Northwest Fishing Reports

So I know the question of what to use gets asked so often in this forum. Mainly because well its a new experience for most people. So I am past that point, I boated 7 last year out of silver and newman (released all of 'em). I have a decent understanding of the whole concept of muskie fishin. I'm trying to get all of my tackle ready so when the lakes thaw I can hook up the boat and go. The other day I was in Cabelas and noticed they had their own bucktails for a decent price. I didn't use bucktails last year but I am looking to pick up a few. Assuming I can't afford to have a huge selection of them, are there certain styles or color combos that are a must have? And does anybody have any experience with the Cabelas bucktails or any they would recommend?

The next topic is swim baits. I've started using them for bass and I can only imagine that they would be great for the toothy giants too. The problem is that they can be very expensive and soft bodied. Now I'm not a rocket scientist but soft body and muskie don't seem to mesh real well. There is no way I'm throwing a $20-30 swim bait towards the grasp of their teeth. Storm makes some that look pretty good and are reasonably priced. Not sure how they do or hold up. Anybody know of any affordable swim baits that will hold up to a muskie or at least cheap enough that I can throw it out and not feel like I just chopped off an arm?

My third topic is topwater lures for musky. Im not sure if there is a more exciting way to fish for bass than topwater, and I would like to carry that over to muskie if possible. I have seen a muskie, mouth out of the water trying to take the lure I just lifted out (damn! should have been paying attention on that one!) so I can imagine that they would take a topwater lure. So what should I try?

GF,
Personally I like Ducktail Lures bucktails and spinnerbaits. Built very well and they're the correct size for our tigers. Not big like most true musky lures.
http://ducktaillures.com/
I like swimbaits but those darn muskies will take the back half of a soft bodied swimbait quicker than you can say 'get me another beer'. I rig mine with a single hook buried in the tail for those short strikes.
Spending $20-30 on a musky bait is not unusual. I've got a tackle box full of baits that costed that much and more. Nothing cheap about musky tackle. Cheap lures usually don't last or worse, end up lost in a fish's mouth. Kind of like cheap leaders.
I don't throw many topwaters for muskies. It's a confidence thing.

So what swim baits do you use deadeye?

G.F.- Hello again. My favorite colors for Newman and Silver (Blade/Tail): Spring time- Brass/Yellow and Nickle/Black, Summer time - Orange/Black and Chart/Black. I start with the smaller single treble designs in the spring. The smaller baits with the willow blade at Cabela's looked fine to me so I grabbed a couple for my boys. The larger bucks at Cabela's are Bionic Bucktails and they are a good quality summer/fall bucktail. You can pick up the Mepps tandem Musky Killers at Sportsman's. As far as spinnerbaits go, I love the Fudally Musky Candy Spin. Compact, but heavy enough to toss a mile and a closed wire eye ensures the leader won't go anywhere when fighting a fish. Same colors as the in-line bucks.
Swimbait- My favorites are the Storm kick'n minnow and the Bulldawg. Both hold up well to muskies and attract strikes like nothing else I fish with. Another I like, but it is a bit more prone to being bitten in two, is the Swimmin' Charlie. I have found the Savage Gear 4-Play to be the most reasonably priced hard bodied, segmented swimbait out there. And what action!
I have only caught top water muskies on Zarra Spooks. And the time of day is always really early or really late. One thing I did to hook and hold fish better was remove the factory hooks, put on split rings and re-arm with slightly larger hooks. The all black one and firetiger have been the ones that have fooled muskies for me.
Rollie and Hellens and Musky Tackle On-line are my favorite sources.

See, I knew you would come through for me! I couldn't have asked for better help from you guys! thanks

GF,
I've got a couple Basstrix trout swimbaits in the 8" size I like. Not made any more though. 3:16 lure company makes some good one. I'll probably throw a bulldawg more this year also.

GF,
I've got a couple Basstrix trout swimbaits in the 8" size I like. Not made any more though. 3:16 lure company makes some good one. I'll probably throw a bulldawg more this year also.

Gone Fishin, We've had pretty good luck with topwater baits on Mayfield. Magnum Zara Spooks are my favorite(I agree with musky guy, upgrade the hooks) but floating crankbaits also work well when twitched on top. As Deadeye mentioned, it's a confidence thing, if you're heart isn't in it, you won't work the lure to it's full potential. With both bass and muskies, I've found that topwaters work best on calm, muggy, overcast days. Hope this helps.

As stated by the guys above, change out the hooks but also, and I feel it's even more important, is to change out the split rings on the hook hangers and the nose eye. Most bass type split rings will not hold up.

Speaking of tackle. Sportsmans Warehouse has Creek Chub Wooden Pikie's for $9.00. I see their usually around $15.00. Not sure if they work for you guys/gals. Thought I'd mention it.

Muskies tend to chew up soft plastic lure bodies, and they aren't real cheap to replace, so I make repairs to get a couple more fish on them before discarding them. If you've tried to glue them, you probably already know that superglue doesn't stick to the plastic used in these lures, but PVC Pipe Cement does. It's available at hardware and plumbing supply stores; I keep a can of this stuff in my big tackle box with the spare line, reels, rod guides, hooks, and other tool and parts I use for making on-the-water tackle repairs. When they're badly ripped up, I also stitch them up with clear monofilament fishing line. You can improvise a sewing needle by straightening a small fish hook and flattening the barb with pliers. (It's easier to sew a lure together if you leave a little curvature in the "needle.")

