newbie getting into the sport

[bassNspear]

I have a friend that is starting to get itno musky fishing, and wanted me to post on here asking you experts on what type of gear he should purchase. He wants to get 2-3 rods and reels, but dont want to spend alot of money.

also wondering on baits as well to get started.

Thanks all for the help!

[Dylan33]

"not wanting to spend a lot of money" means different things to different people. Does he want to spend $100 for a rod and reel, $300? $500? Give us a ballpark of what you want to spend and you'll get some good advice.

[Esox_Magnum]

Well muskie fishing is primarily CPR so first he will need a quality muskie net with a coated bag to protect the fish, release tools to unhook a fish once in the net, Nipex ( don't skimp buy the Nipex) long needle nosed pliers, gloves if he preferes also. Now once you have these important tools your ready to move on to rods/reels/baits.

Rods it's hard to beat the Tackle Industries, great rod for the money and much higher quality than the pricetag shows.

Reels I'd stay away from anything Abu other than the Revo Toros, Shimano makes great reels anything in their line up in the 400 series. Diawa Luna 300 is another good reel.

Terminal stuff, you'll need a quality braided line in the 80#+ range and 12" solid wire in 174# or better test or Stealth Flouro in 130-150#

Baits the choices are endless and can be lake specific, a few I have found that work anyplace is Mag Bulldawgs, Wades Wobblers and Double Cowgirls.

Net and release tools will run you in the $200-$250 ballpark

TI rods are $110 at the moment

Reels will run between $100=$500 each

Line and leader per set up another $25

Baits ballpark $15-$25 each on average

[cbrooks]

For rods a good one would be the "Tackle Industry". They will run you $110 per rod.

For reels for starters I would recommend Shimano Cacutta B series($300) or Abu Garcia Revo Toro($280) reels aren't cheap musky fishing.

The baits to get would be soft plastics Bulldogs, Super D's or Curley Sues.

Topwaters to get would be Hogwobblers, creepers, Topraiders, Pacemakers, Super or mini Humpers, Weagles, Topwalkers, lowraiders and buzzbaits.

Crankbaits I like Krisco, Krushers, Jakes, Shallow Invaders, and Big GameTackle. Typically 8 to 10 inches long is good to start.

Spinnerbaits all you need is Raddogs. They go through anything and pretty cheap.

bucktails I like Glittertails, double cowgirls, Supermodels, Eagletails, Buchertails, mepps and Showgirls.

Large net and Knipex hookcutter($50).

[Nick Kuhn]

He wants to get 2-3 rods and reels, but dont want to spend alot of money.

The problem is muskie gear is not cheap. I'd suggest maybe finding some used gear in good shape if you want to save some cash. A New rod/reel + net + baits + line/leader will put you over $300 easily.

[Esox_Magnum]

True a quality combo isn't cheap, my cheap ones are still $400, TI 9' rod ( $110) and Revo Toro ($280). My spendy ones are closer to $750, 9' Thorne Brothers custom Preator with a Revo 60.

Net and release tools are as important or more than rods/lures/reels, cant let them go if you cant get them in the boat.

Then once you start collecting more and more baits you need something to store/orginize them in and thats another $100 or 3

[50inchpig]

BnS, it's ok to admit that you're interested in musky fishing, i'm sure your darkhouse buddies won't hold it against you

[rymcneil]

Lmao

[jjjohnson]

Okuma XXH rod

Saltist 20

80# Tuffline XP

150# flouro leader

Cowgirls

Dawgs

Top raiders

Phantoms

Colors dont matter go with your gut and fish with confidence. Good luck!

[Esox_Magnum]

One thing with Okuma rods is to add weight to the back to balence them as they are tip heavy. A well balanced set up is so much more enjoyably to fish with than one thats not.

[Muskiefool]

They may kick you out of the club if you start to enjoy fishing for things that are not just for eating BNS lol, lotsa good advice, you should have stopped at RK's Muskie rummage sale last April. You could have easily got 2 set ups with 100 baits for a few hondo. Look on the online lists as well; I found some stuff (too late of course) last year for a huge steal.

