workin' a Bulldawg

[metro 1]

I fished the muskie inc. tournament last week end and that was the "HOT" lure for sure. Infact I was at fleet farm today and bought another one because they pulled fish in like crazy. I never got a muskie with it but must have seen 6 or 7 with it. They are IMHO hard to through for any length of time but they retrieve like a charm.allot of rubber offsets the lead. I just casted as far as I could and straight retrieved it and slowed down once I got a visual on it. Great lure for sure.Metro

[southerner]

Any tips on proper presentation using a Bulldawg rubber/plastic lure? I've only dinked around with mine around milfoil edges, but haven't got the confidence up high enough to use it regularly.

It appears to have both a good swimming action w/the tail undulating around and I'm thinking it'd also be productive w/the lift & drop technique. Any input on typical locations or presentation styles?

[muskieboy46]

ive only had follows on it which shows me that they are interested in it but not enough to bite it. its not going to be my confidence lure until i hear more people actually catching fish.

[metro 1]

I'm really new to this muskie stuff and when I see a lure that has that many follows in two days I get pretty excited. I did hook a 35" northern and that was at the back of the boat right in front of me. I've been told right now until freeze up they will really start to hit and I sure think that bull dawg is going to work, and well.When you refer to a confidence lure what might yours be? I think in my small collection that all of them are or I wouldn't have them.
1. giant jackpot (sucker)
2. reef hawg (perch )
3.bucker magnum 8 (black&red)
4.bull dawg 3oz.(black /orange tail)
5.grandma 7.5" (sucker prism)
What a great fish to read about ,watch,learn more,hunt for , and actually fish for.Well now that my blood is going I'll have to try to get out today after the chores are done.Metro

[muskieboy46]

my confidence lure to tell the truth isnt even a muskie lure. i have had more follows/muskies on the small northland spinnerbaits with a powerbait trailer. seen other fish with other lures but the only thing ive had them hit on are these. ive heard that in some lakes the muskies wont hit those big baits because they dont normally see that size bait fish but i dont know if this is the case.

muskieboy

write if you catch anything on the bull dawg.

[metro 1]

I have heard that some unconventional baits are working well for the muskie. Around my area the muskies are in only a couple of lakes and the pressure is unbelievable. So what works around Wright co. is dare devils and night fishing for them. I have my boat in for repairs (again) and should get it back tomorrow then I'll see if the bull dawg can pull one from sugar.Metro

[Fish-n-Freak]

Hey Metro,
The Bulldawg will work just fine on Sugar! One item to remember -- Use heavy (80-100lb) line and a Heavy action rod. When you feel something, set the hook REALLY hard! You need to get that dawg to move through her teeth, if you're going to get any hooks to plant.

I know way too many guys that "hate" the Bulldawg, because they get bit, but can't land a fish. I have not lost a fish on a dawg yet. They are a great lure from the opener until ice-up.

I fish mine three main ways;
1) Cast and reel
2) Cast, reel, stop, jerk, jerk, reel, stop...
3) Cast, let sink to the bottom, snap jig it back in.

#3 is incredible for late fall and post cold fronts. This is not a numbers game, but will put some BIG fish on your line.

Good Luck!
Steve

[southerner]

Thanks for the input re: Bulldawgs. I've been out of town recently, hence no reply to this post, but I'll be getting out this weekend and will give it a try.

One of you asked what are my confidence lures. Here we go...
1) Super Shad Rap grey on top w/white & orange belly. Rip and let it rise, rip and let it rise...
2) Black bucktail (smallish) Mepps Muskie Killer size & style. I find them more productive than some of the larger bucktails and are easier to throw all day.
3) 10" tailprop with 90 degree bend on the "propeller". I forget the manufacturer but I tuned the lure to make a nice deep plopping sound rather than spitting up all kinds of water.
4) 10" topwater "Chugbug" style bait (chartreuse). The lure was given to me and I don't know the manufacturer, but if you've ever seen people fishing for peacock bass, that's exactly how I use it. It pushes a lot of water on the jerk and then I just let it sit a few seconds.
5) 1.5 oz black spinnerbait with dual black Indiana blades. Retrieved straight over and through weeds. Lots of bonus bass and pike on this one.

Good luck!

So'ner

[Guest]

Metro1
If you are fishing sugar, make sure the lure that you are throwing is pink! I fished sugar on opener and had all of my action on pink lures and NO action on anything else.

