Needing Some Advice

[Esox_Magnum]

My list would be

1 9" weighted Wades Wobbler Black/Orange

2 Mag Dawg Walleye/Orange tail

3 Motoroil with Orange/gold blades DCG

4 DDD/Hellhound

[Bassinbob84]

Mine would be

#1 dbl 10 white/silver/black with hammered nickle blades

#2 shad krisco

#3 pacemaker black or walleye

#4 mad dawg some shade of walleye

I started out using #80 power pro and snapped a few lures off on big backlashes

I switched over to #80 masterbraid this summer and have had no problems since.

[cjac]

OK, I want a Treats or two! If Kellett and Underhill and Crooms, etc. like them, I guess it's hard for me to disagree. Shawn, let me know what/when is available (Kellett may be biased....) . Get busy dude....

Hugo: I mentioned the Believer, but in the 8", the 10" is about as versatile as they come in the right hands, both trolled and casted. 8" jointed is a very productive bait with it's loose hips. I also like the 6" straight (more available the Swim Wizz) for tigers, red head/white body has been good as well as the perch color.

Glad to see, or not see, a few that I really like, loose lips sink ships. Squeak, squeak.....is the sound.

Here's one to look up: NUG Tackle. I got a few from a benefit auction a couple years ago and I really like them. Really thick tied hair bucktails that almost make a weed-free cone in the water around the hook. I've boated several on them and the smaller ones are a hit with the tiger muskies too.

Can't conclude without a callout for a jig 'n' pig. Cheap to buy, easy to fish, and with a good trailer thumpimg its hard to beat. Just bummed Mr Twister dropped the 9" Exude Shad tail in the best colors. I really liked them on an Esox Cobra jig. Thanks to RK's advice, I realized the EC jig is better than the J-Mac jigs. Tried it to believe it, but they are a better jig all around, far superior hook above all. Stange loves the J-Macs and writes about them often; maybe I can get his address and sell my lot off to him!

One comment on line: Throwing DCGs and Super Models is done one set-up for me; that one will get 100# line this year for reasons of reducing line speed coming off the reel with a reel (Saltist 40 with a KT Pro Edge 9' rod) with that much capacity, and the skill/backlash issue with a hack like me. The rest will see Cortland Masterbraid 80, and a couple light ones will go 50#.

Pardon the ramble, but yeah, the winter blues have set in in fill force.

Good luck to all in 2010...

Chris

[cjac]

Forgot to mention the double 8 Showgirls are a great option for those not equipped with the heavy-duty stuff. They work too for sure......

[Shawn Kellett]

Cjac, good call on the jig. A jig and reaper/lizard can out fish anything 3-1 in the right conditions. But we can put that one under a "bass lure" so it doesn't count towards the 4.

I'm painting right now so let me know what color Treats you want. I've got about 50 or so I'm doing at the moment. Drop me a line at [email protected] and we'll fix you up.

[Shawn Kellett]

Since we've all decided we only need four, what to do with the other 100???

Ummmm, only 100?????

[scsavre]

Does a lucky rabbits foot, lucky horseshoe, and a 4 leaf clover count? If they do, get yourself a nice big blade bait. If not go with the other baits.

You will need all of them in the beginning.

[RK]

Hiya -

If it's 4 lures:

#1 and #2: 2 single spin spinnerbaits - one white, one black. Can change blades to fish at any speed and from top to bottom, and in any cover situation. There is no more versatile muskie lure. Period.

#3 - 8-inch solid Believer. Almost as versatile as a spinnerbait. Cast, troll, deep, shallow... Cast it out and reel it in. Fish do the rest.

#4. Some kind of topwater. I'd choose a Topper Stopper. Most would choose a TopRaider/Pacemaker tail-spinning type.

If you could add one more - a Bomber Long-A.

[Scoot]

Hiya -

If it's 4 lures:

#1 and #2: 2 single spin spinnerbaits - one white, one black. Can change blades to fish at any speed and from top to bottom, and in any cover situation. There is no more versatile muskie lure. Period.

#3 - 8-inch solid Believer. Almost as versatile as a spinnerbait. Cast, troll, deep, shallow... Cast it out and reel it in. Fish do the rest.

#4. Some kind of topwater. I'd choose a Topper Stopper. Most would choose a TopRaider/Pacemaker tail-spinning type.

If you could add one more - a Bomber Long-A.

Those will never work! They're not big enough and were made way too long ago. Bomber Long-A?... heck, that's a walleye crank! Don't listen to RK, he didn't even recommend a huge bucktail or a single Bulldawg!!!

[Musky Buck]

80 pound tufline. Friend had mega power pro problems and he watches me year after year with tufline have no issues except eventually it fades toward white, that's telling you you go a lot and need to respool to your filler. In my boat in 22 years 95% of my fish are bucktail or topwater, sure it's a faith thing but I have seen thousands of muskie shows or so it seems and it's hard to have crankbait faith when you never get a strike and seldomly see them used on shows. I own no rubber or cranks and never will and feel I'm not missing a thing. I also only fish times when I know it's a topper or bucktail bite. They do have a place, but not in my boat. When you average more than a fish a trip for the summer it's hard to not go with your own theory.

