Musky Fishing Tips, Tackle, & Tactics

Musky fishing enables you to pursue the most elusive and hallowed freshwater trophy of trophies. The muskellunge or "musky" is uniquely U.S. and Canadian only. They’ve stories have always been surrounded by mystery and legend. He’s a mean and moody lone-wolf hunter. Many consider him the most unpredictable fish that swims. Rare, wickedly toothed, intelligent, tricky, haughty and arrogant. A musky is savage and very aggressive one minute, sulky and moody the next. When finally hooked, a musky becomes a tackle-busting fury that will test the limits of your tackle and your fish-fighting skills.

Musky Fishing Tackle

The rod should be a stiff, heavy-action model, six to eight feet long, including a handle about 20-inches long. This long handle enables the angler to use two hands for casting large lures and provides the leverage required to set hooks and battle big fish. A rubber butt cushions the stomach while fighting a true monster. Heavy bass or light surf-casting rods will do, but the special musky rods made by most companies are preferable. Heavy freshwater or light saltwater bait-casting reels are ideal for musky fishing and intermediate-size spinning reels are also good. Braided or monofilament lines of 20- or 25-pound-test are optimum. It also makes sense to use a wire leader, since even the strongest lines may be shredded by a musky’s giant's long, sharp teeth.

Top Musky Fishing Waters

1. ONTARIO: Eagle and Corner lakes near Vermilion Bay.
2. QUEBEC: St. Lawrence River drainage.
3. MINNESOTA: Lake of the Woods, Leech and Cass lakes.
4. WISCONSIN: Hayward area-Lac du Flambeau Indian Reservation and Chippewa Flowage.
5. NEW YORK: Lake Chautauqua and St. Lawrence River.
6. MICHIGAN: St. Clair River and Lake St. Clair.
7. PENNSYLVANIA: Allegheny River and French Creek.
8. OHIO: Muskingum River.
9. WEST VIRGINIA: Elk River.
10. KENTUCKY: Obed River.
11. TENNESSEE: Crab Orchard Creek.

Top Musky Fishing Lures

1. Suick Plug
2. Luck ''E'' Strike Wooden Plug
3. Drifter Tackle Believer - Straight or Jointed
4. Rapala Magnum
5. Mepps Giant Killer

Musky Fishing Tips

1. Fish waters with a good musky producing reputation. Even in the best waters big muskies are relatively scarce and hard to find.

2. PLUG AND HARDWARE TACTICS. Use at least 20 inches of wire leader and proven musky lures. The big Suick and Rapala plugs should imitate wounded but lively suckers darting around just under the surface. Retrieve them erratically - fast, and then slow. Occasionally let them lie still to "rest." Fish the Giant Killer and other similar spinners just under the surface. Regardless of the type lure you're using, any time you see the wake of a big fish approaching or following, speed up the retrieve. If the lure gets to the boat without a strike, "figure 8" it a few times at the boats edge - and be sure your drag is set light.

3. BAIT TACTICS FOR SHALLOW WATER. Rig and hook suckers as recommended. When casting dead suckers fish them exactly as described for retrieving sucker-imitation plugs. When using live suckers, let out plenty of line and drift or slow-troll them around promising musky lairs. When a strike occurs while using either a dead or a live sucker, offer no resistance. Payout line, follow the fish with oars or electric kicker. Sometimes a musky will hold a big sucker ten minutes before swallowing it. Wait at least that long before setting the hook. Then slam it home!

4. MUSKY TACTICS FOR DEEP WATER. When fishing those occasional lakes where muskies lie deep in the hot months, troll with wire or lead-core line. With such lines you can troll deep and still feel the action of the lure. The Mepps Giant Killer and Rapala Magnum are effective deep-trolling lures. But a big Creek Chub Pikie trolled behind a June Bug spinner will sometimes out fish them both. For deep trolling, dark colored lures are usually best on dark days and light lures on bright days.

Musky Fishing Live or Dead Bait

Eight to 12-inch suckers are the favorite. Use a 6/0 hook and 30 inches of wire leader.
A) When fishing live suckers use a large cork two or three feet above the leader. To permit the sucker to swim freely, sew the hook to its skin.
B) When casting a dead sucker, hook it firmly through the head.