Last updated on October 15th, 2019 at 11:03 pm

Welcome to our complete guide on musky fly fishing. If you are a traditional musky fisherman then you are used to throwing big blades and heavy baits, and also trolling or using sucker rigs. Perhaps you landed on this page because you now want to learn about how to fly fish for musky. Or, perhaps you are already an experience musky fly fisherman looking for the best musky flies. Either way, you have come to the right place.

For most newbies to musky fishing, netting your first musky can be life-changing, as it marks the start of a perhaps crazy addiction to musky fishing. But what does one do after they have caught dozens, or perhaps hundreds of muskies in their lifetime, when they have spent boat loads of money on new musky lures, musky rods, and musky reels, when they have caught their first topwater musky, stopped fishing with live baits and ultimately landed that fifty-inch musky of a lifetime? What will their next musky fishing challenge be?

Quite a few traditional musky hunters have been emailing us and other musky fly fishing nuts, looking for new ways to approach the sport. This is a growing trend that we are seeing and we are happy to be a part of this transition for some. If you are someone who has spent countless hours chasing muskies and you have enough knowledge and experience to catch them frequently, then congratulations! You have a great head start on those fly fishermen who have never caught a musky before.

Musky Fly Fishing Gear

Just like when you may have been overwhelmed with tackle and gear options when you first began musky fishing, you might be having those same feelings when it comes to fly fishing for muskie. Don’t panic. Musky fly fishing is easy to learn. We tell all newcomers to keep it simple.

Best Musky Fly Rod

When fly fishing for musky, at a minimum you want a 10-weight rod. An 11-weight may toss bigger musky flies, but it is more difficult to find in a shop. Your musky fly rod doesn’t need to be overly expensive. Actually, a slower action, entry-level fly rod can help reduce the learning curve a litte bit. It takes a lot of practice to cast heavy line and a big fly, and this type of practice you cannot do on your lawn, so a lighter weight musky fly rod can be more forgiving for a beginner just learning their casting stroke.

For us, the best musky fly rod that we feel offers the greatest versatility and value is the Redington Predator Musky, which is an 11-weight rode. Redington makes some quality products. However, another affordable and good quality starter rod which we often recommend is the Orvis Clearwater, which is a 10-weight. The TFO Esox is another solid choice for an 11-weight rod for starters. If you are the of person who wants top of the line gear up front, then you want the one-piece Orvis Helios 3 11-weight or the St. Croix Imperial USA 10-weight, both of which can be cast like laser beams all day long with 450 grain line.

Regardless of which musky fly rod that you purchase, make certain to mail in the warranty card. Fishing in rivers full of rocks takes a toll on fly rod tips.

Best Musky Fly Reel

When it comes to musky fly fishing, the reel is only there to hold your line. Since muskies tend to be fighters, and not necessarily runners, you don’t need a super-wide arbor or fancy drag system. The best musky fly reel should be “set and forget”. It needs to be reliable and able to take abuse without pinching the line or bending the rim.

The three best musky fly reels for beginners that we recommend are the Piscifun Platte Fully Sealed Drag Large Arbor Fly Fishing Reel, the Orvis Battenkill Reel, and the Waterworks-Lamson Liquid Fly Reel.

Best Musky Fly Line

The best musky fly line is a sinking-head streamer line. As a beginner, you don’t need to worry about intermediates or floaters. For most musky fishing conditions, our favorite is Scientific Anglers Sonar Sink 25 Cold – 450 grains for an 11-weight or 400 grains for a 10-weight. This fly line has a 25-foot sinking head, stays 3-5 feet below the water line, and casts big musky flies with a resounding “plop”. It won’t coil in the cold, thanks to it’s braided core, and even with cold, stiff fingers the line is smooth and easy to manage.

Leader

You also want to be sure to pick up some Seaguar 80 lb. fluorocarbon to use as a leader. You will need at least 4 feet to start. You might also want to consider the Scientific Anglers Premium Figure 8 Wire Leader.

