31 replies to this topic

[Bow Man]

Looking to put together a muskie setup. So give me some recommendations on rods reels line etc.....

 

Looking to spend 200.00-250.00 but could go higher.

[Kit]

 I would look into a Gracia 5500 or 6500 C3. Don't get a c4 ... they have a higher (6.3:1) gear ratio that isn't appropriate for all baits and wears out much faster. There are a lot of decent rods out there. Something in the 7' range with a MH to H weight and a fast action would throw most baits OK. Avoid the short pool cue stuff. Anything shorter than 6'8" or so is too short for fighting big fish. 80lb line is a must. The lower weights don't wear as well, dig into the spool on hooksets, and can't handle the shock of a backlash/sudden stop with a 3-4oz. lure. Steel leaders are best. Avoid titanium and just replace the steel leader when it wears out. Palomar knots work best/clich knots tend to slip out.

Oh, and if you're looking for a strictly trolling setup just get a Okuma Magda, put 80lb on it, and get a 8'+ heavy cat rod or something.

 

Hope that helps bud.

[Bow Man]

 I would look into a Gracia 5500 or 6500 C3. Don't get a c4 ... they have a higher (6.3:1) gear ratio that isn't appropriate for all baits and wears out much faster. There are a lot of decent rods out there. Something in the 7' range with a MH to H weight and a fast action would throw most baits OK. Avoid the short pool cue stuff. Anything shorter than 6'8" or so is too short for fighting big fish. 80lb line is a must. The lower weights don't wear as well, dig into the spool on hooksets, and can't handle the shock of a backlash/sudden stop with a 3-4oz. lure. Steel leaders are best. Avoid titanium and just replace the steel leader when it wears out. Palomar knots work best/clich knots tend to slip out.

Oh, and if you're looking for a strictly trolling setup just get a Okuma Magda, put 80lb on it, and get a 8'+ heavy cat rod or something.

 

Hope that helps bud.

Cheers... i am surprised more guiys on here are not fishing muskie with the fall coming great time to catch some monsters.

[IR4J]

St croix Musky Mojo with an abu ambassadeur c3, decent for around your price range. Id run 80lb braid, I like power pro and then down to either 50lb flouro with a barrel swivel to connect the two

[Bow Man]

St croix Musky Mojo with an abu ambassadeur c3, decent for around your price range. Id run 80lb braid, I like power pro and then down to either 50lb flouro with a barrel swivel to connect the two

Cheers, been looking at that rod.

 

what about some of the catfish setups? Been reading on the net that some guys use these setups for muskie also.

[Kit]

Cheers... i am surprised more guiys on here are not fishing muskie with the fall coming great time to catch some monsters.

 

No problem! And yeah they come off the bottom when the water gets cooler.

[alwayscatching]

I just recently bought a bass pro shops graphite series rod and put a shimano cardiff on it. cost me 160 bucks all together WITH the braided line and I am getting ready for the muskie!

[Bow Man]

I just recently bought a bass pro shops graphite series rod and put a shimano cardiff on it. cost me 160 bucks all together WITH the braided line and I am getting ready for the muskie!

Specifics on the rod....... please

[alwayscatching]

7 ft 6 Heavy 20-40 lbs line and I THINK it is rated for up to 5 or 6 ounce baits

[Bow Man]

7 ft 6 Heavy 20-40 lbs line and I THINK it is rated for up to 5 or 6 ounce baits

Thanks, i really dont want to use bait caster, what do you guys have in spinning that would go up to 2-3oz lures? Or what about a catfish setup?

[alwayscatching]

I mean I am not the biggest in muskie there is, im really only attacking it this year. From what I have overheard my buddy talking about to new muskie anglers, using a spin reel is really not recommended. Not fully sure why.

[Bow Man]

I mean I am not the biggest in muskie there is, im really only attacking it this year. From what I have overheard my buddy talking about to new muskie anglers, using a spin reel is really not recommended. Not fully sure why.

I hear the same but have also heard of guys using a catfish ( spinning setup ) for muskie, myself i amalso fairly new to these big boys. I just do not want to spend the time on the learning curve for a baitcaster, for the amount of times that i will fish muskie. Plus i think i will not go much bigger then a 2oz lure. I fish the upper niagara, i am not out in deep water.

[alwayscatching]

Well if you bass fish best bet is to try out a baitcaster for bass and then eventually after you are done with a spinning reel for muskie, switch to a heavy baitcaster. heck you can even do this. Get a Heavy rod around 7 ft in length, and pair it with any baitcaster ratio of 5.5:1-6.5:1 and make sure it has a good spool size. That shouldn't be an issue for muskie if you have the drag right. Keep in mind though if it is a hot day out and the water is really hot, musky should be horsed into the side of the boat to quickly be released so they do not stress hard and go belly up!

[NiagaraSteel]

Dont get a spinning reel! It wears you out and the heavy baits make the line slip right under your fingers and you mess up the casts. Do it right, learn the baitcaster(its really not that hard) and youll be glad you did!

[Bow Man]

Dont get a spinning reel! It wears you out and the heavy baits make the line slip right under your fingers and you mess up the casts. Do it right, learn the baitcaster(its really not that hard) and youll be glad you did!

Looks like thats the way i will have to go....... I do feel confident that it will not take much to learn.

 

Cheers.