[Scoot]

Musky Buck, I've found the same thing. All of the lures I never use don't catch any fish in my boat either...

[AWH]

All of the lures I never use don't catch any fish in my boat either...

I think we need to have some type of scientific study on this...

Aaron

[cbrooks]

Aaron, its people like us that put your kids through college JK. You probably got a good idea what everyones favorite lures are. Whats your top four selling lures?

[AWH]

My kids' college funds are in very sad shape. You guys need to spend more. But luckily I don't have any kids, so they'll be alright! I don't think my top selling lures would surprise anyone. You can't go to any lake and not see people casting double 10s or big rubber. So not surprisingly, Cowgirls and Bulldawgs are far and away the top sellers. Some other great sellers are Phantom Softails (there's a good reason Muskie Treats were mentioned in this thread!), Shallow Invaders, Medussas, Super Ds.

As has been mentioned here a few times...spinnerbaits. Hard to find a more versatile bait and a definite must have, in my opinion. You can't go wrong with Rad Dogs.

Aaron

[cbrooks]

Aaron ,do you have muskie treats in your selection(I couldn't find it)?

[AWH]

You'll have to go through Shawn on the Muskie Treats. I just mentioned them because I would call them almost a "Premium" version of the Phantom Softail that have been around a little longer. Shoot Shawn an email on those if you're interested in one and he'll take care of you. Otherwise the Phantoms will serve you well too. They're both great baits.

Aaron

[cbrooks]

Thanks Aaron, I will see if I can find a email for Shawn.

[AWH]

Shawn's post from 8:38 this morning on this thread has his email.

Aaron

[cbrooks]

Thanks again Aaron.

[dudeness]

I read through these forums all the time and rarely feel the need to post anything because everybody else usually has it covered without my 2 cents. Anyway.. just thought I would mention that I've done business with Aaron at mto a couple times and his service is awesome! Reading through this thread and many others I just cant help but think what a class act he is. Thanks for all your help.

PS. I'll be calling or emailing you soon for some Cortland Spectron or Masterbraid.

[Scoot]

...just thought I would mention that I've done business with Aaron at mto a couple times and his service is awesome! Reading through this thread and many others I just cant help but think what a class act he is...

I've ordered a lure or two from him too. He's always taken great care of me and done a great job. He'll definitely get my business in the future too.

[cbrooks]

Dito that, his prices are low and there's free shipping if you order 75$ or more.

Last year I was buying bulldogs from regular sporting goods store in my area and it was made out of that cheap plastic that falls apart. Muskyinnovation change there soft plastic material to something more durable last year. Muskie-Tackler had them and Aaron discounted the ones that had the old stlye plastic. You always know what your getting at MTO. I'll be ordering some steath leaders softplastics baits from Aaron in the near future.MTO is one of the sponsers of this site just click on the icon below the musky forum.

[RK]

Those will never work! They're not big enough and were made way too long ago. Bomber Long-A?... heck, that's a walleye crank! Don't listen to RK, he didn't even recommend a huge bucktail or a single Bulldawg!!!

First muskie in the boat last June - Bomber Long-A. Last muskie in the boast last November - Bomber Long-A...

I throw big stuff too - Like Cowgirls, and love Bait Rigs double-bladed spinnerbaits, but day in and day out... I could make a pretty good living on the 4 I mentioned. I bet I've heard more first time muskie anglers shout "I've got one!" with an 8" believer on their line than all the other lures put together. Impossible to fish them wrong...

[cjac]

Impossible to fish them wrong...

Sorry Rob, but I have to disagree..... Took your advice and put a 8" Believer on for my brother to use to finally get him his first muskie. Going well until he launches the rod tip straight up in the air, rocketing the bait out of the water and skyward. I said "What the heck are you doing?"

"Right there!! There was a muskie right there!"..... as he's pointing down at the water just below him with a shaky voice. He saw the fish, freaked out, and yanked the bait out of the water at 100 mph!! Let's just say I gave him a hard time about it all day....

Nothing is impossible!!!

[RK]

Originally Posted By: RK

Impossible to fish them wrong...

Sorry Rob, but I have to disagree..... Took your advice and put a 8" Believer on for my brother to use to finally get him his first muskie. Going well until he launches the rod tip straight up in the air, rocketing the bait out of the water and skyward. I said "What the heck are you doing?"

"Right there!! There was a muskie right there!"..... as he's pointing down at the water just below him with a shaky voice. He saw the fish, freaked out, and yanked the bait out of the water at 100 mph!! Let's just say I gave him a hard time about it all day....

Nothing is impossible!!!

Bahahaha... Yeah - seen that a few times. "There's one!" with the rod straight up in the air. Also the "Figure-8" that turns into a 200mph 12" diameter donut... Sad deal..