Best Musky Flies

As a beginner, the best musky flies will be the ones that you buy. Don’t even think about tying your own as a newbie. Your time and focus should be on learning how to use your equipment. Leave the fly making til at least season 2 or 3.

What size flies for musky? Well, a better question is “how much fly can you cast?” Big fish like musky require big baits. Standard size flies for these fish are 10 to 12 inches. Start with about six flies which should last you all season. Out of those, you will likely use the same 2 or 3 most of the time anyway.

We suggest that you start with yellow and black, firetiger (black and orange/chartreuse), black and orange/red, and lastly an all black. For good measure, also throw in an XL cream and tan sucker pattern fly.

Today there many great fly-tiers that peddle their wares online and in some fly shops. Some places to find musky flies for sale are eBay, Facebook groups, and even craigslist.

Other Tools & Gear

For starters, you’ll want to pick up some really long bent-tip needlenose pliers, like these. These are essential for deep fly recovery. But in order to do this, you’ll also need a wire mouth spreader, assuming you don’t want cuts on your hands that can potentially bleed for hours. Speaking of avoiding blood, be sure to also get a good pair of musky release gloves.

Don’t even think about going musky fly fishing without a set of Knipex cutters for cutting hooks. There will come a time where you will need to cut the hooks to spare yourself and the fish from injury. Don’t go cheap on this much needed tool.

Perhaps the best tool needed to successfully release a musky is a giant, deep musky net. There are several good options to choose from. Check our post on picking the best musky landing net. There are even some good folding net options.

Conclusion

As soon as you have acquired all of the gear mentioned above, and after doing a bit of practice casting at home in your yard or a nearby park, your very next thing that you should do is to hire a professional guide for a day. A pro will not only show you some great fishing spots, but also help to ensure that you are setup properly and using your equipment most efficiently.

One final piece of wisdom, be certain to do a figure eight at the end of each retrieve, just like traditional musky fishing. This is super important.

If you made it this far, you should be adequately prepared to take on the challenge of musky fly fishing. Good luck, my friend. Happy fishing!

Last updated on July 30th, 2019 at 05:41 pm

If you are new to muskie fishing and shopping for musky gear, you may have some questions about what is the best equipment to buy. You may also have sticker shock at the prices of some of the top selling muskie tackle, especially musky reels. The good news is that, as a beginner, you don’t need to spend $300-$400 on a muskie reel. As you will see in the following KastKing Rover Round Baitcasting Reel review, you can get a decent starter reel for under $75.

The best thing about the KastKing Rover Round Baitcasting Reel is that it features all of the needed tools for muskie fishermen to go after big fish. Regardless if you are trolling with bucktails or casting with BullDawgs, the  KastKing Rover Round Baitcasting Reel is the ideal choice for newcomers to musky fishing.

KastKing Rover Round Baitcasting Reel Key Features

While doing our KastKing Rover Round Baitcasting Reel Review, we found that it offers the following features:

• shielded stainless steel bearings (Rover 40, 50 & 60 have 6, plus 1 instant-stop, anti reverse roller bearing – Rover 70-90 contain 4 +1 Ball bearings)
• stainless steel parts that matter
• precision brass gears
• up to 30 lb. of carbon fiber, smooth performance drag
• nonslip, over-sized right or left hand handles
• line out audible alarm
• superb levelwind
• line out release bar that is ergonomic for your thumb
• sturdy construction
• quality, classic look of a round baitcasting muskie reel.

KastKing Rover Round Baitcasting Reel Construction

​The KastKing Rover has a spool made of high-grade aluminum, finely tuned brass shaft, appealing anodized red side plates, and stainless steel internal and internal components. Combined, these provide it with excellent corrosion resistance, even if fishing in saltwater.

The KastKing Rover has a 3.6:1 gear ratio, an nonslip oversized T handle grip providing superb control, and a light-weight, fatigue reducing design,.

The carbon fiber star drag of the KastKing Rover supplies excellent power that is on par with much more expensive round baitcasting or trolling reels sold by  more popular brands. You will have a pretty solid combination if you pair the Rover with any high quality braided fishing line, but KastKing also offers their own braided line.

