Pseudo-Muskie Question

[mrcold]

I apologize as this isn't exactly a muskie fishing question.

I have a lot of trouble catching larger bass, so one thing I've been looking at doing is finding muskie lures that would be effective for targetting bass. What big muskie lures have you guys used that consistently catch some largemouth on them? I was thinking something along the lines of a topraider or big knucklehead would be good for topwaters. How about plastics? I saw an 8" plastic leech-like lure listed (by Brian, I think). Are those typically fished just like a jig-n-pig, just on a larger scale?

Thanks for any responses...and no, I don't prefer bass to the toothy things, they're just a bit more readily available.

[mrcold]

Since nobody else will respond, I guess I'm just talkin' to one person in here.

Your question got me to thinking which muskie baits I have caught big bass on--big topwaters like a large Zara Spook, big spinnerbaits and in-line spinners, and a variety of big crankbaits.

Most of the muskie fishing I have done has been on Nebraska waters and the bass and muskies in those waters are usually feeding on the same preyfish. In those waters I am often imitating those preyfish and am happy with whatever predator wants to bite on my line!

My $0.02-worth,

Daryl B.

P.S. Feel free to share this message with others if you wish.

[Pike Hunter]

Caught some Bass on Bucher Shallowraiders and big spinners. The Bass weren't even that big either. 15" bass on a 8" S'raider.

[sodaksker]

I have caught bass on all sorts of musky baits and musky on all sorts of bass baits, from swimbaits to topwater, to spinnerbaits. Those bass never cease to amaze me on how big of a bait they will take. Most recently, a buddy of mine caught about a 3lber on a double cowgirl.

Here is a link to a thread on a musky site that I visit. This might give you a little insight.

Viewing a thread - Muskie lures that work for largemouth?

[jabNE]

Mr. Cold, I have been on a personal mission for many, many years targeting only big bass and I use big baits for them, nearly exclusively. I probably miss a lot of bass, but I can say for fact the action ain't exactly hot and heavy but I don't get a lot of little fish, and when I do get a fish it is generally a good one. I took quite a few 22" through 25" fish last year. My best yet was only 26" but had an incredible girth on it. I did also catch a 26" about 2 years ago though that I bet would't have gone 5# tops...long and thin, absolutely no girth to it but one huge old mouth on it.
Anyway, I have a lot of 6" to 9" swim baits I like to use. I prefer these early in AM before I can even see my hand in front of my face. These are nice quiet lures with a very subtle thump to them with the tail action. when the sun crests the horizon I switch to something more active like a walker on top, or a big spinner bait. I have also had good luck with big cranks this time of day, too, but prefer the walkers or spinners. I use at least a #5 bucktail inline or bigger, too.
later in day, seems like fish move deeper at least on lakes I work. A big deep running crank works great for me, but so does a big 10" or longer worm on a texas rig worked deep and slowly.
I don't own a boat. Got everything standing on shoreline and tossing from bank, even muskies I pursue. I am only limited by how far I can cast.
I also switched to 40# braided line. It is surprising smooth casting with a heavy spinning rod, but works great on large lures and is a plus for horsing out big largemouths and other fish that hit. Sometimes I have to work fish back through brush, or weeds or moss, and the heavy line works well for me.
I have a 7" or 8" yozuri silver minnow that is fast becoming a favorite crank bait for me on big bass late in summer when I work deep water off of dams and jetties. Got a really nice fat 24" one last July on it, and a ton of 20" class fish on it. I used a silver one and a black one with equally well results.
Hey sorry to ramble here...you just touched on a personal note for me so I started going on and on here. Hope some of this helps you though. PM me if you want anything else though. I am not an expert but am always willing to share what I have found works for me.
Jim

[danager]

Jab,

Out of curiosity, what time of the year have you had the most luck with big, in-line spinners? I have not used an inline much other than for pike or trout. I have heard that some people will use them during the pre-spawn. Just curious about your insight.

[jabNE]

Just started using them in last couple years, from tip I got through a PM from Mr. Bauer. He said to try them in warmer weather when fish were more active.
I used them last March on a whim and nailed a little 35" muskie on them off of end of a jetty over at Wagon Train. It was very early, maybe March 10th or so. Had much better luck with them seemed like from about June on, especially on the bigger bass.
I am quickly becoming a fan of fall fishing. October...wow.

[mrcold]

....I'm going to pretend I didn't just read you saying "a little 35" muskie". I don't think those really qualify as little in this state.

Unfortunately, you hit on my biggest problem. I have a LOT of bigger pike and muskie lures that really looked great when I was in the store. But then, after a few casts, I realize my A.D.D. is getting bad, so I'll switch to something smaller and start catching babies again. Oh well, I'll have to learn someday.

I've wondered a lot about big silver minnows or something. We catch some nice bass up at the refuge on em, but I've never thrown them anywhere else. One of the 1 oz. silver minnows with a 4 or 6" uncle josh's muskie strip would make for a large and obnoxious lure that could be seen from a long ways away.

[jabNE]

picked up a couple little 18", a 19", and decent 22" bass Sunday afternoon in wind fishing deep and slow with a 7" swim bait in bluegill pattern. Action wasnt hot and heavy by any means and water is still very cold, but they were there and would take big baits if you patiently present them near bottom and slowly swim them around the edges of structure. I fished from bank and tossed these out from me as far as I could cast off of rock faced dam and jetty areas. the 18" were the smallest bass we caught. no muskies either by the way but was fun to try.
Jim

[mrcold]

Awesome! Good report, I'm assuming that was WT?

[TheDude]

I've been wanting to try this but just haven't found the right lure even though I know they are out there...I think a shorter (like 5-6") Suick would work great for bass, I think it would work great along rock edges and over cover such as submerged trees.

[jabNE]

Sat. AM, with my 6-year old son, tossed lures from 6:30AM to 10:00. We tried everything in the box, and at varying speeds and depths. Fished two jetties at WT, and all along the face of the dam, too.
Our efforts were finally rewarded close to 9:30AM with a 7" drum snagged behind its head and near the tail on a deep-diving yozuri minnow that was nearly as long.
No bass this trip, no other fish in fact.
Wind started kicking up seriously by that time so we left.
That's my report for the weekend.
Jim

[Fish4Fun]

Here are a few that might work

1. Large Slugo's
2. Smaller bucktails/spinners
3. 6" Mania Jakes
4. A variety of surface baits that are "walk the dog"