Questions for you muskie guys out there

[IamSpartacus]

My friend and I are planning to take a few trips this summer in an effort to catch our first muskies. I was wondering what kind of line you guys would recommend. I figure its going to be a braid, but I don't know which brand or poundage I should go for. We're both pretty poor and I was wondering if you guys could recommend a fairly priced braid and poundage to go with.

If it matters we will probably be tossing fairly large cranks (Super Shad Raps and some homemades) and I have a Cabelas Protige reel (I know its not ideal, but once again poor college student). The rod I'll be using is up in the air at the moment, if anyone has suggestions for a decent yet fairly cheap muskie rod I'd love to hear them.

Also I was wondering about what leaders you guys use. I was looking at the Flourocarbon Stealth Leader's (I found the link on MuskySnax's website) and was thinking about using them. I was wondering what pound test any of you would suggest. They ran from 100lb to 150lb and I thought 150lb might be a bit over the top, but then again I've never caught a muskie.

Thanks in advance for any help, this has been a heck of a long post...

Mike

Edited May 12, 2008 by IamSpartacus

[woodieb8]

casting . i would use a 100lb braid. build your own floro leaders. trolling i use big game mono in summer. we use 50lbs and a 50lb floro leader.. remember to use a snap that gives complete freedom for lures to work best.. i have used duo lok with never a failure in 40 years chasin muskies.

[rjbass]

Good advice by Woodie, another good choice that we use is 80LB Power Pro (we like the power pro because of the small diameter) with home made 100LB flurocarbon leaders with barrel swivels and 200LB coastlock snaps. Countless muskies with never a break-off or bite through....

Rod

[Spike-A-Pike]

Mike,

Bass Pro has some of their rods on sale that got some pretty good reviews. I normally use 50# braid and a wire leader. I am thinking of changing leader material to Tyger leaders. I've heard some good things about it in general and even from several TU members. I have an Abu Garcia 6501 that works pretty well. I have used spinning rods most of my life and hate that switching hand thing most bait casting guys do; the 6501 is a left handed reel and being right handed, this means no switch for me. Good luck and happy hunting.

[IamSpartacus]

Thanks for all the replies so far. Spike-a-pike what brand braid do you use? Does anybody know if the color on the braid really matters when your using a leader anyways? and if it does which color braid seems to work best?

Sorry for allt he questions, but I really am brand new to muskie fishing. I'd go somewhere else and ask, but I trust all the advice on here more then other places

Thanks, Mike

[Spike-A-Pike]

Mike,

I have been fond of Stren line for a long time and when they came out with Stren Super Braid low-vis green, I tried it and have stuck with it. I tried a few others, but it seemed to fray with use after just a season or two. At around $25.00 for 150 yards, that gets pricey if you don't trust it. BPS is offering a rebate right now. Good luck

[EC Musky Dude]

I've used Spiderwire Stealth and Stren Super Braid and have been happy with both, but I now have Sufix braid and it is the cat's meow. Go with 80 or 100lb. Stealth leaders are great, I think the 130lb would be a good all around fit.

[LURE JUNKIE]

Spartacus,

I use spiderwire stealth and power pro both in 80# never had any problems with either. I would not go with less 80# test. It seems like over kill but I've lost a few lures using 50# line, occasionally it would snap just from casting. It really sucks watching a $20 lure fly through the air with only a foot of line hanging from it.

Check out out Gander mountains Guide Series rods I don't know what your price range is but, the Pro Select series is a great rod for $70-$ 80. I've replaced two of my $180 Fig rig rods with them. I like them better they are lighter, have great action, and they can be replaced in store if defective.(I closed one in the cabin door last year, they replaced it on the spot). I would suggest a 7'-6" or 8'-0" medium heavy rod, the longer rods cast farther, give you better hook setting power and make it much easier to figure 8.

As far as leaders go I have not tried flourocarbon leaders I know people that love them, and I also know a few people that have had them fail. I use wire leaders with cross lock snaps. I've never lost a fish from one failing, so I've never tried anything else.

Good luck!

Hope this helps

[Zib]

I use 50 LB Stren Super Braid & an 80 LB fluoro leader for casting for musky on Lake St. Clair.

If you are looking for a good deal on Power Pro go to this person on Ebay http://stores.#########/poor-fish-store

Insert e b a y .com where the ##'s are.

I've bought 2 spools of lighter line from him & I'm happy with it. It's new line & not old stuff like most sell on Ebay.

Edited May 13, 2008 by Zib

[King Bait Co.]

If your broke like me right now. I would just get a long catfish pole at wal-mart to start out with $20 or $30 and you might get a reel with it braided isn't cheap any way you look at it. Wally world probaly is your best bet or watch the sales if your on a collage budget $0. If your only going to fish for them a couple of times that would be the way I would go.

[EC Musky Dude]

I'm gonna respectfully disagree with the above post in regards to catfish poles for muskies....unless they are made of graphite, which most are not, you are going to be disappointed in the casting and hooksetting. If you would be strictly trolling for muskies they would be OK.

I have not handled one yet but Cabelas has a couple musky models in their Pro Guide series now for $60 - or as mentioned Gander and Scheels both have rods to fit the bill without breaking the wallet.

[woodieb8]

for trolling like most do here on st clair. look at charters choice rods. they are the tigerstik blank. ugly and near in destructable. soft tips let ya know if theres weeds on your lure and a stiff mid section to butt. also eva foam. great for rod holders. cork chips

Edited May 14, 2008 by woodieb8

[King Bait Co.]

I was just reffering to them being collage kids with no money. Their only going a few times. I would not personaly drop a bunch of cash on a diffrent type of fishing that I do only a few times a year. Rember he's in collage books, beer and girl's aren't cheap these days.

[IamSpartacus]

Rember he's in collage books, beer and girl's aren't cheap these days.

No doubt about that! If I could just go a semester without one of these three things I would have a lot more money for fishing. Maybe next semester I'll go without books (only joking... sort of)

Anyways thanks for all the suggestions. I do have a 6'6" MH Cabelas Fish Eagle II. Will that be heavy enough? The only experience I have with Muskie is the two times I've hooked into one while ice fishing with an UL pole and 4lb test. I love 10 minute "fights" and trying to figure out how to make a 6" hole big enough to fit a Muskie through only to have your line snap and lose your favorite ice jig:angry:

Thanks again for all the help

Mike

Edited May 14, 2008 by IamSpartacus