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[quote=Salmonella] the gear most guys use is crazy heavy.
Couple reasons for the 8-9 'XH rods, and 80# braid.
1) those who really appreciate the Muskie for what he is really isn't interested in "fighting" with the fish. The goal is to get the fish to the net as quickly as possible and released to fight another day. Because even where there are lots of them, there ain't many. It's way more about the "hunt" than the fight.
2) a lot of us fish Muskies in small streams and rivers. Lotta wood, rocks, etc. I agree they don't go on epic runs like salmon or steelhead, that said a fish like you caught above in a small stream trying like helll to get back into the wood takes some convincing to come to the net. A flippin' stick ain't gonna do it. The long heavy rod also helps in the figure 8. Which is where most Muskies are caught. The longer the rod, the bigger the circle you can make with a long fish that turns like an 18wheeler, not to mention easier on your back. Figure 8s all days with a 7' rod......SUCK.
3) the 80# line. Some of the lures that really appeal to these big fish are heavy. A backlash with a 12-15oz bait and 30 pound mono? Goodbye lure. KY I’m using 10-10.5 food rods on the troll, I use 8’9” rods on the cast. I’m not of the school of giant lures. I fish Canadian waters the most, maybe the Mississippi and a few lakes in Minnesota for Musky and those northern lakes don’t have much obstruction to deal with. Plus I generally fish deeper than most so a long easy bending rod works well for a patient fight. Easy on the fish. Line is 100 lb stealth if I can get it, 80lb otherwise. My paycheck depends on the pictures so I don’t leave much to chance. I use the same for trophy pike. I agree with Sal… musky don’t fight like some others, certainly not like a pike of the same size. These days I’m hired probably 10% musky and 90% trophy pike. 50 plus inches of pike give way more battle than the same in a musky at least in the far north. I don’t think that fight strength is the determining factor in why so many want pike, it just seems to be the flavor of the time to catch one that big. That pendulum will probably swing. Osky
A woman's heart is the hardest rock the Almighty has put on this earth and I can find no sign on it.
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Campfire Outfitter
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Muskies are supposedly the fish of a thousand casts. People don't realize how hard it is to cast those heavy broomsticks all day. I have for decades fished from sunup to sundown. Cast after cast after cast for King Salmon and Striped Bass. We fished mostly with 8-12 lb fast action Salmon-Steelhead rods with 300 class Diawa Lexas, Shimano Curados and Chronarchs. We caught countless kings up to 40#. ![[Linked Image from i.postimg.cc]](https://i.postimg.cc/k514RKfn/Screenshot-20230329-180634-Instagram.jpg)
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Muskies are supposedly the fish of a thousand casts. People don't realize how hard it is to cast those heavy broomsticks all day. I have for decades fished from sunup to sundown. Cast after cast after cast for King Salmon and Striped Bass. We fished mostly with 8-12 lb fast action Salmon-Steelhead rods with 300 class Diawa Lexas, Shimano Curados and Chronarchs. We caught countless kings up to 40#. Nice fish. I’m not a caster per se for musky anymore. Even with the lighter gear I choose to use and supply clients with they physically wear down quick and the tangles and backlashes increase. Heck I’m getting older too. Trolling is my primary especially in real clear water. There is no more heroism in boating a musky on the cast than the troll to me. One exception is a warm summer days approaching thunderstorm. That last hour of the approaching black clouds, when you can hear the Thunder and see the lightening coming is unbelievably good, cast away and enjoy! Osky A note on the big lures. I often work a double set with a good flashy bladed bucktail type or flashy spoon style and within 15 feet or less a smaller rapala like an sr9 size or even a seven. You would be surprised at how often the musky or pike will take that smaller lure. I think at times they are just plain not hungry but can’t resist the attack reflex after being attracted so the little lure takes the duty. Be sure and check even the little lure hooks because new doesn’t mean sharp and be sure and back the drag off a little on that rod.
A woman's heart is the hardest rock the Almighty has put on this earth and I can find no sign on it.
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
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I don't think I've ever seen a musky.
These premises insured by a Sheltie in Training ,--- and Cooey.o
"May the Good Lord take a likin' to you"
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I don't think I've ever seen a musky. Pikeish. Lotta color variations depending on being a true musky, tiger musky and so on. Within those two there are variations even. I fish people on one very deep gin clear lake where many musky come from the bays and shorelines looking “standard” if you will, and then if you run 35-45 feet deep down in the Cisco schools those musky are colored and brilliant like many ocean fish. Go figure? Wabi you probably have them closer to your lake up there than you think. Osky
A woman's heart is the hardest rock the Almighty has put on this earth and I can find no sign on it.
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
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Wabigoon lake has musky's. Dad told about a musky fisherman that. took his wife on a fishing trip.
She got bored after a few days of shopping, and sightseeing. The decided they would eat an early supper they'd go out in Musky Bay, in 45 minuets, she caught the biggest Musky in Ontario that year.
These premises insured by a Sheltie in Training ,--- and Cooey.o
"May the Good Lord take a likin' to you"
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Wabigoon lake has musky's. Dad told about a musky fisherman that. took his wife on a fishing trip.
She got bored after a few days of shopping, and sightseeing. The decided they would eat an early supper they'd go out in Musky Bay, in 45 minuets, she caught the biggest Musky in Ontario that year. Spend enough time trolling the lake, enjoying the day and scenery, and you will catch one. Osky
A woman's heart is the hardest rock the Almighty has put on this earth and I can find no sign on it.
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Campfire Member
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I don't think I've ever seen a musky. Pikeish. Lotta color variations depending on being a true musky, tiger musky and so on. Within those two there are variations even. I fish people on one very deep gin clear lake where many musky come from the bays and shorelines looking “standard” if you will, and then if you run 35-45 feet deep down in the Cisco schools those musky are colored and brilliant like many ocean fish. Go figure? Wabi you probably have them closer to your lake up there than you think. Osky Three subspecies of pure and tigers are hybrid. Clear (inland lakes of some states), spotted (the Great Lakes), and barred (Chautauqua). All have nice colors but I like the blueish in the barred and clear.
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