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• Account for approximately 47% of muskies caught
• Rod: Usually requires longer rod 6'-6" to 7'-6" medium action or faster tip
• Line: Most anglers use monofilament 12# minimum
• BLADE offers two attractions

  Vibration

  Flash

• Hammered finishes are more refractive
• Smooth finished are more reflective
• Painted blades work best in stained water
• Blades with prism finishes will give you more flash
• Single blades produce the strongest vibration
• Tandem blades more flash and water resistance for slower presentations
• Use Willow blades in heavy weeds
• Best Months: July, August, June (best for spinners)

• Account for approximately 20% of muskies caught
• Keys are

  Proper presentation

  Speed

  Depth control

• Rod: Usually 7' to 7'-6" medium action rods are preferred
• Line: Monofilament still works good for these types of lures especially for getting deeper
• Jointed lures offer more vibration and visual appeal for muskies (minnow lures)
• Replace standard hooks with split rings and hanging hooks to improve hooking range and rotation. Also consider increasing hook size.
• Trigger strikes with erratic retrieve
• In dark or stained water use

  fluorescent colors

  rattles

  slower retrieves

• Use "count down" technique for depth control
• For maximum depth

  use lighter line and moderate retrieve

  change lips on lures (bigger lips)or bend lip to increase angle

  use slip sinker

  wrap hook shank with lead

• Weighted lures or neutral buoyant lures will get deeper
• Troll with down riggers and planner boards
• Lure Types

  Crankbaits

  Minnow plugs (Gries Essox Minnow, jointed lures)

  Trolling plugs (Bagley, Believer, Depth Raider, Grandma)

  Vibrating plugs (Gries Ojibiwa, Storm Thunderstick)

• Best Months: Mid summer for suspended muskies

• Account for approximately 16% of muskies caught
• Muskies usually hit at the end of the jerk when the lure slows or stops.
• Rod: Requires a shorter stouter rod 5'-6" to 6' -6" Heavy action
• Line: Usually required Dacron line minimum 30# most prefer 36#
• Leader: Straight steel leaders are important to produce the gliding action after the "jerk"
• Vertical Jerk baits (Suick)
• Horizontal Jerkbaits (Gries Striker)
• Surface Jerkbaits (Eddie)
• Do not use a straight retrieve
• Use erratic retrieve

  jerk rod from side-to-side

  one side (right side) each time

  down each time

• Figure eight at the boat - increases strikes by 40% Be sure to free spool line on strike
• Increase speed if you see a muskie following DO NOT STOP your retrieve
• Large jerkbaits are particularly effective for fishing cold-water periods or late fall fishing.
• Lure Types

  Divers (Suick)

  Gliders (Gries Striker, Eddie bait)

  Twitchers (Cassen)

• Shapes

  Round, torpedo shaped

  Flatter-shaped jerks

• Best Months: July, September, August

• Good for mid-summer fishing and night fishing
• Good for locating muskies in an area.
• Get the most follows by muskies.
• Can be fished fast or slow and offer good profiles
• Generally used to imitate injured fish floundering around on the surface.

  Best to use this presentation first

  Can also be used with a fast retrieve to simulate an escaping fish

  Use lures that create splash, noise, etc. with propellers to attract fish.

• Most productive in clear water with temperatures above 65 degrees.
• Lure types

  Propbaits

  Buzzbaits

  Single spin

  Double spin (Tandem)

  In-line Buzzers

  Crawlers (Hawg wobbler)

  Stickbaits

• Best Months: July, September, June

• SPRING-smaller lures (6"-8") slower retrieves
  • Slow retrieve in cold water when water temperature is 60 to 68
  • Slow retrieve in dirty or dark water colors

    Dark water bright colors Chartreuse, Orange blades - Fluorescent shades or black to offer a stronger silhouette

    Clear water dark colors, Nickle blades, Natural, Black overcastskies, white on clear skies

• Larger lures in the FALL 9"-13"
  • Fast retrieve when water temperatures are 60 to 78 degrees also good in clear water.
  • Vary speed of retrieve based upon water conditions
  • Peak fishing temperature 63, active range 55 to 72
• Best lures: Mepps Giant Killer Bucktail and Cisco Kid
• Best Single Color: Black, Yellow, Green
• Best Color Combinations: Green/Yellow
• The Bigger the Bait, The Bigger the fish

• Leaders should be at least as long as your lure: 9" to 12" preferred
• Sharp hooks
• Figure 8'n (free spooling)
• Count down
• Walking the dog
• Bulging
• Locate fish with topwater (surface) lures and bucktails-Return later
• Change locations frequently
• Fan cast to different spots to cover each area thoroughly.
• Last hour of the day and low light conditions best time for muskies.
• Watch for a falling barometer preceding a storm front.