Let's begin by choosing a rod. Each year more tackle companies enter the muskie rod market. The long list includes names like Browning, Garcia, Daiwa, Loomis, Sage and many others. However, there is one which leads the pack in quality and does it for considerably less than some of the competition. Naturally I am referring to St. Croix Rods Premier Series. These rods have stood the test of time and are used by many of the world's top muskie anglers. The best all around rod to start with will be a 6 or 6 1/2 footer with a medium-heavy action.
Combine this rod with a heavy duty quality reel and half the cost of starting the chase is over (unless we start talking boats). The Garcia 6500 C3 is the most popular reel available and for good reason. Although not perfect, it is the best value for the dollar. Durable Penn Reels are another option. Browning introduced a six ball-bearing reel with a one piece aluminum frame called the Midas 6 Wide which is a big bang for the buck. This smooth reel is different in that it has a variable centrifugal brake which will allow for greater control while casting heavy baits. Any of the three are good for starters, but this year I am using the Browning in most situations.
Now things get tricky, it is time to spool up with line. I feel the new Spectra lines are the only way to go. One word of caution is buy only 50 pound test or heavier due to the unforgiving nature of this line, lost lures and fish will be the result. I've had the best results with Tuff Line, Iron Thread, and Spiderwire, and in my opinion these have made Dacron a word of the past. However there still are some applications where mono in the 17 to 25 pound range is preferred, in which case I go with a big name brand like Stren's Magnathin.
Leaders are available in many styles, but the one requirement is a high quality cross lock snap. I prefer to make my own using 105 pound solid steel wire and Berkley cross lock snaps in size #5 with a quality ball bearing swivel attaches to the front. As with anything, the do-it-yourselfers save money, it's easy to do, and leaves you in charge of quality control.
Next let's choose ten lures to cover most situations. Colors are usually dictated by water clarity with natural patterns being best for clear water, and brighter baits producing best in stained waters.
Bucktails are notorious for being the best baits for hooking and holding fish. The Eagletail is a must in every box if for no other reason than it has caught more 50" muskies than any other bait made, period. The recently reintroduced Billy Finn Bucktail is an outstanding bait and is among the best hooking and holding baits available.
Jerkbaits are the best bait available to use for triggering muskies that follow into striking. The Reef Hawg is a glider style bait that often produces when fish will not respond to any other presentation, and they have accounted for more fish in my boat than any other single lure made. For "chop" style baits a Wade's Wobbler is tough to beat and can be worked deep over a sunken rock island or twitched back enticingly over a thick cabbage bed, both methods will produce well.
Next are the surface lures whose visual aspect creates the most exciting element of muskie fishing. The Stidham Z-180 is the hottest bait going in many regions, and its erratic walk-the-dog action is proving irresistible to some monstrous fish. The Hawg Wobbler is still among my favorites, and is one of my top choices for night fish, due to the large amount of commotion it makes even at slow speeds.
For deeper presentation, a crankbait is usually the way to go. The Bagley DB06 is consistently on the top of the Muskies Incorporated list of releases, but is known more for numbers than lunkers. On the other hand, Smitty Baits, Shallow Jointed Crankbait really attracts the attentin of muskies both large and small with it's extra wide wobble.
The list is rounded off with a M and G Spinnerbait which can be fished through the heaviest of cover. Do not forget a Rubber Lizard on a jig which is deadly in early and late season in additon to being effective in triggering, following fish into striking.
One last tip is join a club like Muskie Incorporated and get active. If you are interested in becoming a member call me at 612-426-0904 and I will send you more information on how to join.