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Musky Beyond Beginner Setup
For beginners ready to move a step up in the world of musky fishing

By: Bruce Bahlmann

So, you've tried musky fishing and like it but not sure where to go from here. The good thing is it only takes time and money ($). The bad thing is that it takes a lot of time and perhaps a lot of money if you are not careful. Here are some helpful suggestions for moving up from a "beginner" to what I would call "intermediate" status. Meaning, you have had some success with musky fishing and want to expand your horizons but don't know where to start. The first thing to do is stay away from your local musky fishing store until you have a plan and know what you want to buy. Being an "intermediate" musky fishermen myself, here are some fairly easy things to do that will produce results without costing you a fortune.

I recommend the following.

Buy a second and third rod/reel. If it is possible, try to keep the same combinations as your first. I prefer Cortland Heavy (7') musky rod, and Abu-Garcia C3. It is a great combination and will only cost you about $150 per rod/reel.

Why buy additional rods? The answer is simple. When fishing for musky it is all about change ups. Fast/Slow, Light/Dark, Top Water/Under Water, etc. So, it is best to have a rod rigged up with the opposite of what you are currently throwing. So if you get a follow but can't trigger the fish, simply put down your current rod and pickup your changeup rod. Some states (like Wisconsin) allow you to have two lines in the water at the same time so you can have a live bait dangling off a bobber while throwing something else. In this case, its nice to have at least 3 rods - one using a bobber, one throwing and one backup with opposite of what your throwing. If you have three of the same thing it is also easier to order parts. I also like the fact that if something ever goes wrong with one of your reels you always have two backups. If your in the middle of a very large body of water a single reel is all you have between catching fish and making a VERY LONG and disappointing journey back to shore.

 

Buy a hanging tackle box. Most standard tackle boxes don't give you enough space for large top water lures or twitch baits. So you really need something that can store a large number of these baits. I prefer the hard plastic Plano boxes. They are only about $30 something and are very sturdy. Don't buy the combination handing and tray type boxes. Get one that ONLY gives you hanging space -- trust me, you'll use it all! [Get Yours Now]

The next thing to do is plan your time on the water. Too many people go fishing when its convenient rather than when the conditions are right. If you are a fare weather fishermen you'll never move beyond beginner because the fish don't bite when it is convenient to you. They bite when conditions are right. Keep your fishing options open and don't just look for sunny calm days. The weather is the single most determining factor for catching fish and if you ignore it you are wasting your time trying to catch musky. Those who watch the moon cycles, fish indexes, etc. will always take a back seat to those who watch for correct weather patterns and get out at the most opportune times - like right after a storm front moves through. However, if the storm featured a lot of thunder and lightning you might as well stay at the office. Watch the weather closely. I like cloudy days or mostly cloudy days with light to moderate wind. Also very foggy mornings are mint conditions! I'm not into high wind with my little 14' boat so there is a limit to what I'll endure to catch musky but generally the less comfortable the weather for humans the better the fishing. One exception is when cold fronts come through - when this happens just stay at the office. Also stay away from blue-bird days -- completely clear calm days (especially those with high temperatures). When you get blue-bird conditions just stay at the office or just go swimming.

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