first lure for opener

[fishinbros]

does anyone have any idea on the best lures for early season? I was thinking a small bulldog but I'm not sure

[musky796]

Usually the smaller the the better. Smaller bucktail or jerkbaits. This year is different the water temp is way up from last year. I had 72 the otherday walleye fishing and we had the the second week of aug last year! I wouldnt be afraid to throw some topwater either.

[mainbutter]

I'm in the same boat.

I'm going to throw gliders, small bucktails, and some swimbaits that I've been tearing up the pike with and see if that stirs anything. I'm keeping my lures small and waiting until high summer to start throwing bigger stuff like double 10s and mag dawgs.

[Bassinbob84]

With way the water is i'm going to try big lures first. Krisco's, dbl 10's, topwater, and mag dawgs. If that doesn't pan out I'll be working my way smaller. I saw a post spawn fish resting 3 weeks ago while crappie fishing. They should be getting ready for big lures I'm hoping.

[JRedig]

Blades bigger than my hand, this should be fun!

It really depends on so many things...time of day, water temp, water color, size of lake, etc.

[Nick Kuhn]

Wi DNR listed it's top northern zone opener lures as medium sized jerkbaits followed by smaller bucktails. I got one last Saturday on a Sneaky Pete (that I bought for $1 at RK's garage sale non-the-less).

But as always most strikes will come on whatever you are most confident in.

[Musky Buck]

Less concerned about the lure and more concerned about their attitude and is it a morning, afternoon, or evening bite and I'm with J's second line 2 posts ago. Checking records we've caught at least 1 fish 17-21 openers so we'll likely go with that lure, I need a repeat of last year, 52.5" 10 minutes into the season. Good Luck and let the combat fishing begin.

[fishinbros]

I just bought a small natural sucker uptown dog and a tinsel bucktail with one decent sizee bait. Its smaller than the cow girls I throw. Will these work?

[brad coin]

a WTD,,,,ducklings are out

[goblueM]

bass fishing yesterday had 3 or 4 musky blowups on a 3 inch spook... so small is potentially good option

then again my buddy caught a 39 on a mag dawg on wisconsin opener last week, so big works too

[rugbymn]

bass fishing yesterday had 3 or 4 musky blowups on a 3 inch spook... so small is potentially good option

So you're saying my neighbor's poodle "wandered into my truck" for nothing?

I guess I'll have to stick with a Showgirl.

[10,000 Casts]

It doesn't matter. Location and timing are more important than what you throw..

[goblueM]

well, what you are throwing should matter, as a deep diving crank might not be good for a 6 foot weed flat, etc

but yeah i think there is an over-analyzing factor in most lure choices (i'm guilty for sure)

and rugbymn... my gf's kitty might "wander off" and find its way onto a QS rig if it keeps acting up

[JRedig]

well, what you are throwing should matter, as a deep diving crank might not be good for a 6 foot weed flat, etc

I disagree, a deep diving crank can be twitched quite effectively over shallow weeds...

[goblueM]

you know what i meant appropriate lure for the conditions, obviously some are very versatile lures whereas others are not

[10,000 Casts]

Scenario- Conditions and Timing are Perfect

Person A uses his #1 lure all day in a spot where there are NO muskies...

Person B ties some hooks on a stapler and fishes in the correct spots where there are Muskies present...

I like person A's shot better..

I was illuding to the fact that location, conditions and timing are more important. Thats all..

Don't be afraid to throw #13 Blades and then throw #4 blades ect. If the Muskies are there and they want to eat, they will eat.. jmo

Fo me, I think that I will start with a Pacemaker for about an hour then throw the kitchen sink at them until we see a few fish and then adjust from there. It may be gliders, it may be blades,it may be cranks, it may be swimbaits... We will also do some open water trolling but that's to give the ole back a rest.

[grate8]

Scenario- Conditions and Timing are Perfect

Person A uses his #1 lure all day in a spot where there are NO muskies...

Person B ties some hooks on a stapler and fishes in the correct spots where there are Muskies present...

I like person A's shot better..

sounds to me like theyr both 100% fugged, but a muskie may whack a stapler.

[10,000 Casts]

fine, I will put some flashabou on there to!

[bronzeback]

topraider over grass. topraider over 20 feet of water.

WTD over open water. Tube on shore structure.

really though I think the first bait I'm throwing is going to be a topraider. I've still never caught a fish on a topwater, but it's definitely a confidence bait.

[TrophyEyes]

Unfortunately the boat I get to use is not down here this weekend....Poor planning. So my plan is to head down to the docks and throw all my newly tied Double 10's and so on. I will probably throw everything I bring and hope a muskie cruises on by. I would be the guy A that fishes all day with his favorite lure and may not have a muskie within a mile of where I am. Oh well, beats working.

[kapp]

just rigged up, walk the dog (hooker said it) creeper (yes i said that)

big blades (redig said that) top 3 for early morning pre sunrise

[getinked3]

I was throwing an all black spinner the other day, looking for Northern and I got one on three follow ups in under 4ft of water.

[tanman]

i think that lure choice has had much more affect on my succes .... thats just in my experience

[mainbutter]

I agree tanman.

There was more than a few last season times where pounding an area didn't do anything, but as soon as I switched lures and fished the same spot, the first cast boated a musky.