Muskie fishermen are notorious for stockpiling tackle. Between new baits and old classics, both with different colour and size variations, it quickly adds up to a sizeable collection. Oversized tackle bags, boxes and bins for these baits typically take up a lot of space in the boat.
Not to mention that muskie baits run about 30-bucks a pop, which makes it an expensive endeavor. The fact of the matter is that for someone looking to get into muskie fishing—or even a seasoned—could be very successful using just 3 different baits all season. Outfitted with just a spinnerbait, a topwater bait and a crankbait you could catch muskie from opener till ice up.
Spin-To-Win
There’s something about the flash and thump of spinning blades(s) combined with a bulky body material that drives muskie crazy. There isn’t a seasoned muskie angler out there without some type of spinnerbait in their box, and for good reason. Whether its safety pin or inline style, coupled with bucktail, marabou or tinsel skirting, spinnerbaits produce.
Advantages of spinnerbaits are many. They are easy to fish with a simple cast and retrieve and trolling spinnerbaits is also an option. They are equally effective early in the season, during the peak of the summer and right through fall. They have a high hooking percentage and are easy and effective in the figure 8. They are also a top choice for nighttime fishing as the blades produce vibration and flash that allow muskie to key in on them under low light conditions.
Another benefit is that spinnerbaits produce on all different types of structure and are very effective in heavy weed cover. A single-hook safety pin style spinnerbait is as close to weedless as muskie baits come, while inline spinners can be quickly retrieved over the top of thick cabbage beds.
Topping Out
It’s no secret that muskie love to feed off the surface and there isn’t a more thrilling way to catch them. A topwater bait is an absolute must have.
These baits really shine during the peak of the summer when water temps are high and muskie are active. Classic topwater conditions are early and late in the day when the lake is calm. Having said that, I’ve also seen topwater baits get inhaled in the middle of the day with a chop on the water. There are three main types of muskie surface lures: walk-the-dog baits, prop-baits and creeper baits. Walk-the-dog baits are long and cylindrical. They cast long distances and move a lot of water when retrieved. They require a constant jerking action with the tip of the rod to make them run. When done correctly, these baits move side-to-side in the water to produce a swimming action that muskie love. Prop-baits are simpler to fish with a basic cast and retrieve action, making them perfect for beginners. The tail section rotates during the retrieve, creating a disturbance in the water that mimics a small bird or mammal swimming on the surface.
Creeper style baits fish very slowly with a methodic side-to-side action resembling a wounded bird or animal. They typically feature a long metal arm on each side that produces the rhythmic action. They’re a top choice for sluggish fish or fish that have been conditioned to other styles of surface baits. Topwater baits are excellent for drawing muskie from heavy cover or shallow water.
Follows with topwater baits are easily detected by a wake behind the bait. Figure eights can be done on the surface or with the bait plunged under the water at the side of the boat. Hits are often violent attacks with plenty of noise, commotion and spraying water—a thrilling experience to say the least.
Cranky Muskie
Like nearly every species of fish, muskie love crankbaits. They mimic baitfish and present a large profile that signals a worthwhile meal to large predators.
They perform best starting in mid-summer when muskie move to rock structure adjacent to deeper water. Casting crankbaits with an erratic jerk-pause retrieve over shallow rocks and along the deep edge of weed beds is a deadly summertime strategy. Come fall, crankbaits are the preferred trolling bait for covering water and intercepting late season giants. Slow speed trolling along rocky shorelines, prominent points and reefs is a sure way to boat muskie with crankbaits. Contacting bottom with crankbaits is a strike triggering technique that should be used while casting and trolling. The large lip on muskie size crankbaits contacts the bottom, resulting in surprisingly few snags.
Don’t break the bank this season; keep it simple with these proven producers. Armed with just one of each of these baits, muskie can be caught from opening day until ice up. n