The KastKing Rover Round Baitcasting Reel has a fairly large line capacity and can easily handle enough monofilament or braided fishing line for any muskie fishing situation.

If you are new to musky fishing, or only fish a couple times per season, and are searching for an affordable musky reel, then the KastKing Rover Round Baitcasting Reel is our top recommendation. It’s price to quality and performance ratio make it pretty much an unbeatable choice for beginners, especially for under $75.

KastKing Rover Round Baitcasting Reel Review On YouTube

Here’s an excellent KastKing Rover Round Baitcasting Reel review on YouTube, describing how this is a good choice for a beginner’s reel. In the review he mentions that this reel is difficult to birds nest, or rats next as some would say.

Another long, miserable winter has come to an end. You’ve loaded up on some new gear during the off-season. Your hooks are sharpened. Your fishing license has been purchased. You’ve got the itch. Bad! You’re ready to be back out on the water. You’re beyond ready for some early season musky fishing success!! So let’s get to it!

Pre-Spawn Transition Muskie Fishing

During the first couple weeks of the early season, muskies are making their way to their favorite spawning areas. They tend to follow creek and river channels to mudflats, bays, and coves to go through the natural process of spawning. Depending upon the water that you are fishing, natural reproduction of muskies can be minimal, thus in some places stocking is responsible for the majority of the muskies you may encounter.

A good place to start fishing during this time is on points leading into bays or coves, as the fish use these areas for staging. We have typically found success casting crankbaits, gliders and twitchbaits to the shorelines.

When choosing a glide bait, for some reason we usually find that flat-sided lures outperform the rounded baits during this pre-spawn period. There certainly are exceptions, of course. My personal favorite is the Drifter Tackle Hell Hound, but jointed lures have also consistently put fish in my boat.

If you are fortunate enough to encounter some lay-down timber, which is often times a prime holding area for fish, make several casts from different angles. Be sure to try to keep your lure in the cover. The Drifter Tackle Hell Hound is great here. When your fishing rod tip pulls, it will lower the lure into the timber, and when you pause, the lure rises back, making it ready for the next pull while staying in the fish strike zone a tiny bit longer.

Bait color choice is often critical as most waters vary in clarity. Usually, spring run-off tints the lake water, so chartreuse and orange lures produce good results. However, you should also try shad patterns in water that is clearer. Another option for darker spring water is a lure with flash and some water movement. We have seen really good results with the Savage Gear jointed 4Play swimbait. The lure’s stop-and-start retrieve combined with it’s flashy movement is exactly what you need to move the muskies some days.

As soon as we reach deeper back into the bays and the fishfinder shows eight feet and less, I change the presentation substantially because baits with vibrations and noise are usually the most productive in the shallow water. Wide casting with musky rattlebaits like the Rapala Rattlin’ Shad tend to land us a few muskies during the pre-spawn period. Make sure to crank fast and keep the rod tip up as the muskies can be in as little as 12 inches of water.

Some muskie fishermen find good success with smaller gliders and spoons during this period.

Trolling For Early Season Muskies

Trolling can also be quite productive at during the this period, but it’s important to stay shallow. Using shorter line and presenting over water nine feet and less is recommended, but try to get as shallow as you possible.

Small shad tend to be the main food base, so use baits that are four to six inches in length. For best results, use four to 15 feet of line out from the tip of your rod, and use smaller baits like Rapala Super Shad Rap, SteelShad, and Modenpeak Swimbait Lures. You can also effectively troll with the same rattlebaits that I mentioned earlier – when using 19 to 30 feet of fishing line, your rattlebait should remain just below the water surface which means that you can fish very shallow.

Regardless if you are casting or trolling, definitely try to work the same areas at different times of the day. Usually, muskies tend to wait for the bright sun before they move to the warming water. We find that we have better luck in the afternoons vs the early morning.

Post-Spawn Muskie Fishing

Once spawning is over, muskies are more scattered and you will find them just about anywhere throughout the lake. When the water temperature warms into the 60s, it’s best to start fishing on points which lead out of the spawning areas. Trolling or casting can both yield good results. Focus your efforts around the inside of the point but don’t neglect the shallow water along the tips of the points.

