Muskie fishing, anyone do it?

[Saltwater60]

I’ve caught a few in my days and last week I was fishing with my dad, my son and my nephew and I was reeling in a 10” small mouth bass and a Muskie about 42-44” jumped out of the water and ate it. I set the hook and pulled it out of the fishes mouth or it missed. My sons line was tangled around mine so he was undoing it and the Muskie grabbed the bass and the fight was on. I was not set up to fight the fish and we were in some swift water by a bridge so I was fighting the fish kind of aggressively. I had a 5’6” medium rod so not enough backbone or leverage. He rolled twice and spit the hook 15’ from the boat at the top of the water.
Now my son wants to Muskie fish. Any recommendations on lures and techniques? I live by the Niagara River and there are plenty there. My nephew and BIL catch smaller ones in the two foot range but they fish a lot in their boat.

 

[FrankenCub]

I haven't went for them yet. The river in Whitney Point has a bunch. One of the locals pulled the state record out of there some years back.

 

[Willyone]

I’ve caught a few in my days and last week I was fishing with my dad, my son and my nephew and I was reeling in a 10” small mouth bass and a Muskie about 42-44” jumped out of the water and ate it. I set the hook and pulled it out of the fishes mouth or it missed. My sons line was tangled around mine so he was undoing it and the Muskie grabbed the bass and the fight was on. I was not set up to fight the fish and we were in some swift water by a bridge so I was fighting the fish kind of aggressively. I had a 5’6” medium rod so not enough backbone or leverage. He rolled twice and spit the hook 15’ from the boat at the top of the water.
Now my son wants to Muskie fish. Any recommendations on lures and techniques? I live by the Niagara River and there are plenty there. My nephew and BIL catch smaller ones in the two foot range but they fish a lot in their boat.

Well, seems like a 10 inch or so small mouth bass would be some good bait (o:

 

[GTN]

I caught a 52 inch while in a bass tournament down on Chautauqua Lake but I’ve never gone out just for them.

 

[Saltwater60]

I caught a 52 inch while in a bass tournament down on Chautauqua Lake but I’ve never gone out just for them.

That’s how I am. I bass fish and catch them incidentally. Funny thing is for a month or two I’ve been saying I need a longer fishing rod. I’ve had this one for 10+ years and it’s served me well. I sold my back up to a buddies kid who was broke for $20 two years ago and said I’d make this one my back up. This is probably the push I need. I’ll pull the trigger this week.

 

[Saltwater60]

Well, seems like a 10 inch or so small mouth bass would be some good bait (o:

Yes it is. My nephew caught about a 15” walleye and a huge Muskie tore that thing up as well. I saw the picture with the huge teeth marks on it and they were deep. It must have been a big fish. I don’t think your supposed to use sport fish as bait but I just didn’t realize the bass was on the rod officer, sorry.

 

[Acer-m14]

i never really liked fishing ..

i always got yelled at for catching more fish with just a stick and string and hook .. and odd bait .. bread .. cigarette butts

vs my dads tackle box

i got a bass plug treble hook in my thumb bow casting once off to the ER .. doc got stuck too .. didn't listen .. the other hooks unscrew lol


LOL


but i have fished ..

hooking carps and suckers and some cats

 

[Acer-m14]

my Friends 10yr old loves fishing ..

even thou i don't care for it ..

i will show up and help him with what i know ..

fishing knots and stuff ..

last week spent 20 buck on fishing stuff for him ,,

plastic worms .. spinners , hooks and sinkers and bobbers .. snap swivels

 

[Acer-m14]

My nephew caught about a 15” walleye

i caught a 13 inch one with my grandpa once ..

i think it was was to small but grandpa kept it lol

we were fishing at the Mt. Morris falls rt 36 under the bridge just before the letchworth park entrance

 

[Saltwater60]

i caught a 13 inch one with my grandpa once ..

i think it was was to small but grandpa kept it lol

we were fishing at the Mt. Morris falls rt 36 under the bridge just before the letchworth park entrance

I’ve caught some small walleye there as well while targeting trout. It was fun and that’s cool your gramps caught them there as well.

 

[Drinkthekoolaid]

Definitely need a steel leader if going for muskies.

You'll spend hours and hours and hours trying to get one but when you do it will be worth it. They say September and October are good times to go because they are trying to fatten up before winter.

I've caught a bunch of northern pike which are more aggressive and easier to catch. I've also caught some hybrid tiger muskies. I've had luck trolling with like a rapala J-13. They seem to like perch colored lures, red and white or shiny. The pain in the ass is they like to lurk in weedy areas.

I have a similar story as you. I had a sunfish hooked that a muskie decided looked like food so I let it sit there and let him eat it.

 

[Saltwater60]

Definitely need a steel leader if going for muskies.

You'll spend hours and hours and hours trying to get one but when you do it will be worth it. They say September and October are good times to go because they are trying to fatten up before winter.

I've caught a bunch of northern pike which are more aggressive and easier to catch. I've also caught some hybrid tiger muskies. I've had luck trolling with like a rapala J-13. They seem to like perch colored lures, red and white or shiny. The pain in the ass is they like to lurk in weedy areas.

I have a similar story as you. I had a sunfish hooked that a muskie decided looked like food so I let it sit there and let him eat it.

That’s the lure I’ve caught all Muskie and pike on in my life. I like the fire tiger color. My son thinks we need something bigger. I use 20 lbs braid so I normally skip the steel leader.

 

[Drinkthekoolaid]

That’s the lure I’ve caught all Muskie and pike on in my life. I like the fire tiger color. My son thinks we need something bigger. I use 20 lbs braid so I normally skip the steel leader.

Lol nice

I was always a big fan of spider wire braid. It was strong as hell and rarely even got bit through.

 

[Saltwater60]

Lol nice

I was always a big fan of spider wire braid. It was strong as hell and rarely even got bit through.

If you like spider wire try siglon braid it’s way better and smaller diameter.

 

[Acer-m14]

one time i was fishing .. i was in South Carolina ..

red devil spinner off the back of the pontoon boat .. Trolling .. were going to fast .. i ignored lol

i got a hit ..

fucking Gar fish holy crap they can fight .. a snake with teeth .. lol

 

[Saltwater60]

one time i was fishing .. i was in South Carolina ..

red devil spinner off the back of the pontoon boat .. Trolling .. were going to fast .. i ignored lol

i got a hit ..

fucking Gar fish holy crap they can fight .. a snake with teeth .. lol

My son had one hot twice at beaver island but it never got hooked and boy was he pissed.

 

[Saltwater60]

We went today and saw a bunch jumping but no bites. We only went for an hour or so. Still had fun trying out the new gear and lures