Live bait for Muskies

sqwidbrain · 09-11-2008, 03:02 PM

Heading over to Wagon Train in a couple weeks. Thinking I'll try some bigger live bait after dark. Maybe under a bobber. In a little deeper water near some weeds. What kind of bait would you use? A bigger bluegill? Maybe find some BIG fat chubs? I'm so excited to be on water that has musky in Nebraska!

NETim · 09-11-2008, 03:38 PM

I would think a 6" carp with a partially clipped off tailfin driving around under a bobber near weeds would be very enticing to ol' Esox.

LincolnLunger · 09-11-2008, 04:33 PM

I have always thought about using live gills for muskies at wagon train but never really did. Dont use small bluegills, use the biggest ones you can get (atleast thats what I would do) I would personally use bluegills around 8 inches or bigger which you should be able to catch some 7 and 8 inch bluegills at Wagon train but use whatever size you can get. you will probably get some big bass doing this as well

Fish On · 09-11-2008, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NETim

I would think a 6" carp with a partially clipped off tailfin driving around under a bobber near weeds would be very enticing to ol' Esox.

Hopefully there are not any carp in WT. If you catch one there (at WT) by all means stick a hook in it, if you don't catch anything on it please dispose of it properly.

DONT bring carp to WT. (or anywhere else)

NETim · 09-11-2008, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish On

Hopefully there are not any carp in WT. If you catch one there (at WT) by all means stick a hook in it, if you don't catch anything on it please dispose of it properly.

DONT bring carp to WT. (or anywhere else)

I assume that there would be carp there. Yeah, I wouldn't bring one in, just use one I caught there.

LincolnLunger · 09-11-2008, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish On

Hopefully there are not any carp in WT. If you catch one there (at WT) by all means stick a hook in it, if you don't catch anything on it please dispose of it properly.

DONT bring carp to WT. (or anywhere else)

There are a lot of carp in WT, I seen plenty of them jump every time I go there.

esoxjunkie · 09-12-2008, 04:40 PM

I think with all the shad for the 'skis to eat in WT it might be tough to entice them with a bluegill.

Of course you never know til you try!

Jamie

tmn515 · 09-12-2008, 11:54 PM

Believe it or not, I have used bluegills at wagontrain. 2 Muskies on...2 Muskies Jump high...2 Muskie broken off in a matter of seconds. Consecutive trips. I havn't been out there since as I havn't had time to fish since school has started.

I was fishing for catfish both times and had muskies hit um both times. Gills were also smaller, about 5 inches. On the bottom, 10-15 feet out at dusk. Damn Teeth!

I didn't have a chance w/ out a leader. Both fish were pretty huge, I wouldn't even know where to begin on an estimation.
Fished the dam one time and the next day was near the west camp grounds, both times with wind in my face. Hope this helps!

Troy

Fish4Fun · 09-14-2008, 03:49 PM

I have used bigger sucker minnows for pike in Minnesota a time or two with success. I know they are in the carp family but they do work. I don't know if you can purchase them here or not. Like others have said putting carp in the lake isn't a great idea either.

MURF · 09-14-2008, 11:50 PM

Last time I looked at the NE regs. Wagon train was listed as a NO live bait lake. Does that include gills, chubs? I would think chubs for sure, don't know about gills.

LincolnLunger · 09-15-2008, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MURF

Last time I looked at the NE regs. Wagon train was listed as a NO live bait lake. Does that include gills, chubs? I would think chubs for sure, don't know about gills.

as long as you catch the gills from the lake its legal.

Fish On · 09-15-2008, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MURF

Last time I looked at the NE regs. Wagon train was listed as a NO live bait lake. Does that include gills, chubs? I would think chubs for sure, don't know about gills.

That was lifted in January.

sqwidbrain · 09-16-2008, 08:51 AM

It doens't mention no live bait in the 2008 fishing guide anyway. Besides, I'll just use what I catch from the lake. My 4 and 6 year olds are good at catching bait for me!

Here ski ski ski!! whistle whistle whistle!! Here girl!! Come on!

MURF · 09-16-2008, 10:17 PM

My Bad, the place I checked the regs was on the NGOC site. Back in the cobwebs it seems I heard about the lifting of the ban.

sqwidbrain · 09-22-2008, 08:46 AM

Well, tried some gills under a bobber after sun down. A few different spot, tried to fish a little on the shallow side near deep water/cover. I had some bites, pretty sure not musky bites though. Bait wasn't shredded, more like bass bite. It was still fun. Panfish biting like mad! We even kept a stack of them!

