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A couple of lures


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The wifes family just bought a cabin on Lake Alexander and it looks like we will be able to spend a few weekends there. I am a bass fisherman and have never tried for muskies, but I see it is a decent muskie fishery. For a beginner, can you guys recommend a quality lure or two that I can start with as I know nothing about muskie lures. I know, I know, I'm playing with fire here especially if I hook into one, but hey I gotta try right?

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First you need the proper tools to land and release, then the proper equipment to handle the baits you will be using, then you get to bait choices.

A quality landing net with a coated bag, nipex hook cutters, long neddlenose pliers, gloves if you like for protection.

A decent H or XH rod designed for muskies helps, good reel spooled with 80# braid or better, 12" 130# and up flouro leader or 174# or better solid wire.

Baits theres to many choices to list, everyone has their own 5-10 favorites, each lake is somewhat different as to bait choices also. A few I have found that work about anywhere is a Magnum Bulldawg. 9" Wades Wobbler, Double Cowgirl, 10" Weagle. Colors vary also, hard to beat black, black/orange or black/green combos though.

Keep in mind the baits I listed a bass combo won't handle, without the right equipment the baits will wear you out fast and make it a not so enjoyable experience.

It's an addiction once you start and never ending once your hooked, best advice is run away now before you go down that dark path grin

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Since you "don't know anything about musky lures", here's what I've gathered in my short time musky fishing:

It seems to me that almost all musky lures are some enlarged variation of bass and pike lures (or all bass and pike lures are small variations of musky lures, depending on how you look at it). Bass is the most targeted species in the US and that's where most lure innovation starts. Musky lure designers often just take those ideas a couple steps further for their own needs.

Gliders, crankbaits, jerkbaits, inline spinners, spinnerbaits, WTD topwaters, and soft plastic swimbaits make up the majority of musky lures.

Musky fishing is expensive and requires pretty unique equipment compared to any other freshwater fishing, because much of the time you are throwing BIG lures. The equipment isn't necessary for fighting the fish, heck you can land a 50'' musky on 8lb test on a medium action rod, the equipment is designed for throwing and working giant lures.

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No need to go nuts on buying lures for lake Alex. Many bass fishermen I know catch muskies incidentally on small spinnerbaits or jigs. And many walleye fishermen catch them while trolling or casting smaller rapalas. If I were you, I'd just start with some simple small to medium sized bucktails and/or spinnerbaits. I do well out there with both dark and bright colors.

Having said that, it really is best to go prepared with what you need to be able to do a successful catch and release. Unhook in the net while it's in the water. Minimize the time that the fish is out of the water for measuring and photos. Don't worry - if you catch one, you'll be hooked, and you'll be catching more!

Good luck!

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The guys that posted before me are more experienced fishing for muskies then I am, but I will give you my 2 cents. I caught 2 in one day 2 summers ago, not a single one landed since. I had 4 lures when I caught the first 2 skis, and i have something like 75 lures now. First 4 lures - top raider, grandma, and a couple bucktails. Now i have a dozen topwater lures, a dozen cranks and more bucktails/spinnerbaits than I can throw in a week.

The most important thing is finding lures that you enjoy throwing. Anyone can throw a bucktail or topwater lure. I enjoy throwing glider jerkbaits, so I now have 4 hellhounds, 2 mantas and 4 phantoms. Bought a bunch of crankbaits, never fish them. Can never get to them all during a trip. I love fishing for muskies and tossing the lures, but I have vowed to not buy another lure for the rest of the season, wink wink!

Couple lures - bucktails produce and are easy to finish a cast with. You need 2 bucktails - black and orange when its overcast, and black and nickel when its sunny. When the clouds cover up the sun, i switch immediately to the orange/chart blades. When the sun is shining the flash of the nickel/gold blades is attractive. Fish those 2 and you will see fish. Change speeds, work on your figure 8's and pay attention. Size is up to you, double single blades up to you as well. Start throwing the bigger doubles you will need heftier tackle.

A really good, reasonably priced single bladed bucktail is a Bucher black/nickel with white magambo trailer. Had many follows and caught a few big pike. You cannot go wrong with a Mepps Musky Killer black/orange. These are single blades. There a so many double bladed bucktail brands. Those luures will wear you down fast without a good rod/reel.

But a 7'6"-8' medium heavy rod, and Shimano Curado 300 and you can throw anything. You want to throw the big blades go with the Abu Revo Winch or an big round reel Abu 7000 series. Rod reel opinions will always be disputed. I love my Curados, and throw everyhing on them but the big blades.

Black/orange, black/nickel bucktails, and a topwater tail prop bait for calm/choppy/early/late. Start with those. Nothing compares to a topwater strike, as I have not have a fish hit next to the boat yet.

Learn your equipment and lures well before aimlessly buying more. Before you know it you will have 4 rod/reels and giant tackle box stuffed full of lures. Oh and have fun! Its wicked awesome when one of those elusive giants decides to pay you a visit.

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I'll give you an advice nobody has given yet... and thats always do the figure-8 at the boatside no matter what... 2-3 figure 8's would be fine if you dont see anything... if you do... keep going til the fish stops then do it 2-3 more times... If I can remember right, many guides say that the muskies would hit on the beginning of the cast and the end of the cast more than 90% of the times... and thats the figure-8 at the end of the cast...

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One other key thing to remember in regards to the figure 8 post....

Always watch behind your lure as it gets close to the boat, 5-10 feet back. As you begin your figure eight after every cast continue to look out away from the boat for lazy follows. Nothing burns worse then lifting your bait out of the water after a half azz figure 8 and then seeing the fish 5 feet away from the boat stairing at you.

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