By:  Aaron Sands

When it comes to the renowned fish of ten thousands casts, one has to take every advantage they can get to catch a muskie.  Over the past 20+ years, I have learned and also been taught some tricks and tips that can also put the odds in your favor.  Here are a just few:

1. Add a spinner to back of your bucktails and spinnerbaits instead of a plastic grub (see picture included).  The Inhaler brand of bucktails where the first that I ever saw that put a spinner on the back of their bucktails.  I simply took this idea and did this to all of my bucktails and spinnerbaits.  Practically every muskie fisherman puts a white grub on the back of their bucktails and spinnerbaits.  The spinner will give your baits a different look.  I have had days fishing out of the back of the boat with another very good fisherman and we were using the same exact bait.  The only difference was he had a grub on his and I had a spinner on my.  I caught 4 and he caught 1.
2. Over the past couple of years, “hybrid” lures have become very popular.  By hybrid I mean half hard body and half soft plastic such as Squirrely Burts and Jakes.  In today’s cost conscientious world, watch for standard Burts and Jakes at swap meets and online auctions.  The standard lures typically sell for a much lower price.  You may also currently own some that you don’t use because they are not squirrely.  Simply cut the back end off at the same point and glue in the same grub that the manufacturer uses.  This will turn a lure that you don’t use into a lure that will use.
3. The death rise.  The death rise can be utilized with floating crankbaits, twitchbaits and jerkbaits.  Work the lure in your standard fashion back towards the boat.  However, when the lure is approximately 15 feet from the boat, pause the retrieve and allow the lure to float up towards the surface.  Just before the bait breaks the surface, give a big twitch.  If there is a muskie following, it cannot resist the death rise and it will attack the lure.
4. Change hooks even on new lures.  Unfortunately not every muskie bait comes equipped with the proper size hooks.  For years the Super Shad Rap was sold with small saltwater hooks.  The first thing I would do is take those hooks off and replace them a proper 3/0 muskie hook.  Of course, never trust that a hook is sharp enough straight out of the package.  Make sure to check all hooks on any new bait you purchase and either replace it or sharpen it.
5. Make sure to set the hook.  I know this sounds silly but I have seen it time and again.  We all know about the bony mouths and large teeth can that prevent the lure from slipping thus allowing the hooks to drive home.  It is imperative that you set the hook in a sharp snapping manner and not a slow long pull.  There is no need for multiple hook sets if you start with that sharp snapping manner.  In fact, lightly hooked muskies will be lost if you continue to set the hook multiple times.
6. Drag setting.  Always cast with your drag tightened down for the same reason just listed about setting the hook.  It will do you no good if set the hook in the correct manner and your drag slips.  Also, when entering the figure eight, you must learn to engage the free spool and use your thumb.  Press hard on the spool if a muskie hits in the figure eight and then slightly lessen the tension and allow the muskie to take some line out.  At that point you can re-engage your spool and loosen the drag if necessary.
7. Do not fight a muskie with 1 to 2 feet of line out.  I see this every winter on the TV shows and it simply baffles me.  Nine times out of ten there are two results – one, a lost fish and two, a broken rod tip when the fish is netted.  Most often the result is the lost fish.  Why?  There is no shock absorption left over with a foot a line out.  When a muskie hits on a figure eight, after setting the hook your very next move should be to get at least 6 or 7 feet of line out.  Watch the muskie shows next winter and I guarantee you will see a large fish lost at boatside because the angler was attempting to fight the fish with a foot of line out.
8. Fish early.  I have always loved being the first boat on the water.  For the most part, the lake has been quiet overnight and the fish have not been pressured for a handful of hours.  Typically there is a strong shallow water bite in the morning.  This holds true even late into the fall.  By late, I mean October and November in the North Country when the water is in the low 40’s.  I have always read and heard that there is no reason to hit the water early in the late fall.  I have records to proof otherwise.
9. Fish late.  Where legal, night fishing in the summer at times will be the only active period for muskies.  When my brother and I take our late summer trips up north, we don’t fish during the day and only fish at night.  We will go out at 7PM and fish until 3-4AM and then sleep during the day.  Most anglers will try fishing after dark for an hour or two and then take off.  Quite often, just as they are leaving around 11PM is when the action begins.

Aaron Sands – Multi Species Guide
Fish with the ONLY Shabbona Lake www.Guide who grew up in Shabbona and on the Lake.
FROM CRAPPIES TO MUSKIES…WE FISH FOR ALL SPECIES
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