Look at the Muskie boards and ask for specific things like a 6500 or a 7 foot rod ect. and guys that have stuff will usually let extras go reasonable.

Find a good net, knipex(online bay had a bunch a month ago I got 2 for 50) 13 inch pliers and a hook pick

"Catch a Big One and Let it go... Let them all go"- Jack Burns

[jjjohnson]

If your gonna censor my post. Please delete the whole thing. Thank you.

[Shawn Kellett]

Wait until the swap Sat night after the muskie expo. That's a great way to get gear on the cheap. Most baits go for $5-$10 (some less) and most rods/reels go for 1/2 or less.

We've got our banquet in a couple weeks and we've got a ton of rods and gear.

I've been selling lots of baits for $50 to help get people started as well. I'm trying to thin the heard so feel free to send him my way as well.

[10,000 Casts]

If I was getting started today I would spend about $300 on a 8'6" ex heavy TI rod w/ calcutta 400b and make that my go to rod. At the show, that should be doable w/cheap or free line.. Then I would start looking for a used beckman or frabill muskie net on the lists. Like mentioned above, the swap meets are awesome for getting smoking deals. I would try to buy as much as I could there.. 5 bucktails, a couple gliders, a couple dive and rise, some top waters etc.. should be a few tackle boxes for sale as well..

release tools are important too.. long nose pliers and a bolt cutters, doesn't have to be a $50 knipex but they are nice...

[merkman]

BnS, it's ok to admit that you're interested in musky fishing, i'm sure your darkhouse buddies won't hold it against you

[fishfearme]

You guys are ALL effin nuts. $300 - $500 for a combo. Good luck with that. Not saying that I don't have combos that cost that much, but I thought he was on a budget. You guys sound like a bunch of salesmen at Thorne Bros! Seriously you can get a rod for under $80 that will work just fine, pair it with a Garcia C3.

[rugbymn]

I have a friend that is starting to get itno musky fishing, and wanted me to post on here asking you experts on what type of gear he should purchase. He wants to get 2-3 rods and reels, but dont want to spend alot of money.

also wondering on baits as well to get started.

Thanks all for the help!

Tell him to take up drugs instead. It's a much better investment. He will save money and it won't ruin his family life or take up all of his time and thoughts the way muskies will. We're already too far gone, but we might still have time to save "your friend".

The only downside is the whole jail thing. For drugs, that is. Not for fishing.

[Zelmsdawg]

I started out with a cabelas 7'6" MH rod and abu combo for maybe $150 and I still use it today almost ten yrs later. I'd never shell out the money if I'm just starting although I did get a good net right away.

Lures can be cheap too, theres bucktails for less then $10 out there new and one of my favorite spinnerbaits is only 12 or 14 something like that. But try and buy used and/or in lots and you'll save money.

Could also make your own if you're into that. Good luck

Zelmsdawg

[nater]

BnS, it's ok to admit that you're interested in musky fishing, i'm sure your darkhouse buddies won't hold it against you

LOL

Really though you can pay less and get a 6500 but if you plan on throwing bigger baits which most do, it won't last too long. I found that out the hard way. Pay the extra 90 and get a Saltist or a bit more and get the 400b. For rods, I like my Okuma XXH 8'6" which is around $120 and you can get Tackle Industry rods for $110.

[HugoBox]

You guys are ALL effin nuts. $300 - $500 for a combo. Good luck with that. Not saying that I don't have combos that cost that much, but I thought he was on a budget. You guys sound like a bunch of salesmen at Thorne Bros! Seriously you can get a rod for under $80 that will work just fine, pair it with a Garcia C3.

