Would this rod work for Muskie Fishing.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

I've got a 7'6" TWC extreme rod in a MH with a Ming Yang CL70A reel that has 80lb suffix 832 braid on it.

TWC Extreme Rod.

I've been using it to catch huge catfish, and a lot of guys using this rod have caught Blue & Flat heads of up to 100lbs.

I was thinking about targeting some muskie this year with the set up. Does it look like it should work?

[Esox_Magnum]

Depends what you want to trow on the rod, be ok for small baits. No idea what the reel is so can't comment.... Personaly I run mainly 9' XH or XXH muskie rods for what I like to throw.... On a rod it's not the fish it's the baits you throw, some run up to near 1 pound....

[urban cowboy]

On a rod it's not the fish it's the baits you throw, some run up to near 1 pound....

This is a great way to explain it.

[Agronomist_at_IA]

Depends what you want to trow on the rod, be ok for small baits. No idea what the reel is so can't comment.... Personaly I run mainly 9' XH or XXH muskie rods for what I like to throw.... On a rod it's not the fish it's the baits you throw, some run up to near 1 pound....

Thanks, rod should work well. It handles 16oz easy so it should work for muskie fishing. The rods were made to throw a lot of weight due to having to handle very heavy sinkers for the river with big heavy bait fish on the hook with the sinker. I've also got a war rod setup and they show demo's with the thing casting 60oz of lead, kinda cool to see it.

The reel is a basic Abu 7000 reel. It's just a chinese "copy". I can say that I was hesitant buying it do to the price since it only ran $68 shipped, but Have been fairly impressed with the preformance so far. The Clicker on it works great when catfishing to. I've also got a penn 209 I could use.

Also, for lures I've picked up:

8in Jail bird weagle

10in perch weagle.

8in perch jake

8in fire tiger rapla

8in red and white Meps bucktail

6in red and white topwater

6in storm rubber perch

10in Bulldawgs perch

Is there anything else that a guy should look at that might be a "hot" item to use.

[Esox_Magnum]

16oz on a MH? most my XH are only rated for 12, XXH up to 36...Now the downside of a short rod,fatige, bending over to figure 8, small shallow 8's, tire you out more using larger baits, shorter casting.... As for the reel, best you can do it try it but don't be shocked if it doesn't hold up long.... Muskie reels take a beating, cheap is not the way to go there....

More important than the rod and reel is release tools and a proper net....

[Agronomist_at_IA]

16oz on a MH? most my XH are only rated for 12, XXH up to 36...Now the downside of a short rod,fatige, bending over to figure 8, small shallow 8's, tire you out more using larger baits, shorter casting.... As for the reel, best you can do it try it but don't be shocked if it doesn't hold up long.... Muskie reels take a beating, cheap is not the way to go there....

More important than the rod and reel is release tools and a proper net....

Yep these are made by a bunch of hill billies in the south. They drag heavy @$$ sinkers with bait in 80 feet deep water as well has cast stuff like that from shore. These rods were made to catch 100 lb blue catfish & flatheads. I'm guessing a MH by there labeling is different then what other manufactures call a MH. I've attached the link of a war rod tossing 60oz of lead. When i said the reel was cheap I ment the price, the quality is just has good has my abu reel, and I would think if these are holding up to fighting 20-100 catfish they should hold up to a muskie with easy.

War Rod tossing 60oz.

To give you an idea, I've got a Big Game Ugly stick in my basement that is an 8ft H that is labeled for up to 80 lb test line. It feels about like the rods i'm talking about. (It's my buddies rod that he picked up at the outlet store over in spirt lake for $15 and he's hiding it im my basement so his wife doesn't get mad.)

[Esox_Magnum]

Holding up to a muskie I won't question, it's holding up to working and casting the baits I do worry about....And quite frankly Abu's are at the bottom of my reliabilty muskie reel list....with exception the Revo Toro's...Casting a bait out to wait for a fish is totaly different than trowing a bait the size and weight of a full can of beer 1000 times a day....

Ok must admit impressive BUT I could snap that rod in 1 cast, lob casting is easier on a rod than snap casting... Any of my rods can easily lob cast that weight, done it lobbing 5# pike and 3# bass....

