Muskie season almost here

[Cody Gruchow]

Who is going out chasing these beasts next weekend? ill be out on lake calhoun to try my luck for these monsters. whats everyones method going to be. ill be trying with live bait and casting for them also. weres everyone going?

[dakids]

I'll be throwing smaller spinnerbaits or bucktails on Waconia.  I will also try tonka during the week.

[camoguy24]

either white bear or forest for me!!! i cant wait!! 

[Ace]

I'll be fishing for the beast on Minnesota's finest Muskie lake, Beautiful Lake Vermilion.

I'll start the day tossing a few medium sized bucktails and maybe a few crankbaits to change it up. I can't go Muskie fishing without a few topwaters, I always have one of my favorite ones rigged on at least one rod. 

If you must use live bait be sure to use a qwick strike rig and avoid using a single hook "KILL RIG". Live bait kills Muskies. If you need proof, just go to Wisconsin.
 

Have a great Muskie opener all you Muskie nuts out there.

"Ace"

[Cody Gruchow]

what do you mean live bait kills muskies? sorry im a complete rookie on muskies its my first season persueing them.

[gds]

There have been studies on live bait. If you use a single hook rig you basically have to let the fish swallow the hook to hook it. If you use live bait they recomend a quick srike rig , so you can set the hook instantly.

[Cody Gruchow]

explain how one of these look like

[Mayfly]

explain how one of these look like

http://www.musky.com/Features/strike.htm

[Ace]

Hey Cody,
Both the Minnesota and Wisconsin DNR's have done extensive studys on the long term effects of single hook sucker rigs on Muskies.

They have found that even if they survive the initial capture and release. If you cut the line, the hook will embed it's self in the walls of their stomach. This will eventually cause major damage to the stomach and the fish will die.

Quick stike rigs have treble hooks connected by a wire leader. This allows you to set the hook before the fish swallows the hook. Studys by Muskies Inc and the DNR have found that the survival rate goes way up when quick strike rigs are used.

The best thing to do is just save the live bait for the Walleyes and fishermen from Wisconsin.

"Ace" 

[Cody Gruchow]

ok i got quite a few lures to try anyways. thanks for all the helpful info guys

[Cody Gruchow]

i thought that using a treble hook is illegal unless its on a atrifical lure. i knew i wasnt going nuts ill qoute the book. so if i use these quick strike set-ups wouldnt that be breaking the law?

"Anglers may use only one hook. An artificial lure is considered one
hook. A treble hook, when not part of an artificial lure, is considered
three hooks and is not legal."

(qoute taken from page 8 of the 2008 fishing regulations book)

[Ace]

Cody,
All you need to make the lure legal, is a spinner above the treble hooks. All Quick strike rigs sold in Minnesota, have the spinner above the hooks.

You can make your own with a spool of wire and a couple treble hooks, just add the spinner and you are good to go.

"Ace"

[Cody Gruchow]

ok sounds good, ill go buy some of these tommorow just in case, because i am sure i will catch a few northerns as well and ill have bait close by. thanks for the info

[Mayfly]

They sell the Quick-Strike rigs pre-assembled at most stores. I went to pick up some tackle today and saw a couple different kinds.