Hi Jsteelcity
I'm a hardcore musky guy so I can help you out.
Muskies are BIG fish, growing up to 60lbs with the average being 10-30lbs.
First off, NEVER USE LIGHT TACKLE! YOU CAN KILL THE FISH!
The longer the fight the more stress is put on them and they sometimes will not recover and could die. Muskies are a top of the line predator and there populations are very sensitive so you must do everything in your power to keep it a healthy fishery.
Here is a list of proper gear to get.
1: Rod, most musky guys will have multiple rods, if you are planning on only getting one then a 8ft MH or H action,2oz-6oz lure rating is a good all around rod but make sure it is a casting rod and not a spinning rod. It makes it way easier to fish with musky sized baits.
2: Reel, you want a good sized QUALITY reel with large line capacity and a good drag system. Baitcasting is almost always preferred. A Diawa Lexa 400, Abu Garcia C3 6500 or Shimano 400D as well as other reels similar to these are good. DO NOT CHEAP OUT ON A REEL! Make sure to oil and maintain them as needed.
3: Line, I don't use anything under 80lb braid, 100lb being the standard on all my equipment, it may sound like overkill at first but trust me this is possibly the most important part of the setup. Once again if you use anything lighter you can get snapped off and end up killing a fish.
4: Leaders, I mainly use 130 lb fluorocarbon leaders 12"-18" for casting. Some will use heavy titanium leaders but to be honest I don't like them as they can cut the fish. 36"-72" leaders are used for trolling specifically.
5. Nets, long nose pliers, Mini Bolt or hook cutters and jaw spreaders.
Always use a large net with a heavy netting that doesn't have knots in it so it can protect the fish and its fins, its always best to keep the fish in the water while unhooking it. A pair of long nose pliers to unhook the fish safely. Mini bolt or hook cutters to cut hooks so you can reduce the stress and time it takes to unhook the fish, this is also a lot safer then putting your hands in or near the fishes mouth. Jaw spreaders will help when the lure is deep in the fishes mouth. The last thing you want is a 7/0 hook stuck in your hand with a 40lb musky thrashing around, You'll end up with a trip to the hospital.
6. Handling. Never hold a musky vertically. Always use two hands and support the fish horizontally and minimize the time out of water, especially during the warm water period.
Hopefully this helps.
If you have any other questions let me know and I'll do my best to answer them.