[ChasinTails]

I hear the same but have also heard of guys using a catfish ( spinning setup ) for muskie, myself i amalso fairly new to these big boys. I just do not want to spend the time on the learning curve for a baitcaster, for the amount of times that i will fish muskie. Plus i think i will not go much bigger then a 2oz lure. I fish the upper niagara, i am not out in deep water.

i might hit up the pool on the weekend for muskie, care to join me ? that is if i go 

[Bow Man]

i might hit up the pool on the weekend for muskie, care to join me ? that is if i go 

I actually fish the upper for muskie. Was there last weekend and caught one ( smaller 30-34 inch probably 15 pouinds ). Plus 4 really nice small mouths. This weekend is probably scrap for me i have to do some target practice for a archery shoot in a couple weeks. But thanks maybe some other time.

[Nick Evans]

Hi Bow Man

 

I can certainly help you out with a Musky setup. 

 

First off, if you are serious about getting into musky fishing be smart from the beginning. DO NOT BUY CHEAP CRAP!

 

Do not buy an Abu Garcia C3 unless you are under a very strict budget. They are not designed to handle heavy lines or heavy baits. You will end up buying a new reel within a year or two and wasting money....I'm talking from experience, I've blown up a few of them my self in the early years.

If you can afford it I would suggest a Shimano Calcutta 400D, Shimano Curado 300, Abu Garcia Revo Toro Winch, Diawa Lexa 300 or 400 or Shimano Tranx. Most of these reels will cost anywhere from $200 to $550 but are all worth the money. For Trolling reels a Okuma Convector is decent but the best reel is the Shimano Tekota 600LC and Shimano Tekota 700LC for large baits.

 

As for rods If you are looking only to get 1 rod then I would suggest a 8' medium heavy or heavy action 2-6oz rating, this will cover anything from bucktails, plastic and larger baits. The St.Croix Premier and Mojo series and Triumph are cheaper rods for around $200 or less and they are fantastic but if your are looking for something top end then the St.Croix Legend Tournament series rod is your only choice. They cost over $300 but they are simply amazing. If you are going to strictly troll then a Shimano TDR 8' Heavy rod is a steal for $40 or a St.Croix Premier Glass trolling rod for $180.

 

As for line I would suggest 80Lb or 100Lb Braid. As for leaders I would suggest 130 Lb Fluorocarbon 12"-18" for most setups. Do not use any leaders under 100LB you can get snapped off and end up killing a fish. I do not suggest using steel leaders, they fail way too often.

 

Other tools you will need which are just as important as the rod and reel are a pair of long nose pliers, jaw spreaders, mini bolt cutters, gloves and a large thick meshed deep net.

 

I hope this helps!

[alwayscatching]

Yea your info is all great and all but some people just cannot afford to go for the set ups your talking about and I know for a fact that people can spend 200 dollars on a set up and land them just fine. I have witnessed a child and his father with an ugly stick and 15 lbs braid land a 45+ inch muskie. If Bow Man is serious about getting some muskie fishing in this season then he is perfectly fine with a set up like I said. I do believe in spending money to get the good stuff but spending money on a legend rod would KILL the bank account for most people. Buying a tranx reel will cost 600 bucks lol. Your advice on going cheap is right in most aspects but at the same time a shimano cardiff is not cheap and maybe for Bow Man he doesn't need to go too heavy just yet.

[Bow Man]

Hi Bow Man

 

I can certainly help you out with a Musky setup. 

 

First off, if you are serious about getting into musky fishing be smart from the beginning. DO NOT BUY CHEAP CRAP!

 

Do not buy an Abu Garcia C3 unless you are under a very strict budget. They are not designed to handle heavy lines or heavy baits. You will end up buying a new reel within a year or two and wasting money....I'm talking from experience, I've blown up a few of them my self in the early years.

If you can afford it I would suggest a Shimano Calcutta 400D, Shimano Curado 300, Abu Garcia Revo Toro Winch, Diawa Lexa 300 or 400 or Shimano Tranx. Most of these reels will cost anywhere from $200 to $550 but are all worth the money. For Trolling reels a Okuma Convector is decent but the best reel is the Shimano Tekota 600LC and Shimano Tekota 700LC for large baits.

 

As for rods If you are looking only to get 1 rod then I would suggest a 8' medium heavy or heavy action 2-6oz rating, this will cover anything from bucktails, plastic and larger baits. The St.Croix Premier and Mojo series and Triumph are cheaper rods for around $200 or less and they are fantastic but if your are looking for something top end then the St.Croix Legend Tournament series rod is your only choice. They cost over $300 but they are simply amazing. If you are going to strictly troll then a Shimano TDR 8' Heavy rod is a steal for $40 or a St.Croix Premier Glass trolling rod for $180.

 

As for line I would suggest 80Lb or 100Lb Braid. As for leaders I would suggest 130 Lb Fluorocarbon 12"-18" for most setups. Do not use any leaders under 100LB you can get snapped off and end up killing a fish. I do not suggest using steel leaders, they fail way too often.

 

Other tools you will need which are just as important as the rod and reel are a pair of long nose pliers, jaw spreaders, mini bolt cutters, gloves and a large thick meshed deep net.

 

I hope this helps!

Wow thanks lots of good stuff there especially the tools.

 

thanks again.