Muskies seem to prefer to hang out near or on weeds, timber, drop-offs and structure. Timber and weeds are quite similar, and finding gaps in their edges will produce good results. Mud flats can also hold muskies, so try to find turns and twists in them. Usually these spots always hold at least some fish.

The best muskie lures for casting include topwater baits such as TopRaider, and buzzbaits like the Whopper Plopper. Blade baits made by Musky Mayhem, Mepps, and Blue Fox are excellent choices for inconsistent timber, edges, and weeds. As the weeds develop in the lake, try fast retrieving the smaller blade baits such as Mepps Muskie Killer or Showgirls over top of them.

Retrieve speed is a major factor, so switch things up until you find what gets their attention. When you find muskies stabilized along edges of structure, switch to medium or large size rubber bait. Allow your Medussas, Red October tubes, and BullDawgs to sink down 2-3 seconds prior to retrieving.

When you are trolling, remember to try to match the size of your baits to the shad in the water. Often times smaller, bass-size baits will allow you to have a multiple fish day if the muskies are feeding on smaller sized shad.

The muskie post-spawn period reveals some very big muskies for trollers every year. Fish in water depths from seven to 25 feet, and be certain to run your lures both low and high in the water column. Cast larger baits when fishing in deeper water.

Learning about the different pre- and post-spawn musky fishing conditions from the other seasons of the year will be what leads to your success. If you follow the guidelines that we laid out above, you will for sure have success and extend your muskie fishing season.

Last updated on October 6th, 2020 at 05:51 pm

Ah, muskie fishing. You’re relaxing in your boat, enjoying the peace and quiet, the sun is pleasantly shining from above, you have been blessed with just catching a muskie. NEXT THING YOU KNOW, YOU ARE SUDDENLY ON YOUR WAY TO THE ER BECAUSE MUSKIES HAVE REALLY SHARP FINS, TEETH, AND GILL PLATES! A solid pair of musky release gloves could have saved your…hands.

Since a painful wound does not quite fit neither this idyllic version of musky fishing nor the pragmatic version of people who fish for a living, you need the best musky release gloves on the market to protect you from these dangers. But which are the best fish releasing gloves?

In this article, we will discuss both Musky Armor and the Lindy Fish Handling Gloves. We will talk about their specific features and best uses in terms of pros and cons. That will help you compare, contrast, and pick the best fishing glove for your purposes!

Why You Should Use Musky Release Gloves

Fishing doesn’t just mean catching the fish, it also means being prepared to release them. Since most muskie anglers are thankfully followers of CPR (catch, photo, release), we all want to release the fish as quickly and safely as possible.

As such, fish release gloves protect both you and the fish. Unlike usual fishing gloves, these are more resistant to punctures and cuts and offer a better grip. This grip doesn’t just improve your confidence or make you a more efficient angler, it also saves the fish.

The basic idea is that musky anglers shouldn’t unnecessarily touch the fish because that removes its slime. In turn, that leads to fish being more at risk of infection considering that slime is what protects them.

A good grip is also essential for not harming the fish’s vital organs, which can happen if you hold it too tightly to avoid dropping it. And it’s not just about harming a fish or two, it’s about preserving the muskie population and your respect for nature conservation.

Musky Release Gloves – Lindy Fish Handling Glove

The official description of this fish handling glove is titled “a bulletproof vest for your hands”. And although marketers usually tend to exaggerate their descriptions, this one is point-blank accurate considering that the Lindy Fish Handling Glove gives you 8 times more puncture resistance than the average fishing glove.

We also like the quality material this glove is made of. SuperFabric not only protects your hands, but it’s great in terms of grip, allowing you to release the fish quickly, without damaging them.

SuperFabric is a sort of Extreme Textile that enhances regular textiles with armor technology, so you can deflect hooks and knives. In fact, it was originally developed for medical personnel to protect them from needle stings. On the other hand, this material does not allow you to easily fillet the fish or put the bait on because it feels a bit stiff.

