Muskie Fishing: Overview

    Muskie fishing is not for the faint of heart. It’s a challenge that requires plenty of patience, as well as knowledge and skill. Many anglers find it difficult to track, catch, and land these slippery fish. However, with the right techniques and equipment, you can increase your odds of reeling in these ferocious predators. Here is everything you need to know about muskie fishing to help you succeed next time you go out on the water.

What is Muskie Fishing?
    Muskie fishing is the sport of trying to catch and reel in a large, freshwater fish known as a muskellunge. The fish of 10,000 cats. There are several different species of muskie, but the largest and most common is called Esox masquinongy. Muskie are considered the king of freshwater fish, making them a highly prized and sought-after trophy for anglers. They can be found in most lakes in the northern half of the United States and Canada, as well as many lakes in Europe. A typical muskie is around 40 inches long and can weigh up to 20 pounds, though some have grown as large as 50 pounds. Muskie fishing is a challenging sport for a number of reasons. These fish are wide-ranging predators that can grow very large, are highly elusive, and are very skilled at eluding anglers. They also have a very high level of stamina and endurance, which makes them hard to tire out. If you want to catch a muskie, you’ll need a lot of patience, skill, and luck. However, the effort can be well worth it, as muskies are prized for both their size and their taste.

   
Why Go Muskie Fishing?
    Muskie fishing is an exciting and challenging sport that will test the skills of even the most seasoned anglers. It’s a sport that all types of people can enjoy, regardless of their skill level or fishing experience. With the right gear and knowledge, anyone can go muskie fishing and have success. Muskies are one of the largest freshwater fish in the world, so catching them is a big accomplishment for any angler. They’re also highly prized for both their size and taste. Muskies can grow very large, so even if you don’t catch a very big one, it’ll still be impressive to show off to your friends and family.

Musky Equipment
    The right gear can mean the difference between reeling in a giant muskie and coming up empty-handed. This includes both standard angling gear and specific muskie gear. A typical musky setup consists of 80-100lb. braided line and a 100-120lb. fluorocarbon leader or a steel leader. This includes a reel that can handle a strong, heavy fish, and thick line. I use the Shimano Tranx 400 size. This large spool size allows over 100 yards of line. It's 5+1 ball bearings allows for smooth casts all day. Also comes in 2 different gear rations, 5:8:1 and 7:6:1. There are different speeds of reels based for different lures you're throwing. You should also use a strong, sturdy rod. The rods I tend to use are 8 to 9 foot long. Ive used a lot of different brands and haven't found one that makes a single one better. The longer of a rod, the longer the casts you can make and over a great duration without expending a lot of energy casting. Lures is a whole other category. Each body of water is different. A lot of the lakes I fish, match the hatch is my go to. Perch, bluegill, and walleye colors are the way to go. Hellhounds, suicks, and blades. I tend to fish shallow water or deep vegetation. There are times of the year where topwater excels well near the banks or ever deep vegetation. 

Where to Find Muskies

    Locating muskies can be very difficult. That is why they are called "The fish of 10,000 casts." Understanding the standpoint of you won't catch one every time you go out is a learning curve that I and many many anglers have learned. Putting your self in areas where they can be is your upmost goal. Finding where panfish and bait fish are or around is your number one goal. That can be weed lines, rock reefs, out in the basin of the lake, and all between. Using sonar and understanding what structure you are fishing is key. During the early months of spring, I have had luck fishing around rocky areas such as rock reefs or shallow sand flats. These areas tend to warm up faster and get small bait fish moving. As the spring starts to move towards summer and water temps are around, 60-68 degrees. Fish tend to relate to deeper structure or weed lines. All lakes are different so using sonar is must to be able to find the bait. Clear bodies of water are a bit different. You might find fish out in deeper water over vegetation, but those fish could be only 2-5 feet under the surface of the water. Covering water and finding the bait are two keys in musky fishing.

Conclusion

    Musky fishing is all about learning, just like any species. It will wear you down physically and mentally. Casting heavy lures, using large rods, and casting at the same areas for hours upon hours. Once you catch a musky, reflect on how you caught it. Lure, depth of water, wind, things like this, can help you replicate for the next big bite.