What are your "must have" muskie lures?

CornHunka · 02-15-2008, 12:36 PM

One of my 2008 goals is catch a muskie. I've been in the boat with someone (Yellab) who hooked a muskie while bass fishing, but he wasn't able to land it. I've never really gone exclusively after Muskies, but plan to this year. I've got plenty of bass lures,(spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, topwaters) but what else do I need. I know I need to get some bucktails, but what size/color etc.

Can someone give me some starter lures that will up my chance of catching a muskie?

burrodebo · 02-15-2008, 02:21 PM

Caught one last year on this lure. Also caught a 27" hybrid wiper, 7 lb walleye, and a 5 pound largemouth bass on this lure. But those shallow shad raps aren't worth throwing.

Actually the muskie came on a bluegill pattern, but my favorite color is purpledescent (shown below).

Brian · 02-15-2008, 07:15 PM

The are the ones I will not leave home without:

7" Eagle Tail, Black/Orange

9" Unweighted, Shallow Bull Dawg, Black - or Black/Orange

M&G spinnerbait, Black/Red

9" Suick, Black

Baby Shallow Raider, Firetiger

Pacemaker, Black/Chartreuse

Jig with 8" reaper tail

sqwidbrain · 02-18-2008, 10:41 AM

I like Top Raider. Its pretty durable. Some of the top waters you get aren't good for much more than one good fish! Though money well spent in my opinion.

My biggest fish, 42" in Ontario, came on a bucktail. My Grandfather gave it to me. I believe its a Wisconsin blade or something. I'll look in my catalog when I get home. Grandad says any bucktail with black and a flash of red is the key.

I also like fishing a Suick. Never caught a fish on it or had a follow! But for some reason, I think its really cool!

Don't overlook at Super Trap. We have had real good luck with those.

I almost forgot! ALWAYS figure 8! Even if there is no fish there its good practice for when there is one! That 42" I got was about 10 inches from the boat while figure 8ing! Talk about exciting!!!

Pike Hunter · 02-18-2008, 09:15 PM

I really like fishing with Suicks, even caught my first Musky on a 9" orange w/ black spots so I'm a bit partial to it.

Believers are on the top of my list too along with Bull Dawgs.

fishnguy · 02-27-2008, 08:15 PM

A large Husky Jerk would be my all round choice.

Musky Dreamin · 03-06-2008, 08:27 PM

Heres what I will be spending most of my time throwin this year...

bucktails...

this one next is MONEY

Heres one I am looking forward to trying...

I use the firetiger lace and the orange lace on the pacemakers...

and a cisco colored dawg

I rarely use the dawg...use a Suick once in a while too, but mostly stay with the bucktails and topwaters.

Dogman · 03-15-2008, 02:12 PM

I like the rapala SSR-14 in firetiger.

mrcold · 03-19-2008, 01:26 PM

My biggest muskie, and my first 2 ever, came on a 6" Jake in Black Perch.(top left below)

Outside of that, we've caught a good number of them on plastic creature baits fishing for bass. Disclaimer: We really don't take many muskie-only fishing trips.

esoxjunkie · 04-10-2008, 05:46 PM

Over the years I've found myself throwing more and more spinnerbaits.

The Rad Dog and the Ace Tandem are my go-to's, when fishing slop the Pearson Grinder is hard to beat.

Other must haves on the water include the 6" Wtd Sledge, the Big Game Minnow, and the Slammer cranks. The old trusty Mepps Giant Killer (gold blade, brown hair) has still shown/caught me more muskies than any other baits in my box.

Jamie

esoxjunkie · 04-11-2008, 04:34 PM

The last few years spinnerbaits have been doing most of the dirty work in my boat. Rad Dog and Ace Tandem are the go-to's. Grinder works well in the slop.

I also never hit the water without old faithful gold/brown Mepps Muskie Killer, Perch flavored 6" Sledge, and a Big Game or Slammer crankbait.

Jamie

ogrefish · 05-17-2008, 05:51 PM

Junkie, you forgot Tyra and the Ranjo
I fish a Grandma (like a Jake or Big Game Minnow) with a bit of sucess. The 10" Suick is a no brainer even here in NE. Pike hunter's 10" Believer is a great choice. a spinnerbait like the Grinder or Ace is key around wood or weed cover. In-lines shine on coverless or sparse cover spots. A favorite is the Giant killer from Mepps or a Ghostail. Some topwaters that work are Topraiders, Awakers and Jackpots.
If you throw any decent lure in good spots long enough you will put one of these fish in the boat!

ogrefish · 05-17-2008, 05:54 PM

OOPS, did I just say that there is no magic bullet? Don't tell anyone

02-15-2008, 12:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
CornHunka CornHunka has no status. Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Crete, NE Posts: 100 Thanks: 1 Thanked 11 Times in 8 Posts	What are your "must have" muskie lures? One of my 2008 goals is catch a muskie. I've been in the boat with someone (Yellab) who hooked a muskie while bass fishing, but he wasn't able to land it. I've never really gone exclusively after Muskies, but plan to this year. I've got plenty of bass lures,(spinnerbaits, chatterbaits, topwaters) but what else do I need. I know I need to get some bucktails, but what size/color etc. Can someone give me some starter lures that will up my chance of catching a muskie?

