getting started

[Guest]

i would like to start catching 8= pound muskies and pike any suggesions on equipment lakes near stillwaterMN or techniuqes?thanks a heap

[Steve Foss]

Muskies and small pike are warm water fish. Pike over 8 pounds are cool water fish. So pike over 8 pounds and muskies can be found in some of the same places until the water warms in summer.

When that happens, you can still catch nice muskies in fairly shallow water, but pike bigger than 8 or 10 pounds drop deeper where the water cools (the thermocline). That's why most of the pike you catch in the summer shallows are under 5 pounds. You can reach the bigger ones trolling baits that get 20 feet or deeper, or by jigging. I like bucktail jigs of 1 oz tipped with sucker minnows for that.

For musky, it's easier. Go to a lake that's got them. There aren't all that many such lakes.

But almost every lake's got pike. If you're after the larger pike, find a good-sized lake with lots of perch and tulibee and deep water (expanses of 40 feet or better). That all spells pike and will increase your odds. They'll be shallow in the weeds and rock in fall, winter, spring, and off deep humps and islands or sloping main lake points in summer.

Spring and fall I'd use jerkbaits, spinnerbaits tipped with suckers and minnow crankbaits in shallow.

As for equipment, I'd say one rod actually will do it if you're starting out. Get a 7-foot graphite baitcasting rod that's got some stiffness but a sensitive tip. Put an Ambassadeur 6500 reel on it. Spool it with Berkely fireline 25/12 (25 lb strength with 12 lb diameter). Get half a dozen black wire leaders.

I've already replied to your other post about lures.

Good luck.

[This message has been edited by stfcatfish (edited 09-06-2002).]

[This message has been edited by stfcatfish (edited 09-06-2002).]