hammer handle muskies?

[muskieboy46]

I troll for northern a lot and have hooked into some big muskies but never any small ones. i was just wondering where the small 10-20in muskies are and why i dont hear people catching them. thanks

muskieboy46

[Muskie-searcher]

I have caught quite a few small muskies (less than 20 inches) while throwing smaller bass sized tandem spins at points and around islands looking for lethargic fish. You don't hear much about them for the same reason people don't brag about the monster 9 inch walleyes they have been catching.

[Bushwacker]

I had a 22" on last night that took at least a 8 foot vertical leap straight out of the water. My buddy and I had a simulanious "WOW". One of the coolest things I have ever saw, right in line with the full moon. I have caught a fair number of little ones and they have a ton of fight in them. It is amazing how much stronger they are than a northern of the same size. Awesome fish, now if I could only catch more of the big ones.

[SWMuskeye]

I've been catching tons of 2-foot tigers this year, but the big girls have not been connecting on as much of a rate. Like others said, when these fish hit your gear they really pound it! Its surprising that a 2-footer will hit the same baits (not all muskie baits but some) as the larger guys.

Another reason that you don't see the little fish is that they grow so quickly. The 2-footers I'm catching were stocked in 2001, and next year they could be around 30" or a little less. Quite a difference in the period of a year.

[muskieboy46]

Soo how come i catch the little northern but not the little muskies? I just think its kinda weird that all i see are little northern and big muskies. thanks for the replies

[Dynasty]

I would imagine the reason you catch more of the little northerns is because the little northerns greatly outnumber the little muskies.