The Lindy Fish Handling Glove isn’t just strong, it’s user-friendly, too. Whether you are new to musky fishing or not, you must know that weird smell your hands have after a day handling fish. Well, the good news is that this Lindy glove is odor-resistant and can be cleaned perfectly safe in the washing machine.

Apart from resisting odors, these gloves are also resistant to chemicals, gas, and oil, and you can use them in salt or freshwater alike. Basically, their added protection gives you confidence, which means you can release the muskies faster.

So if you want this fishing glove, there are three sizes to choose from, in left or right-handed versions. Just remember that if you’re right-handed, you will wear the glove on your left hand. Besides, these gloves are rumored to run a bit small, so take that into account as well when you are choosing your size.

PROS:
• Increases dexterity
• Comfortable
• Puncture-resistant
• Great grip

CONS:
• Not for picking up small items
• The size can be a bit small

Musky Release Gloves – Musky Armor Musky Gloves

Releasing muskies means mastering the old Leech Lake Lip Lock, but you also need to wear something that protects your hands. When compared with the Lindy Gloves, the Musky Armor Gloves come with their own set of advantages and disadvantages.

For instance, the Musky Armor gloves are made from fine microfiber. As opposed to the SuperFabric, this material does not offer as much puncture resistance. Although it can protect you from gill plates and is a good buffer that slows down muskie or pike fangs, it can still be penetrated by fish teeth or hooks.

Still, microfiber offers good traction and it’s definitely thinner than SuperFabric, so Musky Armor gloves can be quite versatile, you don’t have to use them just for fishing. They can double as sun gloves, you can use them hunting, they are even great driving gloves in the winter.

In fact, microfiber helps increase your dexterity and sensitivity, and that is why it’s considerably better than rubber. However, based upon some reviews that we have read, these gloves start wearing down after catching 30 plus fish, especially around the fingertip areas.

Another advantage is that, according to the manufacturer, both sides of the glove offer protection, not just the palm. You can find these gloves in three sizes, M, L, and XL, with a good chance of getting the right fit straight out of the box.

If you decide to buy these gloves, we want to give you a heads-up about how they should be removed. Never peel them straight off because that turns them inside-out and they are really difficult to get back to normal. Just pull each finger carefully to get them out and rinse them a bit before you let them air-dry. However, remember that during very busy fishing trips, Musky Armor gloves might never dry completely.

PROS:
• Increase dexterity
• Sensitive
• Affordable
• Versatile

CONS:
• Less protection against teeth punctures
• Not extremely durable
• A bit irksome to take off

Musky Release Gloves Conclusion

In this article, we have compared two great products, the Lindy Fish Handling Glove and Musky Armor musky gloves, each with their own set of pros and cons. But what it all boils down to is that the Lindy Gloves are more resistant to punctures, and more durable, while the Musky Armor gloves are more sensitive and versatile.

So which one should you choose? If you are an expert fisherman, versed in the art of the old Leech Lake Lip Lock, the Musky Armor gloves are quite affordable and reduce the chances of injury. Otherwise, if you don’t like to take your chances with cuts and punctures, you might prefer the Lindy Fish Handling Glove due to its superior puncture resistance.

That said, which pair of musky release gloves will you choose? What convinced you? Let us know in the comments below!

Last updated on April 18th, 2019 at 04:20 pm

We know that muskie anglers are always on the hunt for the latest and greatest in gear and tackle. We also know that truly innovative products only come along every few years or so. This year at ICAST, one such product in particular caught our attention, and it has the potential to catch the attention of muskies, as well. At first sight, we knew that the Chasebaits Ultimate Squid Lure had the potential to be a major muskie magnet.

Chasebaits Ultimate Squid Lure Design

The designers at Chasebaits were determined to create and perfect a squid profile plastic lure. After 18 months of hard work in the design stage, the final design of the Chasebaits Ultimate Squid came off the production line and was launched at the 2017 AFTA Fishing Tackle Trade show “Down Under” in Australia. Heads were turning as the lure was demonstrated in the viewing tank. The lifelike action of the Ultimate Squid lure is one of the most realistic lures that most had ever seen. The wings on the side of the squid’s head are the key to it’s amazingly lifelike action. The fluid and tantalizing roll of a squid’s wings, captured perfectly in the Chasebaits Ultimate Squid lure, are sure to attract fish of all types, including muskies.

