newcomer needs help

[musky_tail05]

I just started muskie fishing last summer. Here's what I have:
Abu Garcia 5500 C3
heavy action Shakespere rod
50# power pro line
really heavy leader
jointed li'l Ernie-orange tiger
buchertail baby shallowraider-sucker prism
super shad rap-bluegill color
small toss-a-tail bucktail-gold blade/black dressing

My question is: What other lures would you reccomend? I'm sticking with smaller ones because I want to catch any size muskie instead of going for the 50incher right away.I fish lakes with clarity from 6ft. to 18.5ft, mostly central and northern MN. Also, if you can give me some tips on getting my first one, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks -Musky_tail05

[Guest]

hello, where about in northern minnesota are you fishing and what lakes. i fish alot of lake in the grand rapids area and have done pretty well. i would think about getting some jerkbaits such as suicks or reef hawgs maybe. couple bucktails that you can burn once summer rolls around like harassers or voodoo tails and a couple topwater lures probably wouldnt hurt. hog wobblers, topraiders, creepers seem to do the job pretty well.

[Captain Ken]

Agree on the bucktails. Can't go wrong with black. Other lures are good suggestions too. Try to figure out what the forage base is and see if you can come close to that. Probably teh biggest thing I see people do wrong is they get the right lures but really don't know how to work them right. Try to find someone who knows how to work em and have them give you a dock side lesson.

Also, when I see lots of guys come up on the spot too close and end up spooking the fish. Stay out and throw in. If you have a really fishy spot. Work it in two passes: one farther out and then another closer in to get at the closer water. You would be surprised as to how many muskies are hanging out off the structure or break rather than between teh break and shore/island. Also, don't forget about submurged humps. I have no idea where you are fishing, so I don't know if you have weeds, humps, etc.

Good luck!

Capt Ken

------------------
Captain Ken Kessler
www.captainken.com
www.muskieschool.com
Guiding in Illinois and North East Minnesota
847-970-9108 Illinois
218-742-4680 Minnesota

[musky_tail05]

Thanks for the replies. Musky796-I have fished on Winnie twice last summer but only got some 20-28"northerns. I fished in Tamarack Bay in the shallow reeds using that bucktail. We're coming up in August sometime and I'm thinking about trying Deer or Spider for a day or two. Do you have any suggestions on where to go on those lakes? Closer to home, I fished Alexander and Shamineau near Motley. On Sham. there's a nice 17 foot hump thats surrounded by 30 or 40 feet that looks really good. Well, all I have to do now is wait for the opener. Thanks again, guys -musky_tail05

[Esoxmn]

one lure everyone should have is a Giant Jackpot. I believe the muskies in Spider are Shopack strain and dont grow as big.
Deer is not to hard to fish , just get a map at a local bait shop. There is enough structure, you could fish it all weekend. Also Moose lake is right across the road from deer and is known as more of a numbers lake.

[This message has been edited by esoxmn (edited 03-09-2004).]

[Fish-n-Freak]

Well, you are fishing some good water, and you have some good lures. I would second the ideas about the Jackpot and some kind of Jerkbait.

Then just focus on learning what your lures can do, and how to make them do it. The fish will come.

Steve

[cliffy]

dont forget the safety pin style of spinner baits.....great to use in heavy slop,weeds and timber...I had good luck with black and orange. I would also agree on the Jackpot and Suick baits. This year I am going to give plastics/jigs a try and see how they work....good luck!

[Guest]

hey muskie tails, i have fished winnie befor and have seen some logs. havnt caught one out of there though. winnie is a little bit harder to fish i think. its not a numbers lake but theres definatly some pigs in there. spider does have some shoepak muskies in there but there is also some regs as well. deer is a harder lake to fish. deer lake has extremly clear water and if you fish it you best luck would probably be at night or a overcast. natural colors and orange and white have been good there.i would definatily get a lake map of deer and be careful because there is alot of lower unit killers. especially in the south east corner. deer lake is neighbors with moose lake which is definatly a numbers lake. its also a clear lake but its easier to target fish there. fishing the clear lakes will help you define differnt types of stucture and help you learn to eliminate dead water. both lakes have a high cisco population just to keep in mind for choosing lures. my name is dave and im work lucky bait on highway 2 on the way to cohasset. once season rolls around or next time your around stop by and ill show you what i have learned about these lakes and what lures have produced fish for me.if im not there then ask whos workin when i will be and i hope the info will help.

[musky_tail05]

Musky 796- Thanks for the great info on those lakes. The next time that I'll be in that area will probably be sometime in August. I'll be sure to stop in (if I can remember that is) Im now considering fishing Moose for a day if I ever do get bored with Winnie. thanks again -Musky_tail05

[shamalex72]

On Alex I like to use top raiders, spinner baits, jakes and cisco kids. For colors black and perch patterns have been good.

[ilikepike]

I am a novice, too. I have been fishing for muskie only a couple of years. I finally caught and released my first one (legal too!) in the metro last June. I've got one word: bucktail. A red and yellow Mepps Giant Killer was what did it.

I think the mistake I made when I first started was that I changed my lure too often and stayed in one spot too long. Look at the water, structure and conditions; pick a lure that matches the conditions, stick with it and move around. Prior to my catch I never even saw a muskie. Then one day after several hours of casting one swam up out the weeds and BAM! bit the lure. That's it.