I almost was going to fire a shot at the quote above and talk about "quality gear" and "you get what you pay for" but to be honest I agree with the above statement 100%. The problem is that once you start to use some of the higher end gear it kind of messes up your perspective - and to quote my brother, "Turned me into a musky snob with custom rods!" If you said your buddy was going to sign up for the crazy musky obsession I'm afflicted with I'd tell him to spend the $$ at Thorne's on a custom rod and $400 more for a Cacutta TE. If he just plans to toss a few baits a few times per year buy a Gander 7.5 to 8 foot rod for 50 bucks and get a 6500 C3. I caught a bunch of fish with this set up before I went astray. Along with that pick up a bucktail, a topwater, a crankbait, and a jerkbait. Fish the heck out of them and decide what baits you like before loading up. I would agree whole haeartedly with a big net and GOOD bolt cutters though. Whether you're trying to get hooks out of a fish OR yourself having the right tool is very helpful. The only thing I would suggest would not to buy 2 or 3 rod and reel combos at the same time right away. Buy one all around rod and figure out which baits you throw and how you work them to determine where you want to make investments as you get more into it. I've accumlated a half a dozen "extra" rod and reel combos over the past few years because I couldn't pass up a good deal and now I'll be trying to sell some of them for $.50 on the dollar just to thin the herd a bit (its hard to imagine why I'd need 8-10 musky rods in the boat at the same time!!). It would have been much wiser to to ramp up my gear at a slower pace. These darn long winters in MN make it too easy to buy stuff just to pass time though!! Only 12 weeks to go!!

[FBMH]

For rods and reels, Abu Garcia 100%. They may be a little more expensive, but the price is worth it when you hook into your first ski. Tackle Industries is not bad either i must admit.

[fishfearme]

I think you guys have taken a few too many jerk baits to the head. Back to $350 combos again? Listen you don't need A $300.00 combo and 5oz. lures to catch a muskie.

I was always a speed freak! Small fast moving baits, easy to cast and easy to reel. I have a garage full of muskie lures I don't use any more. Maybe some will buy some from me.

[muskylunkin]

My 2 cents

If you're planning on throwing Double cowgirls (or something like) My set-up is an 8ft Shimano Compre rod and a Saltist 20. Thats $250-$275 for both. Spendy but sooo worth it. The year before last I was throwing that stuff with a Garcia 6600, forearms dead after a day of that. With the money I spent on advil I could have bought that reel. Double Cowgirls, Supermodels its worth it.

I still use that 6600 for smaller bucktails, walk the dog topwaters, Top raiders, jigs, glide baits and such. Good reel, I have never lost a fish (because of that reel) did have the end cap nut come off however guy at wayzata bait and tackle replaced it for $4.50 plus tx. Now I know this year to make sure its nice and tight. That reel is $85 roughly

The first setup I ever bought is a garcia 5500 or 5300 cant remember its in the garage, still have that reel, bought it with a 6'6 heavy action rod. Used only that rod for 2 years and caught a few upper 40's fish on it and everything held just fine. Even landed a 48.5 incher trolling with that lil set up. however now its on an 8 ft rod and still used for my smaller stuff super shad raps, big floating rapalas, bomber long A's smaller cranks.....

Buy the longest rod you can afford, switched my stuff to 8footers last year and what a difference. This year I am going to buy a 9ft at the expo, I'm 6'3 and with those longer rods figure 8's are a breeze. My back thanks me every time I lay down to sleep.

Lol @ choose drugs over musky fishing, your old lady and my old lady should go bowling. Buy at the expo, best deal you will get all year. Sundays those guys are bundling everything, making deals so they dont have to take all that stuff back with them. Lots of those guys will come down on prices if you haggle a bit.

Tight lines.

[Shawn Kellett]

I have to say that yes $50 pair of knipex cutters is manditory. The only people who can argue otherwise are those that haven't tried to cut hooks out of themselves with the cheap ones with their left (non-dominant) hand. At that point $500 will seem like a bargain. There are 2 types of muskie anglers, those that have been hooked and those that will be someday...

[Esox_Magnum]

I was one who didn't belive in the Nipex, untill I had a 5/0 in my leg still attached to a fish and the barging cutters didn't work. I ordered the Nipex soon as I got home from the ER after a $320 hook removal bill. The cheap ones will work once, teice maybe even 3 times but they eventualy will fail and when you need them the most.

I used my Nipex at work one day to cut down 300 16P nails, will still cut the shank on a 5/0 1 handed.

It's not a matter of if you'll get hooked it's when....