Ultimate Squid Lure Features

– Superb Squid action and likeness – Fluttering squid wings.
– Works even after legs sustain damage or have been bitten off.
– The most realistic Squid action lure on the market.
– Ideal for the both salt and fresh water applications and a broad range of fish species.
– Easy fishing lure to work, even for beginners.

As of December 2018, the Ultimate Squid is only available in one size: 5.9”. However, the 7.8” size is expected to also soon be available. The larger size should be better suited to muskie fishing. It would not surprise us if Chasebaits eventually comes out with an even larger version in future renditions. This lure is also one of the most affordable in it’s class, especially when considering that the 5.9” size comes in a pack of 3, and the 7.8” version will be sold in a 2-pack.

The Chasebaits Ultimate Squid lure is available in 6 different colors, some of which utilize UV paint and glow in the dark bodies. It also features 3D squid eyes, contracting tentacles, custom squid scent, and extended candles which flutter to trigger strikes.

How To Fish With The Chasebaits Ultimate Squid

Being a super versatile lure, you can roll it, twitch it, or even let the current do the work by putting it on a drop rig. The ultra-realistic 3D squid eye plus the dancing legs, combine with the head wings to perfectly mimic a real squid. Even if the lure is damaged from action, such as having a leg bitten off by a hungry fish, the Chasebaits Ultimate Squid lure still delivers, thanks mainly to the fluttering action of the head wings.

As you can see, the Ultimate Squid offers the action and versatility needed to be a major muskie magnet. We are looking forward to when the larger size of this lure is available, as we feel that will be better suited to catching larger muskies. In the meantime, we can’t wait for spring in order to begin testing out this new bait. We think it has real potential to be your new favorite muskie lure. If you happen to pick up some of these lures from Amazon, and we highly recommend that you do, let us know in the comments below about your experiences with fishing them.

About Chasebaits Lures

Chasebaits, the maker of the Ultimate Squid and several other soft plastic lures, is based in Australia. They have won numerous awards in their home country for their ultra-lifelike lure and bait creations. Lucky for us, they are now shipping to suppliers throughout the United States.

Last updated on July 29th, 2019 at 11:37 am

If you are looking for the biggest of the big trophy muskies, then you need to be fishing in the best musky lakes in Wisconsin, especially northern WI. Of course, there are other good musky lakes in Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, New York, Canada and more around the U.S. & Canada.

In order for muskies to attain their notorious world-class trophy musky sizes, the fish need the perfect combination of water, forage, and genetics. We’ve put together this list of the top muskie lakes in North America. Here they are in state alphabetical order.

Best Musky Lakes

Best Muskie Lakes	State	Size	Link To Local Guides
Cave Run Lake	Kentucky	40 miles long	Kentucky Muskie Guides
Lake St. Clair	Michigan	420 sq miles	Michigan Muskie Guides
Lake Vermilion	Minnesota	61 sq miles	Minnesota Muskie Guides
Mille Lacs Lake	Minnesota	132,000 acres	Minnesota Muskie Guides
St. Lawrence River	New York	743 miles	New York Muskie Guides
Lake of the Woods	Ontario	1 million acres	Ontario Muskie Guides
Lake St. Clair	Ontario	420 sq miles	Ontario Muskie Guides
Allegheny River	Pennsylvania	325 miles long	Pennsylvania Muskie Guides
Big St. Germain	Wisconsin	1600 acres	Wisconsin Muskie Guides
Green Bay	Wisconsin	123 miles long	Wisconsin Muskie Guides

Best Musky Lakes In Wisconsin

Green Bay

The best musky lakes in Wisconsin is actually Green Bay. In the 90’s, Green Bay was stocked with Great Lakes Strain muskies. This, in conjunction with a tremendous forage base and plenty of open water to roam, have allowed the muskies here to grow to trophy sizes.