[Agronomist_at_IA]

Holding up to a muskie I won't question, it's holding up to working and casting the baits I do worry about....And quite frankly Abu's are at the bottom of my reliabilty muskie reel list....with exception the Revo Toro's...Casting a bait out to wait for a fish is totaly different than trowing a bait the size and weight of a full can of beer 1000 times a day....

Ok must admit impressive BUT I could snap that rod in 1 cast, lob casting is easier on a rod than snap casting... Any of my rods can easily lob cast that weight, done it lobbing 5# pike and 3# bass....

I'm not saying that it is the ideal muskie rod or better than any muskie rods out there. I'm just thinking that it would work with the guide lines you were talking about. I'm not planing on casting 60oz of weight, but I think it will handle the lures that I had listed above. To be truthful, when I muskie fish it's more then likely going to be an hour or two casting in some spots or trolling where I've seen them at. I don't think I'm gonna spend all day fishing for them...........who knows though I might get the fever after I catch a few.

As far as the reel, I wana test it out to see how it holds up and works. If it falls apart fine. I'll by a tank of a reel and chalk it up to finding out it wasn't the deal I hoped for. So where do you rate the Penn 209 levelwind reel on ur muskie reel rating.

[Esox_Magnum]

Never used a penn, couple friends had them for a season a few years back but think they were 9 somethings...Good muskie rods around $120ish does make the experience more enjoyable.... reel can cost over $500 for the top end, lots of good ones in the middle though...Worst case you use it and it don't work, never know might be right for you if you only fish limited time...I do 40-50 hours a week from April though November so we use our equipment a little harder....

[RuKiddingMe]

So this guy said he wanted to give it a shot a couple times see what it's all about, the gear he has is plenty fine for an occasional outing toss around some baits and enjoy a day. Sure it's not ideal gear but it will work, which was his question.

Why is it every time a noob comes to the board with a simple question, they get the "Pro's corner" insight with board posters telling them the equipment they have is sub-par. Not everyone fishes for Musky only and they may not have the extra cash lying around to buy the latest greatest top-end gear that a hard-core musky angler would buy. Do you think these guys ever feel talked down to? Heck reading these posts sometimes I feel that way for them...

Can't imagine why the musky community gets labeled "Elitist"...

Agronomist_at_IA - take the gear you have, it will be plenty fine for an outing here and there. If you enjoy and want to get more into it then jump on the bandwagon and start shelling out some cash.

I'm surprised the the release tools "Pro tip" hasn't thrown at you yet. I will agree a big net is a must, but it doesn't need to be a $200 stowmaster or frabill, a bolt cutters is also a must also but doesn't need to be a $60 knipex - a $10 home depot cutter will do just fine, I'm sure you have the rest already long needle nose and maybe a jaw spreader.

Also that is a decent start to baits, nothing to big for your setup by any means, I would add a couple blades and maybe a spinner bait or two.

Go out give it a shot and have fun that is where it's at - all to often people lose sight of that.

[smeese]

Agreed...Although I agree they (release tools) are necessary, not everything has to be top notch,what would you say if bass and pike fishermen were lobbing Musky with their rods? Someone would throw a Tissy fit....I fish Musky but Elitist I am not. I hate how people act when they find out I fish Musky because of how others have acted around them in the past about the sport. Honestly Essox_Mag I stopped reading your posts for information, and started reading them for "know it all laughter" No offense I wish I could fish as much as you but being in Minnesota and not Iowa there are other things to do here besides fish for Musky.

Agronomist_at_IA Your stuff will do fine......good luck its fun and addicting, and once you catch one you will want more

[50inchpig]

main problem with most of the cat rods is that they're glass (e-glass in this case) which is puuuuuurrrfect for cats and possibly trolling but will hinder you a bit when you try to work alot of the baits you listed or figure 8 at the boat.

like they said cat rods are made for the fish and musky rods are made for the baits. you'll end up working against your rod too much if the action is too slow.

try it out but do look at graphite options if you get frustrated. lots of good graphite musky rods out there around $100.

[urban cowboy]

Wo Wo Wo, are you guys serious or are these posts just a joke? He is just trying to help someone new to muskie fishing and if you read the posts the dialog is pretty receptive. There is nothing wrong or pro about giving someone solid advise based experience that will help them now and in the future.

I only wish I would of had advise from guys like esox when I started muskie fishing. I would have saved hundreds of dollars on rods and gear. You guys having a bad day or something?

