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[C&R] [beginner] [intermediate] [Lures]

Lure Sites:
Eagle Tail
Mepps

By: Bruce Bahlmann

In this area I review various lures that I've been fortunate enough to try. Some lures are sent to me by manufacturers and others I obtain the old fashion way (I buy them like everybody else).

	Mepps Red Giant Killer - Strong Buy Recommendation [Rating: Good] [Durability: OK] [Usability: Great] Review: (07/29/2003) I was attracted to its red bucktail and red prism on the "gold" willow blade. Fished a moderately clear lake with lots of submerged vegetation on a bright hot sunny day (ugg). Only Fished with it for an hour and it produced a high 30's to low 40's fish which we lost at the boat due to a weak hookset. Need to reel this lure fast which can make setting hook somewhat more difficult. Red sticker on blade is easily stripped - single musky hit scratched it all up. I'll definitely use this again!
	Buchertail Magnum 800 Series - Strong Buy Recommendation [Rating: Good] [Durability: Poor] [Usability: Great] Review: (09/17/2003) I was attracted to this lure because it looks very similar to an eagle tail for 40% less cost! Fished this exact model extensively this year and it has produced several follows, one figure 8 hook up on a 38" musky, and a 32" pike. I have had the best luck in the morning at low light and in the early evening while it is still light out. This lure produces a great hook set and you can easily throw it twice the distance of an eagle tail. The biggest problem with this lure is its durability - can't take much beating before it gets all bent out of shape and you have to straighten it. Still, for the money, it is a great lure to start/finish the day!
	EagleTail - Cautious Buy Recommendation [Rating: Good] [Durability: Excellent] [Usability: Fair] Review: (05/14/2005) EagleTail was recommended to me by a friend who had just caught a 50+ inch muskie on one. Its single large hook configuration looks strange but makes for great hookups and the color selection looks inviting, so I bought several of them. My favorite is black with just a touch of chartreuse (for early morning fishing) - have seen many very large follows with this configuration. Problem is this lure is VERY hard to reel in and because it is so feathery, it doesn't cast well in the wind. If I could only bring 5 muskie lures with me fishing, none of them would be eagletails.
	Buchertail Top Raider - Strong Buy Recommendation [Rating: Excellent] [Durability: Excellent] [Usability: Excellent] Review: (05/14/2005) I purchased one of these after a frustrating afternoon I spent with a friend muskie fishing where all he used was this lure and I literally went through everything in my box and just could not even get a follow while my friend landed 6 within a four hour stint and had countless other follows on White Bear Lake, MN. It made me realize that this is just one of the cornerstone lures that you always bring along. Perhaps "the ultimate" search bait as you can cast it a mile and it reels in very easy. My favorite is the black with chartreuse fin. Has it produced? Oh yeah - and then some!
	ESOX Cobra Jig - Strong Buy Recommendation [Rating: Excellent] [Durability: Excellent] [Usability: Excellent] Review: (05/06/2006) My fishing buddy always had some of these in his box but rarely used them. However, when the fish were deep or lethargic he always seemed to gravitate towards jigging. We'd be dragging a sucker minnow on one line and watch muskie follow slowly for a while and then shy away. On these days (mostly sunny days), jigging seemed to be the only way we able to generate some action. I'd never think of these jigs as a primary (first grab) lure, but rather the difference between running through your whole tackle box and catching nothing and at least enticing a strike or possibly boating a musky. Its a must have to save the day.

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