By Joseph Alfe

In the Muskie world of late, the battle cry has been “Go big or go home,” and for sure, supersizing your baits (and the tackle needed to handle them) has, in my opinion, accounted for the deluge of supersized fish being caught in recent years. But like any tactic, it is not a one size fits all panacea. There are times and places where bigger isn’t better. There are times when downsizing can produce fish when nothing else can, even big fish too.

Too often though, to a hardcore muskie angler, downsizing means throwing something other than a magnum sized Medussa. In this article, I’m not talking about using smaller muskie offerings. I am inducing you to cross the species barrier, and to consider using bass baits, techniques, and tackle to entice muskies when the going gets tough.

There is a saying on my home water of the Illinois Fox Chain, and that is “If you want to catch big bass, go muskie fishing, and if you want to catch muskies, go bass fishing.” The next time you are struggling on the water, consider stopping and talking with the guys in the bass boat. Ask them if they have had any bite offs, follows, or missed fish. You may not only be surprised to hear how much action they have been getting, but on what baits they have been getting the action on. I have gotten muskies on everything from stick baits to buzzbaits, but a few baits stand out as consistent producers.

Olivia Swenson with a 46 inch muskie that bit a bass jig on Round Lake, WI.

Baits

Last year, and so far this year, with a few exceptions, my biggest muskies have fallen to bass sized offerings. Here is a collection of baits that I always carry with me in my “muskie panic box,” and they have saved the day for me numerous times:

Jigs. Muskies love jigs. We have all heard the stories of monster muskies caught by Walleye guys. I saw it myself while competing in the 2006 PMTT championship, held on my home waters of the Fox Chain in November of that year. Conditions were tough; a fatal combination of bluebird postfrontal conditions and chocolate milk stained water. On day two, winners Kirk Allen and Brad Swenson, from Minnesota, noticed deep marks in 25’ that would not respond to traditional baits. Down went a rubber skirted jig with and plastic trailer, and three fish later they were cashing a check. Especially early in the year, swimming a bass sized jig can tempt lethargic fish. Just this year, at the Youth Conservation Alliance youth event on Big Round Lake in Hayward, Wisconsin, I put 10 year old Olivia Swenson on a brute of a 46” muskie flipping docks for smallies with a 3/8 Oz. Legio Fulgar jig and craw trailer. Tap tap. Bang!

Slashbaits. Muskies looove slashbaits. We know this, because we all have them in our arsenal. Magnum sized Grandmas, Jakes, Cranes, Custom X’s and such, but do not overlook the smaller cousins of these legendary producers. Favorites of mine are the venerable Rapala Husky Jerk and X-rap. In spring, one of these is always tied on. Muskies just can’t resist an erratic, suspending slashbait. Rip. Rip. Pause…Wham! X-Raps in particular have saved many an outing for me. Case in point was a bluebird bright September morning and several hours of no follows. I finally put the muskie rod down and picked the spinning rod loaded with an X-Rap and headed to a nearby gravel bar, one which we had just finished throwing several styles of muskie baits at. Two casts later, I was unhooking a beautiful 42” Tiger that could not resist the seductive slash bait, our only fish that day. Think big fish ignore small slashbaits? Consider that Ken O’Brien’s 65 pound Georgian Bay behemoth ate a Rapala in 1989. Tennessee guide Cory Allen recently lost a giant, a possible 50 pound class fish on…wait for it…an X-Rap. Chris Taurisano of T-Bone guide service keeps his clients happy by throwing smaller baits such as Rapala Husky jerks and other small baits year round. Last year, he guided a client to a 49.75” Fox Chain brute on a bass sized in-line spinner.

