Info/Gear for getting started w/ Muskie/Lg Pike

[Uncle Grump]

Hi all

This is my first post in this particular forum.

Thru a set of extremely fortuitous circumstances, I have aquired the following gear so far:

2 Berkley Big Game Rods (e-glass), 1 @ 7.5', 1 @7'

Ambassadour 6500 & 6000 reels

5 muskie lures:
1 "Jake" (fire tiger)
1 "Magnum Stomper" (black w/ a couple touches of red)
2 Bucktail spinners (orange and black, yellow and black)
1 1.25 oz "Secret Weapon" spinner bait (white body, red, black and white skirt)

I've caught a number of pike over the years, but nothing more than about 5-6#, and never a muskie. Since I've now got some gear, I'd like to try using it - of course.

So - questions:
1) Is trolling legal and/or ethical in Mn for muskie? I am told that in Wisconsin its not legal.

2) What other stuff should I have? I have a camera that always goes along, and a jaw spreader, and a big pliers. I read in another post about leather gloves. What else?

3) Are there other lures I should be getting? Names, sizes, color patterns would be helpful. Also, what type of storage system to do you use for muskie sized lures.

4) What do I look for - habitat wise - for muskie - so far as the water is concerned? Weedy, etc? Depths?

5) Will I find large pike mixed in the same water as muskie, or do they stay away from each other?

6) Does a really large pike or muskie thrash about the way the smaller fish do once netted and in the boat? Caught a five
pound fish this weekend - it was not happy with me, and didn't want to pose for having its picture taken. How do you guys that get these large fish get them to be still enough
for photos/measuring?

7) Live bait? Ethical? If yes, what would I need for it?

Anything else I missed?

Thanks much.

UG

[Hugo]

So - questions:
1) Is trolling legal and/or ethical in Mn for muskie? I am told that in Wisconsin its not legal. It is legal in MN and considered ethical all though you may find some people that will argue. Most of Wisc it is not legal but there are exceptions.

2) What other stuff should I have? I have a camera that always goes along, and a jaw spreader, and a big pliers. I read in another post about leather gloves. What else?
Get a good mini bolt cutter, A large net is nice (rubber coated)and a long needle nose works well. If the fish is hooked badly, cut the hooks and remove the peices.

3) Are there other lures I should be getting? Names, sizes, color patterns would be helpful. Also, what type of storage system to do you use for muskie sized lures.
Try the safety pin (bass type) spinner baits made for muskie (Raddogs are one type). They work well and are easy to use.

4) What do I look for - habitat wise - for muskie - so far as the water is concerned? Weedy, etc? Depths? With fall approching, I start to concentrate on deep weeds that are green. Don't over look rocks either. Fish were other people aren't.

5) Will I find large pike mixed in the same water as muskie, or do they stay away from each other? I have caught both, but the muskie is the King.

6) Does a really large pike or muskie thrash about the way the smaller fish do once netted and in the boat? Caught a five
pound fish this weekend - it was not happy with me, and didn't want to pose for having its picture taken. How do you guys that get these large fish get them to be still enough
for photos/measuring? Suprisingly the bigger they are the less thrashing they do (my experience). Hold the fish firmly with one hand under the gill plate (carefully) and support the fish with the other hand underneath and hold verically. DO NOT hold the fish vertically by it own weight as it will cause damage and possible kill the fish later. Keep the fish in the water until the camera operator is ready then take the picture quickly and get the fish back in the water.

7) Live bait? Ethical? If yes, what would I need for it? Live bait is traditionally used more in Wisc. where you can use 2 lines (one live bait the other casting). It can and is used in Mn. If you use suckers, please find out how to rig it on a quick strike rig so the hooks do not enter the fishes belly.

Anything else I missed? Take a picture and let them go. Handle them carefully and have FUN!!

Dave

[metro 1]

Uncle Grump
get out while you can!! I started muskie fishing A few years ago and I'm not sure where it all went wrong. I just fished the muskies international tournament last week end and had a blast. Its a great way to learn from the best and what works. We fished cases lake. and I got a 38" muskie but needed a 40" to get on the board.

We had the best follows on a lure called a bull dawg.Man that thing really pulled them in for a look but no takers. I snapped the line (back lash) and lost the dawg so I went right in after it and found it. Uncle Grump I would look around the web there are some great sites just for the muskies. also check out some therapy seasons too .Metro