Surface prop baits

[Cooter]

Well I really like them and want to add one or two to the arsenal. So I'm looking for suggestions. I already have the Bucher Topraiders and a Holcombe Topwalker. Something with a different 'sound' from those is what I'm lookin fer. Thanks.

[RuKiddingMe]

Gotta throw out a few options for you, Pacemaker - clicks on the retrieve preety cool sound, Awaker - has a diferent tone and a little larger profile then the TR, LOW Rider props on the front and the back and spin oppsite of each other, ThunderHead - prop is in front, suppose to have the best hook ups (have yet to even have a follow on mine... I'm sure there will be others thrown out here, these are the one I have experience with.

RU

[RK]

Hiya,

Pacemakers and LOW Riders get a lot of time in my boat, especially in wind. Holcomb Stompers are good too.

Pays to have some prop baits that are a little more subtle too. Have caught many many muskies on Mouldy's Topper Stoppers over the years. Some good similar baits too like Leer Lures Whopper Popper or Ty Sennett's Stillwater.

Finally, don't forget buzzbaits. Very underfished...

Cheers,

RK

[whitewolf6647]

If I have two or more people in my boat at least one of us is throwing a LOWrider all the time. They are awesome topwaters and one of my go to baits.

[Muskydanno]

Picked up a new Holcombe topwater at the show that should be good. Looks like a thunderhead but has a monster prop on the back too. Also have the option of getting one with a twister grub on the back that has some great potential too.

[porterhouse]

My top 2 prop baits are Water Choppers and Thunderheads.

I really like Water choppers. This bait has a awesome sound to it.

I like throwing Thunderheads in pre-frontal conditions and when it is windy.Thunderheads are a big fish bait!!!! I got my 2 biggest muskies on this bait.

Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Brian

[Esoxmn]

I would recomend removing the back hook and adding another splitring, seems to keep the hooks from fowling and increases the hooking percentage.

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[Random guy]

I am a big fan of the LOWrider, stompers, thunderheads and pacemakers. They just plain catch fish! I was taught a lesson last year on WBL, I had a fish come up on baits four times without snapping. I thought I would give the girl a break and come back with a jig later and try to pick her out of the weeds. A couple of guys came behind me throwing prop baits and had her on the first cast into her domain. I wondered why I didn't throw a prop all day.

[Vman]

I'd recommend Lee Lures Water Chopper by Lee Tauchen. It makes some awesome noise. Caught my biggest fish to date on it.

[buzzin for bass]

So now that I have a dozen or more prop baits to choose from when/how should I use them? Only in low/no light periods, all day long, over open water, above submerged weeds? as my screen name suggests I greatly enjoy the topwater action for bass and can only imagine what it would be like with a 40 or 50 inch musky busting the surface.

[Random guy]

Buzzin, Musky love topwater! In all conditions. I have had great luck over weeds, over rocks and the other normal conditions for muskie. I will also use them close to rock piles in heavy winds and big waves, you haven't seen crazy until you have seen a musky busting through waves chasing a bait. I truly believe there is no bad time or bad condition to use a topwater bait. They are visable, noisy, and very easy pickings for a musky. I have even used them to trigger open water fish hanging close to bait clusters. I always keep a topwater bait to throw back after a fish has followed a shallow jerkbait back to the boat without striking, something about topwater drives those muskies mad when they ignore everthing else.

[buzzin for bass]

That's great to hear, I prefer to throw topwater baits whenever possible. The strike is more exciting and quite frankly being able to watch the bait helps keep me and my short attention span interested.

[cjac]

From the sounds of it, all you have to do is follow Jon around and throw topwaters behind him! Guaranteed action!

If you think about it, you fish in 200 feet deep water with teasers on the surface for the sailfish, so never be afraid to go on the top!

[Random guy]

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From the sounds of it, all you have to do is follow Jon around and throw topwaters behind him! Guaranteed action!

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Not naming any names but it was a black/gray Lund.

[cjac]

Two words.....wasn't me!!!

Must have been a day when my bro "pisces" had my ride.....trying to get back at him for the "homework" comment!

Jon, are you still going with a new boat for 2006? Any decisions yet? Gas doesn't look like it's going to be any cheaper....Tahoe + Lund = Empty wallet

[Random guy]

I have been looking but it's hard to find a counsel boat that can take big water, big front and rear casting decks,60" livewell for tournaments, and go 60+ mph. I am looking at new carpet and a very exspensive buff job for the old Stratos. Plus I ended up having a complete rebuild on the FICHT...again.

[cjac]

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I have been looking but it's hard to find a counsel boat that can take big water, big front and rear casting decks,60" livewell for tournaments, and go 60+ mph.

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I was just looking around a little bit, that 60 inch livewell criteria really does limit ones options. Some of the the Tuffy boats have the big wells, who else does? Just curious more than anything. Does the "Badger" have one in it? I assume so.....so then wouldn't some of the new Stratos models also?