Vibrating Jigs. Not the ridiculous big ones, I’m talking Bass sized, up to ½ Oz. Bass crush them with abandon. Pike annihilate them, and muskies? Muskies hate them so much they just simply pound them. So simple, a child can use them. Cast out, reel in. Last year, I had my 11 year old daughter Makayla out with me. Makayla is an accomplished muskie angler, but this morning, she was content to let me to all the work. The morning was unproductive, with no fish seen. After daybreak, it grew dead calm and sunny, and I was ready to pack it in. I picked up the spinning rod that had a Molix Lover tied on, hoping to at least catch the White Bass that were surfacing all around. A few casts later, the Lover stopped dead in it’s tracks, halted by a fat 43” fish. 20 minutes later, Makayla was netting a stout 45” fish for me, another victim of the Lover. I like the Molix Lover and the Nu-Tech versions of the chatterbait because they both employ stout, sharp hooks, and have crazy, vibrating actions.

Wakebaits and Squarebills. This is my secret weapon. Fat bodied, bass sized crankbaits and wakebaits are simply irresistible for muskie. If faced with a flat calm morning or evening, and fish are up shallow, I reach for a fat wakebait. My favorites are Rapala’s DT Fat 1, and Koppers jointed Live Target Bluegill. I dress the rear hook with Chaos Tackle Killr Tails to create a bit of bulk and additional action. A slowly moving, subtle action on the retrieve frequently produces a bulging wake behind the bait as a muskie closes in for the kill. On rocks, sand and gravel bars, or areas of brush and timber, fat bodied squarebill crank bait such as a Strike King’s KVD 2.5 bounced off of cover is a deadly presentation for Muskies.

Tackle

This is important. I know that in writing this, I will probably incur the wrath of the “Muskie Police” you know, that cadre of self appointed, internet based Muskie anglers that jump all over anyone not taking every possible effort to not hurt the fish! Please. I know I will hear the argument that, by golly, you Communist, light tackle will overly strain the delicate and rare muskie, and you will kill fish! You murderer! Relax. First of all, today’s bass tackle is pretty stout, and big rods and 100# test line is not in play for handling the fish, but rather the giant lures we throw. Moreover, when hooked on your 8’6” pool cue rod and whale sized terminal tackle; muskies react entirely different than they do when hooked on lighter gear. If you can’t handle a muskie, even a big one, on light gear and get it in relatively quickly and with control, you may need to consider additional education. The nice guys at Musky Hunter Magazine or In-Fisherman and even Fishing-Headquarters Online Magazine can point you in the right direction. When throwing jigs or wake baits, I use an Airrus 7’3” Flipping rod, in extra heavy, extra fast power and action. This is more than adequate to land even the biggest muskies. When throwing slashbaits and chatterbaits, I prefer spinning rods, and my Airrus 7’2” Medium Heavy, Fast action rod will quickly whip a muskie into submission. On the flipping stick, 50# Sunline FX2 braid gets the nod, and on the spinning rod, I favor 15# FX2. As always, leaders are important, but most guys use way too heavy leader and snap, which kills lure action. I like Spro 25# Titanium leaders, or I make my own from multi braid, flexible tie able nickel titanium wire from Knot-2-Kinky. These light wire leaders are more than adequate for muskie, and won’t kill the action of the bait.

Conclusion

I am by no means, suggesting that you give up big baits and heavy tackle. For certain, they are the way to go to entice big fish 90% of the time. But, when the weather turns bright, or cold, or both, and you struggle to even get a follow, consider breaking out the panic box of bass sized baits and gear. Feeling the “tic tic” of a muskie picking up a jig will tune you into that “not quite right” feeling that translates to a muskie picking up your Medussa. Learning how to delay your lightning quick strike to allow the muskie to eat that wakebait will translate into more hooked fish the next time you fish a Top Raider. Learning how to finesse muskies will make you a better muskie fisherman, and put more fish in your boat. Especially on days that you thought you never had a chance.

About Joseph Alfe

Joseph Alfe, a resident of Northern Illinois, has spent his whole life in pursuit of angling and outdoors knowledge. As a Pro Staffer and brand rep for various industry and outdoors companies, he promotes and shares products that he believes in and that can make you a better fisherman and outdoorsman.  For him, it’s all about education. Knowledge is great but you have to be able to get it across in a way that people can understand and be entertained by. Joe’s true passion is bringing relevant and fresh fishing industry news and techniques to his readers through his promotional website, anglerZconnection.com.