You should appologize for your ignorance. You cant knock someone for trying to help someone out.

[Esox_Magnum]

I dissagree that any bolt cutter will do, IMO Nipex is a must, sure the cheapies will work a few times but the time they wont is when you have a hook in you and a fish and a pair of cutters you cant work with 1 hand...Been there done that no fun....I'm also of the belife that if your going to do something do it right, makes the experience much more enjoyable....Sure you can drive a nail with vice grips but a hammer does a much better job and easier....

[cbrooks]

Kinda feel bad with how this thread got sidetrack. I thought Essox gave him solid advice which ended up turning on him IMO.

Agronomist, I say give your rod a shot. Just taking a guess here. My only question is the flex while working the weagle for example. I know catfish rods are usually really flexable. Flex can make using a jerk bait really frustrating. On the other hand I'm sure that would be a perfect trolling rod. Give the rod a shot this summer and let us know how it goes .

[jmd1]

I don't want to throw 60 oz of weight any day. however i did like the leg kick to get it going.

[smeese]

If I came across wrong, or ignorant or even rude I apologize, I just get sick of the the hobby seeming so unapproachable to newbies.....I agree there is some solid advice here but also think Nipex should send Essox a couple pairs for all the kudos he gives them.

To be more on track, my biggest fish would have died without a cutter, but the one I used was a cheapie and it worked fine. So the decision is yours. You can imagine how bad one would feel if a 53-54 inch fish dies at boatside. Some may say its just a fish, but they deserve to live too, some spend 20 plus years in area waters and are residents of the lake IMO

[Esox_Magnum]

I don't think you'll find many muskie guys who wouldn't agree Nipex is the only cutters to have, cheapies do work but don't last, you'll go through 5-6 set's of cheapies before Nipex will give up...Try this, go get 200 16 penny nails and cut them all in half then try cutting a 5/0 treble at the shank if they still cut 1 handed.... I know Nipex will do this and never skip a beat, my cheapies won't....

[smeese]

Nah, just gonna let this one die....When you get your free promotional ones for the advertisement send one my way and I will throw away my cheapies.....I have cut one hook so far so I think they will last a while yet if you don't get them anytime soon. I am surprised I have not gotten one yet for all the other stuff I have for this sport.

[cjac]

Just to clarify.....

A Nipex search will lead you to the Nigerian Petroleum Exchange, you're looking for Knipex, known as "The Pliers Company".

Search on Knipex, Products, Cutting Pliers, then Knipex CoBolt pliers. Good stuff, but for a "newbie" check your toolbox and find a decent bolt cutters or borrow a neighbor's set twice a year, they'll suffice in a pinch, no pun intended.

At the end of the day we're all trying to help a fellow angler out to have a fun day on the water......

[urban cowboy]

I am glad we are back on track.

The funny thing about all of this is that you will go out, see a few fish, possibly catch a fish, and you will be hooked.

The more info you get now the better. when you get addicted and go on your spending spree you will be thankfull for the "pro" advice just like so many that came before you.

Trust me. If I had half the money back for the rods I dont use anymore I could take a vacay to mexico for a week on the beach drinking margaritas.

[RumRiverRat]

Any of my rods can easily lob cast that weight, done it lobbing 5# pike and 3# bass....

Glad to see the Elitist Musky Angler can talk about lob casting bass and pike, but if a pike or bass angler talked about that, the Musky Anglers on this forum would want him banned.

Knipex > Nipex

[smeese]

Thats what got me going to begin with....Agreed but still over it, we just have to practice what we preach

[Esox_Magnum]

Well here they are legal for bait so no laws broken...

[butcherbobhayes]

Well here they are legal for bait so no laws broken...

Be careful doing that on Little Spirit as 60% of it is in Minnesota and subject to our laws, and we frown on that behavior up here. I am not even sure if Spirit and Little Spirit are connected or if you would fish there, I am just saying up here that kind of stuff will get you some heavy fines and possible loss of fishing privileges.

You are absolutely correct on the Knipex cutters though. I have used the cheap ones and they work okay as long as you keep them completely square with the hook when cutting. If you are off just a bit they will fold on the hook, the side plate will bend and ruin them. Then you will be without a cutter to release the fish with, and that would not be good at all. Hook cutters are not the place save money. Cheap cutters kill fish.