Musky Lures?????

[ScowardNJ]

I wanna get my first musky this fall. I wanna get it casting. I would like to get it in less than 10,000 casts, but If it takes more, I'll keep throwing. I have a 7'9" St. Croix LT Musky lipstick with a Lexa 300HL ready for business. I got a big ass net and tool box with enough stuff to extract a tusk out of a woolly mammoth and not leave a mark. If fact the last mammoth I c&r'd and is still alive today and is 1000lbs heavier.
I have no clue when it comes to Musky baits... A bucktail to me, is made by Spro..a bulldog is a lure retriever...a whopper plopper is what happens after I eat at Burger King.....Would anyone in NJFishing land please care to share 3 musky baits I should pick up to start this mission before I start throwing money at stuff I have no idea about? I'll mostly be fishing Monks and Greenwood during the evenings after work this fall. Any help would be very much appreciated!!!! Thank you in advance!!!!!!!!

[Air Force Chris]

The Lip Stick is on the "lighter" side for musky gear if you can believe it. Great small topwater and small bucktail rod though. If your going to be casting in the early fall water temps 77-70 that should be alright. In the late fall, your gunna need a stiffer rod for the bigger baits. The biggest thing you need to be concerned with is driving those hooks home when you get a strike. Bigger rod=stronger backbone=better hookset.

That lexa is a perfect reel.

Ok so now to bait selection. Would you consider yourself a power fisherman or finesse fisherman? Personally, I'm a power fisherman at heart. I'm only slowing down if the conditions of fish make me.

Chris

[jimmythegreek]

Get a few big bucktails, bulldogs work, other soft baits that are glide baits or jig baits work well, and the old standby a Suick. In the fall the skis are mainly chasing herring like the rest of the gamefish, thats why so many get jigged up as by catch. Nothing wrong with hanging a big sunny, panfish, sucker etc off the side of the boat downlined, the most effective way IMO. U can use ur striper gear for muskys, an avet is a great reel altho a levelwind is very helpful, and when tossing big lures longer rods are better

[The Birdman]

LOL you are funny
This is my first year actually fishing for musky, I am still an beginner for sure but I am hooked on these fish.
I am now completely broke thanks to musky fishing purchases.

I started this year at those locations using very basic stuff. IMO-if I were you and could buy 1 lure it would be the drifter tackle believer, they work great, are pretty cheap, and you can easily cast them and work them around structure (8" jointed). for those lakes=walleye color or black sucker. grab a 100# flouro 18" leader.

check out musky shop ($5 flat rate shipping right now) and even amazon has these lures (free-2 day shipping w/prime), or fins and furs has them on rt23 in black color.

Next time i head out ill give you a call , come on out with the bird we will catch monstaz.

[ScowardNJ]

This St. Croix Broomstick, aka Lipstick is light?? Rated for 30#-65# line???? It's been my blackfish rod for the past year and I've had 20 oz's of lead hanging off it with no troubles..lol... I haven't tried casting anything heavy with it yet though, just a big jointed rapala i have. I can see how a longer rod built for power and weight slinging would be more beneficial, maybe I'll i bring my surf pole with me..haha... This is the set up I have and this is the set up I'm fishing with. I also have a 7ft MH casting rod with an Abu C4 that I know could handle the fish, but not so much casting the heavier baits.

Power vs. Finesse? Assuming power means throwing big heavy baits like a maniac all day vs. throwing lighter baits working them with the rod? If that's the case I guess I'm a finesse guy training his way to power fishing.

A bunch of guys have suggested live lining a sucker off the boat but I wanna get my first one casting... Of course I wouldn't mind picking one off while walleye fishing....

Thanks for the help guys! I'm getting a lot of good suggestions!

[Air Force Chris]

Yes haha, the LT / "broom stick" is light in the world of musky fishing. Very "whippy" rod, great for launching small baits a mile.

That rod WILL work. Just keep those hooks SHARP.

I guess I should have elaborated the power vs finesse fishing but I think I have enough to work with. For one thing, you won't be able to toss DC-10's (big blades) effectively or big rubber on that rod anyways.

A few small bucktails and topwater baits should be all you need. It all comes down to personal preference when we talk bucktails. There are marabou, tinsel, silicone, ect. Personally, I prefer silicone. But that's just my two cents. They all have their time and place. I wouldn't go over anything bigger than a #8 Colorado. A single or double will do fine. Anything bigger and your going to run into issues with your set up.

As for topwater, any loud prop bait will work. No need to get crazy with colors here. One dark...one light...

Cover lots of water and don't give up. From what it sounds like your fishing in peak periods anyways (after work).

If and when you do hook one, try not to keep the fish out of the water for extended periods of time. Use those needle nose pliers to remove the hooks while she is in the net. CPR baby!

Hope that helps...feel free to fire re-attacks.

[ScowardNJ]

Huge thanks to all the guys offering me advice here!!! I have plenty of info to go on! Much appreciated!

[CabinBoy8]

I have a ton of musky lures; bucktails, plastics, cranks, jerks, etc. that I want to get rid of. They may need some cleaning up, polishing blades, sharpening hooks but they are serviceable. A buck or two each, they have to go. If you're interested, contact me.