The forage base here consists of gizzard shad, whitefish, and many other fish species. With a plentiful food supply, muskies have reached 50-pounds and the upper 50 inches in length.

With so much water to cover, the hardest part is finding them. The larger muskies tend to follow the forage fish as they migrate around. Because of this, trolling here seems to be the most productive option. Although, casting can also be done, especially around distinct structure areas.

In the spring fishermen should focus on the rivers, as that’s where the muskies like to spawn. The Fox River is well known to offer great muskie fishing in the spring time. Muskies tend to be found in very shallow water during this time, even as little as 1 foot. After spawning, they will exit the rivers.

As summer rolls around, it’s best to check emerging weed beds around the west side of the Bay.

Trolling with various crankbaits or spinners is often very effective. Try to stay in the clear water, away from dirty or cloudy patches.

Once again, late fall seems to be the best time, while again tracking the forage is another must. Lower Green Bay will contain more muskies as the shad migrate in there, but deeper open water and some of the sharp breaks found in the main bay will also hold big muskies.

Some have pointed out that even the largest of muskies here tend to have an eye for smaller crankbaits, in the 6-8 inch range. Try using those instead of your larger baits. The theory being that these medium baits mimic the shad forage.

Best Musky Lakes In Northern WI – Vilas County

The best musky lakes in northern WI are in Vilas County. Vilas County Wisconsin contains one of the most robust concentrations of freshwater lakes on the planet. Because of this, Vilas county has some of the best musky fishing in North America. There are 73 streams and rivers and over 1,300 lakes that provide an abundance of fishing opportunities that are unmatched anywhere.

For over 100 years, Vilas County, Wisconsin has been a prime fishing destination for anglers from all over the Midwest U.S. Vilas County is one of the best places to fish year round.

Big St. Germain Lake

One of the best musky lakes in Vilas County is Big St. Germain Lake. Big Saint is famous for great muskie fishing as well as walleye and smallmouth bass. At a maximum depth of 42 feet, this 1,600-acre lake in Vilas County offers consistent musky fishing throughout the summer. Although, late fall seems to be prime muskie time.

There are far too many other lakes in Vilas County for us to cover here. This handy lake grid, courtesy of VilasWI.com, gives details of all public-access boat landings and lakes in the county.

Best Musky Fishing In Kentucky

A lot of people are surprised to hear that there are really good musky lakes in Kentucky, but it’s true. Let’s take a look at where you will find the best musky fishing in Kentucky.

Cave Run Lake

Perhaps the place for the best musky fishing in Kentucky is Cave Run Lake which is located in the eastern part of the state. At around 40 miles in length, Cave Run Lake is great for catching both stocked and native muskies. It also happens to be one of the most southernmost lakes that contains muskies.

While fall is the most popular time to catch large muskies in Cave Run Lake, anglers have a good shot at catching them year round here. In the fall, the muskies tend to follow the shad to shallower waters, and smaller lures seem to produce musky strikes in this area.

Bonus Pro Tip: Be sure to check out Buckhorn Lake and Green River Lake in KY, as well. You might even have better luck and less angling competition.

Best Muskie Lakes In Michigan

Lake St. Clair

Many feel that Lake St. Clair is the best muskie lake on the planet. It is indeed an amazing muskie fishery, and absolutely the best muskie lake in Michigan. Not only can you pull in quality muskies here, but the opportunity for quantity of muskies is also unmatched. This all natural musky lake features great-lakes strains of muskies that naturally reproduce.

Lake St. Clair is rich with muskie fishing history, and has been well known for several decades as a world-class trolling destination for fishermen looking for large quantities of muskies. Lake St. Clair has 420 square miles total of muskie-rich water with an average depth of about 10 feet.

Traditionally, trolling has been the most popular muskie fishing method here, due to the large area of water to cover. It is so effective that on some days, charters may land 10+ muskies, which would be impossible pretty much anywhere else on the planet. While trolling remains king, casting on Lake St. Clair can also produce fish, especially around weeds.