LincolnLunger · 09-22-2008, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sqwidbrain

Well, tried some gills under a bobber after sun down. A few different spot, tried to fish a little on the shallow side near deep water/cover. I had some bites, pretty sure not musky bites though. Bait wasn't shredded, more like bass bite. It was still fun. Panfish biting like mad! We even kept a stack of them!

Yah, I was there yesterday and tried gills for a little bit and then went to holmes and fished for awhile...did you catch any bass using the gills? if you did do you have any pictures?

09-11-2008, 03:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
sqwidbrain Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Hastings, NE Posts: 344 Thanks: 3 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Live bait for Muskies Heading over to Wagon Train in a couple weeks. Thinking I'll try some bigger live bait after dark. Maybe under a bobber. In a little deeper water near some weeds. What kind of bait would you use? A bigger bluegill? Maybe find some BIG fat chubs? I'm so excited to be on water that has musky in Nebraska! __________________ How big is it?!!

09-11-2008, 04:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
LincolnLunger Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: on the water 24/7 Posts: 416 Thanks: 35 Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts	I have always thought about using live gills for muskies at wagon train but never really did. Dont use small bluegills, use the biggest ones you can get (atleast thats what I would do) I would personally use bluegills around 8 inches or bigger which you should be able to catch some 7 and 8 inch bluegills at Wagon train but use whatever size you can get. you will probably get some big bass doing this as well __________________ Shut Up And Fish!

09-12-2008, 04:40 PM	#7 (permalink)
esoxjunkie Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 92 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	WT live bait I think with all the shad for the 'skis to eat in WT it might be tough to entice them with a bluegill. Of course you never know til you try! Jamie

09-14-2008, 03:49 PM	#9 (permalink)
Fish4Fun Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 170 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I have used bigger sucker minnows for pike in Minnesota a time or two with success. I know they are in the carp family but they do work. I don't know if you can purchase them here or not. Like others have said putting carp in the lake isn't a great idea either. __________________ "Better Fish"

09-14-2008, 11:50 PM	#10 (permalink)
MURF Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Papillion Posts: 137 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Last time I looked at the NE regs. Wagon train was listed as a NO live bait lake. Does that include gills, chubs? I would think chubs for sure, don't know about gills. __________________ May the saddest day of your future. Be no worse than the happiest day of you past.

09-11-2008, 03:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
NETim Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Platte Center Posts: 127 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I would think a 6" carp with a partially clipped off tailfin driving around under a bobber near weeds would be very enticing to ol' Esox.

09-12-2008, 11:54 PM	#8 (permalink)
tmn515 Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Lincoln, NE Posts: 611 Thanks: 46 Thanked 8 Times in 7 Posts	Believe it or not, I have used bluegills at wagontrain. 2 Muskies on...2 Muskies Jump high...2 Muskie broken off in a matter of seconds. Consecutive trips. I havn't been out there since as I havn't had time to fish since school has started. I was fishing for catfish both times and had muskies hit um both times. Gills were also smaller, about 5 inches. On the bottom, 10-15 feet out at dusk. Damn Teeth! I didn't have a chance w/ out a leader. Both fish were pretty huge, I wouldn't even know where to begin on an estimation. Fished the dam one time and the next day was near the west camp grounds, both times with wind in my face. Hope this helps! Troy

09-16-2008, 08:51 AM	#13 (permalink)
sqwidbrain Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Hastings, NE Posts: 344 Thanks: 3 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	It doens't mention no live bait in the 2008 fishing guide anyway. Besides, I'll just use what I catch from the lake. My 4 and 6 year olds are good at catching bait for me! Here ski ski ski!! whistle whistle whistle!! Here girl!! Come on! __________________ How big is it?!!

09-16-2008, 10:17 PM	#14 (permalink)
MURF Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Papillion Posts: 137 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	My Bad, the place I checked the regs was on the NGOC site. Back in the cobwebs it seems I heard about the lifting of the ban. __________________ May the saddest day of your future. Be no worse than the happiest day of you past.

09-22-2008, 08:46 AM	#15 (permalink)
sqwidbrain Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Hastings, NE Posts: 344 Thanks: 3 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Well, tried some gills under a bobber after sun down. A few different spot, tried to fish a little on the shallow side near deep water/cover. I had some bites, pretty sure not musky bites though. Bait wasn't shredded, more like bass bite. It was still fun. Panfish biting like mad! We even kept a stack of them! __________________ How big is it?!!

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