Rebuilding the FICHT again.....maybe we need to a install a kill switch that reads off your tach! Redline = kill!

[RK]

Hiya,

You still running a Stratos 219 by any chance? One of the best muskie hulls ever made I think. Had a chance to get one dirt cheap a few years back and passed it up. Still kick myself once in a while. Then again, it DID have a 150 Ficht ...heh. Been in the boat when one of those things went KA-POW. Fairly spectacular...lotsa white smoke, and little pieces of engine here and there inside the cowling.

Aaanyhooo...

Check out the Tracker Tundras man. Been running one the last couple years, and they're pretty awesome. Amazingly smooth ride. I'd put them up against anything glass, and nothing in aluminum is even in the same league. Fast hull, and in rough water nothing can catch them. Best part about the rough water ride - they stay on plane and under control at very low speeds. Mine stays on plane at 22 mph. Nice for running in rough crud - beats wallowing around half on plane and half plowing water.

If you're looking at the 21 footer, you can get 65 mph pretty easy. For the 18 footer, it's about 57-58 with a 175 Opti. I run a 135 Opti on mine (don't care much about top speed) and I'm still getting around 50 with a stock prop. Nice muskie boats - 18 footers have a ton of useable storage for an 18 foot boat, and the 21s have more yet. In my 18 I can fit 8.5" rods (at least - could probably get 9 footers in there) in the side lockers and 7.5 footers in the centerline rod locker.

Gotta say though - to me big livewells are the single most pointless feature on 'muskie boats' I can imagine. It's space that would be much better used s storage. My old boat had one, and it was a 60" garbage can/boat bumper storage locker. I have real issues with transport tournaments (they aren't allowed for muskies in MN fortunately), so this is partly just me not likeing the idea of putting fish in a livewell just for the sake of a tournament - I'll admit tht for sure... But still, even that aside, I know a lot of guys say they need 'em, but I don't get it...

How in the world did this thread go from prop baits to livewells? Typical scatter-brained muskie fishermen...

Cheers,

RK

[Random guy]

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Rebuilding the FICHT again.....maybe we need to a install a kill switch that reads off your tach! Redline = kill!

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You aint moving unless you have a twenty foot rooster tail and that god awful howl coming from the prop. The trouble I'm having with the Ficht is fuel related again, if that thing gets a drink of bad fuel it's all over quick. Most Fichts don't have this problem but I have tweeked that motor well past the point of sensible.

The Old Stratos does have a huge livewell(you have to get in and swim around with the fish to get them out.) along with many features that fit musky guys. Thats why so many 219F models where on the weedbeds and rock piles in the mid 90's. They fit musky anglers to a T. They quit making that model, style and hull design and went more towards the bass guys. I have looked at other boats but to get four things you want you have to give up two. Yes I want my cake and I want to eat it. Plus I own the Stratos free and clear so it's hard to accept a 40k boat that you don't really like.

I think the old Badger is going to see one more season, it's getting as old and shotty as the captian.

[Random guy]

RK, I agree with the live well being a waste but I still fish some tournaments that have judge boats that seem to get lost or confused when coming to judge a fish. I like to keep the fish in that areated water in a controlled enviroment while I wait instead of trying to hold the fish in the cradle along side the boat, it seems like the fish settle down when they are in the well, plus it does make a good dry storage for big stuff the rest of the time.

[bigbritt]

i second the lowrider. in fact luke ronnestrand of holcombe tackle just came out with a medium size that is a little better for the waves and a little louder. three sizes for the lowrider (small med and large). hey also has two new globes this year called the water humper, one is a squirrely tail. i just had a chance to see these things at a recent poolside demo in alex, and they looked awesome. he also has re-done his tsunami with a larger head and the thing has the best matallic sound i have ever heard. holcombe tackle has the prop bait style figured out! ty sennett's pacemaker is another one of my favorites also. it has a metallic sound that i have not heard anywhere else

[Random guy]

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How in the world did this thread go from prop baits to livewells? Typical scatter-brained muskie fishermen...

Cheers,

RK

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RK, we have a surface bait topic talking about boats, a lure modification topic talking about top water action and another topic "ground hog day" talking about sizing fish via photos. Without our water we are all a bunch of lost souls.

Who the heck is in charge on this forum!?

[delmuts]

this is just a classic example of WONDERING MINDS!! we start talking about one thing, then start wondering about something else ! so we ask!!

[RK]

Hey Delmuts -

Would the be wondering minds, or just wandering minds ?

[superhawk16]

I was just doing a little "wandering" myself and found myself in the walleye forum. They are all complaining about the new 20inch maximum on all walleye lakes. I think one of use musky guys should go in there and recommend a 40inch minimum for walleyes. I mean hey if we have to deal with it why can't they