire to go ultra light in Muskie then figure you are ready for super fun in Muskie fishing. The ultra light outfit will have to be with lines under eight pounds. Here you pick the extra light tip in the six foot rod. Pick the limberness of your rod tip by the weight line you use. The lighter the line the more limber the tip. And, it want to go Ultra Light and fish lures to five - eight ounces, pick a fast taper rod with limber tip. Fishing ultra light for Muskie requires a sport fisherman rather than a meat fisherman. At the off set you will be loosing a lot of Muskie until you develop better methods of landing your Muskie. You soon find out you don't force a Muskie no matter how big he is. You land him by outwitting his moves during the fight, taking advantage of his mistakes. Since he lived to this size, he will offer you few...Good Luck! In trolling, most rods are seven foot long with a stiff tip. Seems the guides require this of their rods, knowing they will be guiding novice fishermen nine out of ten times. This allows the guide to use the boat where the fisherman don't know how to land a Muskie. Guiding is done with level wind reels in light Salt water class. Lines are usually mono 20 to 30 pound test. Hardly the way to get any real enjoyment in trolling. The guides found over the years this was the best way of eliminating novice fishermen mistakes.
If you troll alone with spin tackle you can get more enjoyment with your Muskie fishing and pick up more Muskie by going to a medium action rod 7 or 7½ feet long and drop to 10 to twelve pound test line. The best quality reel in heavy fresh water of light salt water action will fill the bill. When I guided I gave my fishing parties a medium action 7½ foot rod with a light action salt water spinning reel loaded with twelve pound test line. Never lost a Muskie to the outfit...only fishermen mistakes in not reeling when a Muskie charged toward the boat. Some guides use braided lines and flat line troll where the can be continuously trolling without bringing in the lures. Sort of like a boat ride where it's luck in the fishermen catching a Muskie rather than skill. Their theory being the more miles they cover the more fishing the fisherman is getting. I found the Great Lakes trollers covered twenty miles heading from one area to another making big circles. The St. Lawrence River Muskie guides pick areas that produce regularly and work each area for a spell then head to another area. The reason being that each area he covers has, over the years, produced Muskie. The individual fisherman that trolls alone soon reduces the weight of his tackle to meet his needs and skills. He soon realizes he is over equipped and starts experimenting in light weight outfits. Since only one out of ten thousand Muskie fishermen will ever use the fly on Muskie, you find the ones that do stay to heavier weight outfits. Rods 8 to 8½ foot are the rule with weight forward lines and a fifteen pound tippet. I found that a 9 or 9½ foot rod medium weight fast taper fly rod offered greater fishing ease and fought down the hooked Muskie faster. I stayed at the twelve and ten pound tippet and have on
occasion landed Muskie on tippets down to six pound test. I don't recommend the lighter tippets but it proves a point that if the Muskie is properly hooked where he can't use his teeth on your leader you and land him. My biggest was 40 pounds 6 ounces. Next one you catch, send me a letter, as I am interested in seeing how other fly rod Muskie fishermen are doing.
Intelligent Harvesting In Bone Lake.... It's a Question of Balance Craig Sandell © 2025 There have recently been movements to increase the minimum size limit for Musky to 48, 50 and even 55 inches, thereby assuring an almost 100% catch & release. For those of us who suffered through the "Bad Old Days" when almost every Musky caught was kept, the concept of a 100% catch and release regulation seems to make sense. There is, however, sound reasoning that indicates that intelligent harvesting of Musky in a fishery will actually make that fishery a better fishery. This reasoning is based upon the concept known as "Carrying Capacity." We all deal with the concept of "Carrying Capacity" every day. If you overload your truck or car you may break a spring, if you overload the electrical outlet you may blow a fuse and if you overload a fishery you may end up doing more harm than good. Preliminary findings from the Wisconsin DNR's study of Bone Lake brings the concept of carrying capacity into a clearer focus. Bone Lake has enjoyed the benefit of Musky stocking for many years. The larger size of the fingerlings released has increased the survival rate of stocked fish. Consequently, the Musky population is robust. However, the rate at which Musky are growing is less than what was expected. Indeed, the average size
of mature musky has actually declined. Bone Lake is right on the cusp of having too may fish chasing too little forage. As another example, lets take one of the Wisconsin lakes where a 50 inch limit has been imposed for no other reason than to attempt to create a "Trophy Fishery". Lac Courte Oreilles is identified by the DNR as a Class "B" lake. That means that the lake is not capable of sustaining a completely viable Musky population without some stocking intervention. The pyramid chart shown here demonstrates a normal profile for a fishery and, for the purposes of this discussion, we will assume that Lac Courte Oreilles was balanced in this manner prior to the 50 inch size limit. The Musky at the top of the pyramid represent a population of top line predator that is small enough so as not to put undue stress upon the other resources of the fishery. The population of the midlevel predators is larger than the Musky population but not so big as to overtax the forage base that occupies the lowest level of the fishery pyramid. As long as this fishery maintains a relative balance between these pyramid levels, the fishery will be healthy and productive within its capacity.
Now that Lac Courte Oreilles has a 50 inch Musky limit, the harvest of Musky will be significantly reduced. The Musky that are the "eating machines" will not be culled and will therefore place pressure upon the mid-level predators as they seek to satisfy their appetite. (This has been seen in Bone Lake.) The hour glass chart shown here is a projection of how the balance of the fishery may be distorted over time. As more and more Musky eat more of the mid-level predators, they make it more difficult for the mid-level predators to establish a mature spawning population. The numbers of the mid-level predator will decline making it harder for Musky to catch the fish they must in order to have normal growth patterns. As mid level predator numbers decline, the forage base will undergo a population expansion. These increased numbers will eventually place a greater burden upon the ecological system of the fishery. Unless the mid-level forage base is replenished, the fishery will move toward an imbalance that will eventually cause the collapse of the fishery. True, mid-level predators can have their populations increased by stocking. Of course, stocking is an expensive activity and with the imbalance at the top of the food chain, the only thing that stocking will accomplish will be to provide more food for the Musky. The other solution is to harvest some of the Musky and relieve the
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