What Lures?

[Thomps13]

I'm starting to muskie fish for the first time this year, what are the best lures to use?

[cbrooks]

"Ruff tackle Rad dogs" spinner baits-goes through anything, get the single blades

for prop baits get Topraiders, pacemakers, lowrider or muskybuster topwalker

other topwaters are a must Hawgwobbler and weagles

bucktails Double cowgirls, showgirls, eagletails, mepps, and glittertails are my favorites

Soft plastics bulldogs, super dee's, curley sues

cranks Kristo's, Jakes

[tearin' lips]

Morning! There are so many lures out there, and most of them have their time and place in the musky box. I can recommend that you purchase a combination of different types of lures that will fish a variety of situations. I would definitely buy some sort of bucktail, sub-surface walk the dog, and a few top waters.

Here's what I would buy. Showgirls or Cowgirls are an absolute must and I have caught many fish, including the one in my avatar on these. Top raiders, hellhounds, dancing raiders, papa chubby, sandcats, topcats, and shallowraiders are among my most productive lures that I have thrown over the last four summers.

There are many more out there that are productive lures as well and I am sure people will chip in with what works for them, which is always a good way to find your next confidence lure. I suggest going on Thornebrothers which is a F.M sponsor and browsing their lures to view some of these lures. Rollie and Helens also has a good HSOforum for tackle.

I hope your experience with muskie fishing goes well! My first trip I boated a 36" and have been devoting 90% of my summer fishing to chasing the big dogs ever since.

[Andrew Erickson]

phantoms, hellhounds, showgirl, cowgirls, weagle, pacemaker, mag dawgs, M and G spinnerbait

[Jmeyers]

depends on how much you are willing to spend and where you'll be fishing. Musky lures are by no means the cheapest lures you can buy so be prepared to spend a pretty penny if you're trying to stock a tackle box.

Also keep in mind the water you are fishing...what presentations do you want to run through it? this may cut down the cost of buyin multiple lures. I would recommend to start with a double bladed cowgirl, one topwater, and some type of soft plastic (bulldog, thunderbeast, ect...)

[401TE]

Here's the problem...unless you buy a reel that can handle the bigger lures you're going to break it with much use. By bigger lures I mean double-9 bucktails or bigger, heavy jerkbaits or gliders, mag dawgs or bigger rubber, and any crank that pulls hard if you're ripping it.

My starter list for someone with an average reel/rod would be:

Topraider

8" Weagle

Shumway Flasher

Buchertail bucktails

Shallow Invader

Mag Shad Raps

Jointed Depth Raiders

Rad Dog or M&G spinnerbaits

Soft tail Phantoms