Boat is tucked away for the winter but managed a great 4 fish day: a 47 X 21", 47.5 X23", 52 X 25" and a wanna be bigger 27". Great way to end the muskie season.
Always sad to pack it up for the winter, but you went out in style :)
Good job Larry....now time to settle in for the winter and do some maintenance....Bill
a muskie of at least that size is on my bucket list, great fish
what equipment do you normally use when going a fish like that?
Quote from: steelfish on November 23, 2016, 06:56:58 PM
a muskie of at least that size is on my bucket list, great fish
what equipment do you normally use when going a fish like that?
I'm not overly technical when it comes to fishing. I use 7.6 to 8.6 muskie rods. St Croix, Shimano primarily, 85 to 100 lb braid for casting and 100 lbs or more when trolling. I have Shimano 400 Ds, Curado 300s, Tekota 600LC and Okuma CV30DLC to name a few. We use the heavier gear to keep the fight short. Wire or 100 lb plus fluro leaders. Although a big fish they stress out easily and can overload with lactic acid to a level that will cause them to have a heart attack (from Project Noble Beast study). You can tell a stressed out fish if the fins are bright red. Baits can be all over the map but we tend to use larger baits. Go smaller in the spring and up to 10 and 12 inch body baits, large bulldawgs and even larger pounder bulldawgs. Large blade in line spinners/bucktails are a mainstay. certainly can't name them all here as muskie fishermen are kinda like crows when they see something shiny. Can never have too many baits even though the work of art home made baits can run over $100. Here's a few old pics I found from a few years back. Only a fraction of the tackle you collect but gives you an idea on what we use.
I see some pics didn't come through but you get the idea. Large trolling baits, bucktails, jerk baits and large plastics. Muskie hit trolling motors so I don't think they're all that picky :D
cool thanks for the answer
Nice Haul Larry!
These fish are very elusive.
Great catch Larry. Way to end the boat season. Hope to see you in more pictures on the ice!
Very nice! Great way to wind up the season!
.............Lou
Muskie fishermen and bass fishermen must be cur from the same cloth. ;D. Bill
Thanks for the pics, great times are all too soon forgotten! Closing down might give mother nature a chance to recharge. I always like to recharge myself....... and make more schemes. gst.
Nice fish there. A 4 fish day is a great one. Those Muskies are peculiar fish. It can be dead for weeks, then they all turn on at once. Post mix, pre-iceup fall conditions can bring them up in the shallows. The fish are sometimes more active this time of year tyen the cold water might suggest.
I simply hate the end of the season! Wait a minute, I don't think there is an end? I just go from rockfishing ending Dec 30, then the 2017 season starts and it's nothing but crab for awhile, then Salmon, then rockfish.
It's no wonder I have so many unfinished projects.
I just finished completing service and cleaning and bottom paint. Serviced props, new scupper flappers.
Scrub wax and buff the garage floor, turn it over to the wife for the holidays, (its our dining room)
Still no oven but the wife's being a trooper and got the use of the neighbors ovens to cook tomorrow's dinner.
I'm setting up tables and chairs for 24 and sneaking in a break to see what you are all up to.
Quote from: steelfish on November 23, 2016, 06:56:58 PM
a muskie of at least that size is on my bucket list, great fish
what equipment do you normally use when going a fish like that?
Steelfish. Happened to come across a buddy of mine doing a radio show on muskie fishing. It is a real good overview on what you need and how to do it, read fish, etc. I recommend a listen.
http://www.tsn.ca/radio/ottawa-1200/renegade-bass-radio-october-1-2016-1.577627
Thanks for sharing. I enjoyed the listen.