GF, I dont know how much more I can add.

bucktails and spinners: Like MG said start small and work bigger as weather gets warmer. Dont worry about colors as much as retrieval speed and the location you are using them at.

swimbaits: buy cheap ones if you are worried about them getting chewed up, Ive had fair luck with them, but found something that works better then them and can be fished in more situations.

Top water: I did not catch my first musky until last year on top water. I was just about ready to stop trying. I was at a garage sale and saw this big a$$ rubber frog for sale, the thing was huge, I thought only a pike will take this. I do have good luck with pike on toop water. I threw the big fella into the thick cabbage last summer and workd it slow and pulled out a nice tiger from the muck.

My best advice is to try one or two lures and fish them all day. I dont always follow my own advice, but when I do I have better luck.

It still might be to early but I have caught some nice pike in CD'A on a Rapala Magnum on a fast retrieve. With the recent cold spell that came through,I have no idea what would really work right now. Best of luck.

When a cold snap hits..your kinda screwed. I look for weed beds close to drop offs.If its cold and windy then you fish on in inside of points. The warmer water stays in the inside of the points. Or as I did in the fall TROLL..!!

Anyone using Crazy Crank Rumblers? I 've been looking at these in Musky Hunter and started checking around online at Thorne Bros.,Pastikas and everywhere else and see their all around 30.00 a piece. Just wondering if its worth it and if so any preferred colors or patterns?

kevinb wrote: Anyone using Crazy Crank Rumblers? I 've been looking at these in Musky Hunter and started checking around online at Thorne Bros.,Pastikas and everywhere else and see their all around 30.00 a piece. Just wondering if its worth it and if so any preferred colors or patterns?

I have one in Black/Red (I'll even let you throw it if we ever get out together, unless I left it in MN). I find them to be a little heavy. They had a problem with the first few batches where most of them would sink. As it is, I have to hold the rod fairly vertical on the retrieve to keep it from going under. Makes a nice sound, though. I've had a lot more action (in Minnesota, anyway) on LOWriders and Pacemakers. Haven't gotten any Muskie love on the Rumbler yet.

PDXFisher wrote:

kevinb wrote: Anyone using Crazy Crank Rumblers? I 've been looking at these in Musky Hunter and started checking around online at Thorne Bros.,Pastikas and everywhere else and see their all around 30.00 a piece. Just wondering if its worth it and if so any preferred colors or patterns?

I have one in Black/Red (I'll even let you throw it if we ever get out together, unless I left it in MN). I find them to be a little heavy. They had a problem with the first few batches where most of them would sink. As it is, I have to hold the rod fairly vertical on the retrieve to keep it from going under. Makes a nice sound, though. I've had a lot more action (in Minnesota, anyway) on LOWriders and Pacemakers. Haven't gotten any Muskie love on the Rumbler yet.

Thanks PDX, Muskie lures are usually pricey. So I should just deal with it. I just havn't heard any good or bad results on this lure. I will pick some up.

kevinb wrote:[Thanks PDX, Muskie lures are usually pricey. So I should just deal with it. I just havn't heard any good or bad results on this lure. I will pick some up.

I wouldn't get more than one, if I were you. I think multiple colors on topwaters is kinda silly, just get a variety of makes so you can have different profiles and sounds. Have you had any luck with prop baits on Tapps? I've had both Muskies and Pike hit my LOWrider. If you don't have one of the those, I'd suggest you get one. They're especially great for rough weather. Pacemakers are very effective at dusk/night. I don't have any, but hear great things about Topwalkers.

Check out muskytackleonline for your lure needs. Aaron's prices are usually the best and he ships faster than anyone. He's a great guy and will answer questions over email for days. I've learned a lot from him. He's got the Rumbler for $21 (I have "Smashed Pumpkin" color).

PDXFisher wrote:

kevinb wrote:[Thanks PDX, Muskie lures are usually pricey. So I should just deal with it. I just havn't heard any good or bad results on this lure. I will pick some up.

I wouldn't get more than one, if I were you. I think multiple colors on topwaters is kinda silly, just get a variety of makes so you can have different profiles and sounds. Have you had any luck with prop baits on Tapps? I've had both Muskies and Pike hit my LOWrider. If you don't have one of the those, I'd suggest you get one. They're especially great for rough weather. Pacemakers are very effective at dusk/night. I don't have any, but hear great things about Topwalkers.

Check out muskytackleonline for your lure needs. Aaron's prices are usually the best and he ships faster than anyone. He's a great guy and will answer questions over email for days. I've learned a lot from him. He's got the Rumbler for $21 (I have "Smashed Pumpkin" color).

No BS,every fish I've caught has been on Rapala Magnums and Husky Jerks. Its only been recently that I opened up my "arsenol" and bought bucktails or anything else.

kevinb wrote:No BS,every fish I've caught has been on Rapala Magnums and Husky Jerks. Its only been recently that I opened up my "arsenal" and bought bucktails or anything else.

Well, if I can make it up for the Chapter 57 meeting, I'll bring my big Flambeau box (and a few Planos) so you can "window shop" a little. Unless we hit Tapps beforehand ;)

I've got way too many...it's an addiction. Watch out.