02-15-2008, 02:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
burrodebo burrodebo is picking ice out of the guides Emeritus Directors Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: On the Water Posts: 3,219 Thanks: 17 Thanked 90 Times in 31 Posts	Caught one last year on this lure. Also caught a 27" hybrid wiper, 7 lb walleye, and a 5 pound largemouth bass on this lure. But those shallow shad raps aren't worth throwing. Actually the muskie came on a bluegill pattern, but my favorite color is purpledescent (shown below). __________________ "We subscribe to the idea that there's no such thing as failure. There's just giving up. We do not give up. We are relentless." -- The Edge, U2

02-18-2008, 10:41 AM	#4 (permalink)
sqwidbrain sqwidbrain is out with the bow Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Hastings, NE Posts: 403 Thanks: 50 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	I like Top Raider. Its pretty durable. Some of the top waters you get aren't good for much more than one good fish! Though money well spent in my opinion. My biggest fish, 42" in Ontario, came on a bucktail. My Grandfather gave it to me. I believe its a Wisconsin blade or something. I'll look in my catalog when I get home. Grandad says any bucktail with black and a flash of red is the key. I also like fishing a Suick. Never caught a fish on it or had a follow! But for some reason, I think its really cool! Don't overlook at Super Trap. We have had real good luck with those. I almost forgot! ALWAYS figure 8! Even if there is no fish there its good practice for when there is one! That 42" I got was about 10 inches from the boat while figure 8ing! Talk about exciting!!! __________________ How big is it?!!

03-06-2008, 08:27 PM	#7 (permalink)
Musky Dreamin Musky Dreamin is needing to shake the cobwebs outa the bucktails Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Auburn NE Posts: 308 Thanks: 16 Thanked 12 Times in 9 Posts	Heres what I will be spending most of my time throwin this year... bucktails... this one next is MONEY Heres one I am looking forward to trying... I use the firetiger lace and the orange lace on the pacemakers... and a cisco colored dawg I rarely use the dawg...use a Suick once in a while too, but mostly stay with the bucktails and topwaters. __________________ Yesterdays tomorrow is today!

03-15-2008, 02:12 PM	#8 (permalink)
Dogman Dogman has no status. Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Walton Posts: 137 Thanks: 15 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts	Rapala I like the rapala SSR-14 in firetiger. __________________ Happiness is a rapala.

02-15-2008, 07:15 PM	#3 (permalink)
Brian Brian has no status. Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 178 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	The are the ones I will not leave home without: 7" Eagle Tail, Black/Orange 9" Unweighted, Shallow Bull Dawg, Black - or Black/Orange M&G spinnerbait, Black/Red 9" Suick, Black Baby Shallow Raider, Firetiger Pacemaker, Black/Chartreuse Jig with 8" reaper tail

02-18-2008, 09:15 PM	#5 (permalink)
Pike Hunter Pike Hunter is ready for first ice. Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Bennington Posts: 1,083 Thanks: 17 Thanked 29 Times in 26 Posts	I really like fishing with Suicks, even caught my first Musky on a 9" orange w/ black spots so I'm a bit partial to it. Believers are on the top of my list too along with Bull Dawgs.

02-27-2008, 08:15 PM	#6 (permalink)
fishnguy fishnguy has no status. Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Central NE Posts: 261 Thanks: 51 Thanked 21 Times in 19 Posts	A large Husky Jerk would be my all round choice.

03-19-2008, 01:26 PM	#9 (permalink)
mrcold mrcold is busy offending people. Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 650 Thanks: 88 Thanked 94 Times in 61 Posts	My biggest muskie, and my first 2 ever, came on a 6" Jake in Black Perch.(top left below) Outside of that, we've caught a good number of them on plastic creature baits fishing for bass. Disclaimer: We really don't take many muskie-only fishing trips.

04-10-2008, 05:46 PM	#10 (permalink)
esoxjunkie esoxjunkie is anxiously awaiting hard water Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 176 Thanks: 19 Thanked 36 Times in 29 Posts	must haves Over the years I've found myself throwing more and more spinnerbaits. The Rad Dog and the Ace Tandem are my go-to's, when fishing slop the Pearson Grinder is hard to beat. Other must haves on the water include the 6" Wtd Sledge, the Big Game Minnow, and the Slammer cranks. The old trusty Mepps Giant Killer (gold blade, brown hair) has still shown/caught me more muskies than any other baits in my box. Jamie

04-11-2008, 04:34 PM	#11 (permalink)
esoxjunkie esoxjunkie is anxiously awaiting hard water Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 176 Thanks: 19 Thanked 36 Times in 29 Posts	must have The last few years spinnerbaits have been doing most of the dirty work in my boat. Rad Dog and Ace Tandem are the go-to's. Grinder works well in the slop. I also never hit the water without old faithful gold/brown Mepps Muskie Killer, Perch flavored 6" Sledge, and a Big Game or Slammer crankbait. Jamie

05-17-2008, 05:51 PM	#12 (permalink)
ogrefish ogrefish has no status. Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 40 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Junkie, you forgot Tyra and the Ranjo I fish a Grandma (like a Jake or Big Game Minnow) with a bit of sucess. The 10" Suick is a no brainer even here in NE. Pike hunter's 10" Believer is a great choice. a spinnerbait like the Grinder or Ace is key around wood or weed cover. In-lines shine on coverless or sparse cover spots. A favorite is the Giant killer from Mepps or a Ghostail. Some topwaters that work are Topraiders, Awakers and Jackpots. If you throw any decent lure in good spots long enough you will put one of these fish in the boat!

05-17-2008, 05:54 PM	#13 (permalink)
ogrefish ogrefish has no status. Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 40 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	OOPS, did I just say that there is no magic bullet? Don't tell anyone

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