Muskie Lure Customization

[Write-Outdoor]

Okay muskie fanatics.....I need your help and your expertise. What are some of the most productive lure customizations you've done that are unique?

I'm hoping you can either post here or send me an e-mail so I can chat with you in more detail. This is for a national publication and I would love to utilize some of the muskie experts on FM.

Post here or send me a message writeoutdoors at mac-dot-com

[Esox_Magnum]

I like to create new color patterns out of mag dawgs, changing tail color or adding color even keep a set of markers in the boat for on the water customizing. Not a big deal but offers me something others dont have. I don't have the knac to paint so leave that to my partners.

[Write-Outdoor]

Can you email me Esox_Magnum?

[Muskiefool]

Reefhawg mods start with tearing out all the old hardware, not too tough they generally fall apart.

Using the old style bait if at all possible

Wire loops bent over and epoxied in, I bury cup washers into the body and pull the loop against them so the loop is tight in the body.

.092 eyes lead poured into and around screw, I used a tungsten drop shot weight for the spot in front of the wire loop worked sweet because its a smaller hole, the baits a good color so I'll just touch it up add a lil extra and epoxy it.

They ride just a hair nose down in the water at rest, its not anything too difficult and it turns a bait into something you don't mind using.

Well worth the effort, turns a crackle pine plug into something you actually want to throw

[ole matty]

I add 7/0 hook on front of 9" suick plus 1/2 oz weight right behind the front hook hanger and I get it to rise to what I want, not too slow nor too fast.

Replace all hooks on slammer and put 4/0 on front and back and 3/0 in middle. It doesn't work on all of my slammer but my beat up slammer rock forth and back when rise.

[HugoBox]

I add split rings to any bait that doesn't come with them unless the action will get messed up.

I also add dots or other extra paint to a lot of blades to make them "blink" if that makes sense.

Adding solder to the hooks on cranks can help them almost achieve neutral bouyancy if you're a twitcher.

It may not be a true mod, but I pretty much sharpen every hook - especially if its right off the rack.

I on cranks that I cast and twitch I've caught myself changing the front eye to un-tune them, I'd rather rip a bait in that goes every which way but straight - not so good an idea if you plan to troll much.

I believe I saw a show where Saric said he twists his dawgs up pretty good as well to keep them from going straight.

[dcraven]

My favorite, short term solution to weighting a body bait is to wrap some solder around the front hook or front and middle hook and you have a guaranteed, center weighting. I first used this to weight my Suicks back in the 80's. Still works today. Sometimes it is nice to increase the hook size by one prior to using this method - but not necessary.

Another similar solution to weighting bucktails or spinnerbaits is to simply use a clip on or rubber core weight to the shaft of the tail or shaft of the spinnerbait. Better yet, a keel weight, super glued to the bait or pinned on the shaft keeps bucktails from spinning, when trolled - reducing twist on the line. Keel weights used to be common but are less so.

DC