The long Canadian winters have all open water anglers patiently waiting for spring. Those of us that hunt the apex freshwater predator, the muskellunge, must wait even longer for the open season in mid-June. Luckily, we can start to target the Northern Pike as soon as the ice has melted.
The off season is a great time to review the necessary gear needed to help you catch these great Esox beasts. I’m not talking rods, reels and tackle, but all the accessories that you should have in your boat. Anyone new to trophy pike or musky angling, this is a good time to outfit your boat with the proper gear.
STARTING AT SQUARE ONE!
Over the winter I get together with my fishing partners, Dave and Kyla, and we discuss the previous season. As active musky anglers, and in Kyla’s case, a manager of Bobby’s Sport Shop, we have a good understanding of what gear is needed in your boat to help increase your odds of landing a giant fish. Looking back, we pick out what gear helped us, protected us, and what gear we thought could be improved or where we could pick a better suited solution.
NETS ARE A KEY PIECE OF EQUIPMENT
When we are talking huge predator fish like pike and musky, the net is the first thing you need to address. Landing nets for walleye and bass are just not large enough to safely handle a 40”+ fish. Not only is it difficult to net the fish, it may injure the fish and it can be dangerous trying to remove from the bag. Modern musky and pike nets are huge. Average anglers are shocked when they see a net bag that can hold a small child. But think of the net as your live well for large fish, it allows you to remove hooks in the water, gives the fish plenty of room to recover, and finally allows for easy access to remove the fish for photos. Think of this net as an essential piece of equipment.
RIGHT TOOLS FOR THE JOB!
The second most important item in any esox boat is a collection of high quality release tools. I’ve learned this lesson the hard way. I thought a cheap, no-name brand bolt cutter would suffice. It didn’t and failed at the worst possible time. Luckily I was able to remove a deeply hooked lure without injuring the fish. I bought a pair of Knipex brand cutters soon after. They are one of the most trusted cutters in the musky industry, I highly recommend them. We also have pistol grip needle nose pliers, long handle pliers, forceps and jaw spreaders.
Another lesson we learned the hard way, gill rakers and hands don’t mix. Many companies make gloves for safe fish handling, get some that fit well, not only are you protecting yourself, but it’s much safer for the fish. Also a good idea to wear them while you clear hooks from a thrashing pike or musky.
WHAT’S NEXT?
With the main items covered, what comes next? A bump board or floating measurement stick. We personally use a Muskie Bumper board. The debate is ongoing whether we should bump every fish, but it is the best tool for the job, and anyone catching their first couple big fish will want accurate measurements.
Terminal tackle is something a lot of anglers take for granted. Musky and pike anglers know that poor quality tackle will not stand up to big fish. I suggest outfitting your boat with collection of terminal tackle and the necessary tools to help change it out. Again, quality is the name of the game here. Split ring pliers, cutters suitable for braided line. Extra hooks in every possible size you will need, split rings, snaps and swivels. Leaders strong enough for your application. Don’t let these items be your weakest link, store them in a ‘Plano’ or ‘LureLock’ storage box and you’re good to go.
Invest in a retractable lure retriever. We use a model by Frabill and it has paid for itself time and time again. It stores down to 5’ and extends to 15’. We’ve used it for lures in all kinds of situations, including up in tree branches on shore.
MORE TO COME
Due to continuous casting while musky and pike fishing, I also recommend using the auto-inflate or manual inflate life vest, these smaller profile vests are very comfortable and easy to wear. One item most forget is a spare Co2 cartridge. Know the correct type and pick up a couple spares. Store these in a waterproof storage box.
A First Aid Kit is a must but take it one step further for musky and pike fishermen. Most of the injuries will come from not wearing a glove and getting gill raker rash, or cuts. Pack plenty of bandages and tape plus cleansing solution for cleaning any wound inflicted by a fish or hook.
SPARE PARTS IMPORTANT
Fishing for Esox will get you in some tight and weedy areas. We come prepared, our storage box will include some simple, but often forgotten items. Spare prop for trolling motor, and tools to change it out. Batteries for ‘ipilot’ control. Spool of braided line and plastic tie wraps, for repairing holes in the net. Don’t leave anything to chance.
GREAT PHOTOS A MUST!
As a musky angler I’ve been fortunate to catch many great fish, I’ve learned some hard lessons over the years, but realize every catch is special. My partners and I take a lot of pride in capturing great photos, creating great memories. We’ve adopted everything I’ve written about and it has made us better anglers.
Whether it’s your first great Esox catch, or your hundredth, outfitting your boat with the right gear will help you enjoy the catch of a lifetime.