[metro 1]

I don't think I've seen a pink anything for muskies! But these fish on sugar are POUNDED hard. We went out last Wednesday night the wind was out of the south 15 to 25 cloudy all day man I thought it was perfect.What's it mater what I thought ? Nothing , didn't even see a skie. I did get a big bass on a reef hog ,the nerve.I'll have to give that a try .Metro

[Tonka Boy]

Metro 1,

As long as we're on this subject, what is your preferred method for working the Reef Hawg? I've always heard good things so I picked a few up the other day. Thanks.

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Tonka Boy

[metro 1]

The reef hawg, what a lure for sure. I run it like a sewick . twitch ,twitch ,twitch this is a glide bait. When I twitch it a let it glide and wind up the line. twitch ...glide. I only own one color (perch with yellow belly) now my partners hot lure is a giant jack pot but they are allot of work to fish right (I think) they are some what like the reef hawg but to watch him work that lure (jack pot) is like a good movie.metro

[Tonka Boy]

Thanks Metro-

That was kind of what I thought...like a suick. I had just heard about people catching muskies on them while trolling. Hense the reason I asked.

Ahhh, the Giant Jackpot! Also my favorite lure! There is nothing better than seeing a fish as large as a small child, jump clean out of the water at a Jackpot, nothing!!!!

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Tonka Boy

[Fish-n-Freak]

Tonka -

Many of the "jerkbaits" out there do make great trolling lures. The Reef Hawg, Sledge, Suick, Bobbie Bait and a few others all produce when trolled. They will have a "different" action. They will "snake" through the water and some will give you the random dart and zig zag -- try different speeds and adding some of those screw in weights.

PS: Some crankbaits also make awesome "jerkbaits" -- go figure. ;-)

Steve

[metro 1]

There are no rules that are cut in stone for what works or what should. I always hear of someone catching one on some wimpy ice fly with 6 lbs. line. Aren't they fun.

[metro 1]

There are no rules that are cut in stone for what works or what should. I always hear of someone catching one on some wimpy ice fly with 6 lbs. line. Aren't they fun.

[Fish-n-Freak]

That's what I love about these fish! They do what they want when they want, and you need to figure them out. I have been trying to learn what makes them tick for over 20 years. I have stopped golfing and hunting because of the Muskie.

What it all boils down too is, you need to get some hooks in front of a fish that is ready to eat. You need to learn where and when they are going to feed, part of that is learning what they feed on.

Good Luck!

[MT Net]

I never fished with a bulldog. But love the Jackpots and Reef Hawgs. I work my Reef Hawg the same way as the Jackpot. Same action, but about a foot below the surface. Absolutely fun baits to work.

[Tonka Boy]

Thanks guys-

Tonight my goal is to land one of those beasts on a Reef Hawg! I'll post my results tomorrow.

TB

[Tonka Boy]

No luck on the Reef Hawg. I was fortunate to catch a couple decent bass on bucktails, but not exactly what I wanted. Oh well, I'll keep trying.

By the way, Tonka is just beginning to turn over.

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Tonka Boy

[ScottND]

10/3, I got two follows on a white bulldawg but when I quickly switched to a white/red bucktail the hit and catch came. Unless muskies can't smell I wouldn't bite a dawg either, they really stink like plastic . I'm going to try injecting mine with some garlic salt or attractant of some sort to get rid of that smell and see if it works.

What do you think of the splash they make when hitting the water? I swear I've scared some ski's away. This morning on a glass lake I saw two swirl and torpedo away 20 ft. from the splash, never to be seen again!

[metro 1]

No matter what is thrown, it has to enter the water .The dawg does have a big splash and I haven't seen or figured out a graceful way of getting it in the water. But they sure get looked at in my boat, so I'm not sure if it matters all that much.

I was out on Sugar this weekend three times. once with my 7 yr. daughter and didn't see anything.my fishing partner called and wanted to quit duck hunting for the day and I went and picked him up at home and then I saw her. this was the biggest fish(50"+) I have ever seen !Followed a 9" grandma right to the boat and could care less that I was there. Did the 8 thing and got her to turn .I couldn't even talk all I could do was go "oh oh oh"it just sat there man what a fish .then she slid right under the boat.Went out last night and got three northern (bait fish) but I'll be thinking about my new girlfriend for quite awhile.Metro