Some famous Lake St. Clair muskie guides have even made a living by vertical jigging for muskies, which is a non-traditional fishing tactic here. Jigging can be done year round with success in the right areas.

Best Muskie Lakes In Minnesota

Minnesotans are blessed with an abundance of lakes. You can catch all sorts of different species in Minnesota. But if you want the best lake for muskie in Minnesota, we recommend either Mille Lacs Lake or Lake Vermilion. They are by far the two best muskie lakes in Minnesota.

Mille Lacs Lake

Comprising over 132,000 acres and located in the center of Minnesota, Mille Lacs Lake is one of the best muskie lakes in Minnesota. This lake has a large population of tulibees, and has rich vegetation. In addition, the lake has huge structures, long breaklines with patches of weeds, rock bars, some mud flats, and plenty of large open water.

According to some local guides, Mille Lacs Lake offers the best chance to land a 50-pound muskie in Minnesota. During the 1990’s and early 2000, this lake received a excellent muskie stockings, and by the mid 2000’s the numbers and sizes of the muskies were exceptional.

In recent years, the overall numbers of muskies has fallen a slight bit, due to increased muskie fishing and also some harvest pressure. Nonetheless, the muskies here remain exceptional in size, and there are still plenty of them to be caught.

Due to the size of Mille Lacs Lake, selecting the right place to fish is a major challenge. On some days, wind and waves are also a factor that anglers need to contend with. The vast open water in this lake leads to days with some pretty large swells.

While trolling for muskies has become more popular in recent years on Mille Lacs, casting still remains the primary method for most here. Regardless of water depth or which method one chooses, it is recommended to search along the top 10 feet of water.

When water temperature is in the 40’s in late fall is when muskie fishing is best on Mille Lacs Lake. The muskies here follow the tullibees to harder-bottom areas where they spawn. It is advised to use large soft plastic muskie lures during this time.

Another prime time to catch muskies here is in July, during the first major moon phase. Using large spinners along deep weed edges has proven to be especially effective, especially during dusk and dawn, or after sun down.

Lake Vermilion

Located near Cook, in northeastern Minnesota, is 40,000 acre Lake Vermilion. According to many, this is best lake for muskie in Minnesota. Lake Vermilion has plenty of reefs and little islands. It also features good vegetation and larger numbers of perch and tullibee. Compared to Mille Lacs, there are more muskies per acre here, and your chances of catching a 50+ incher in Lake Vermilion are higher than almost anywhere else.

Despite all of the structure offered on Lake Vermilion, the muskies here tend to spend most of their time in the open waters. Therefore, trolling is certainly an efficient method here. That being said, casting still remains the primary musky fishing method on Lake Vermilion.

The best times being August and September. On bright & calm days, fishing the deep weed & rock beds along the west can lead to strikes. While on dark and windy days, topwaters and spinners lead to bites on the east side of the lake.

As in most of the best muskie lakes, October is generally good month overall. There are plenty of places to check out, but try to stick to weed and rocks during this time.

Best Muskie Lakes In New York

St. Lawrence River

What are the best muskie lakes in New York? Well, it’s not a lake at all. The best place to catch a trophy musky in New York is in the St. Lawrence River, where catching 60-inch, 60-pound muskies is a possibility.

The St. Lawrence River has a solid forage base, which includes perch, herring, gobies and alewife. Some of these can get up to 9 inches in length, but average 4 inches. While is great for helping the muskies get huge, it also means that they are usually well fed and less often hungry. This leads to less chances of you hooking one.

It seems that in recent history the feeding windows for muskies in the St. Lawrence have become tighter, with many missed strikes being quite common.

Casting for muskies can be done here, especially near breaklines, points, and rock piles. Still, trolling remains the prime modus operandi here. The river is vast and deep, and muskies are often found in the open waters. A good target zone for muskies is 18-60 feet of water.

The St. Lawrence River may not provide the most action for muskie fishermen, but it does provide the best chance for mammoth-sized musky. In fact, the minimum size limits here are set above 50 inches.

Ideal muskie fishing on the St. Lawrence River happens from August through September. As is the case with most other prime muskie locations, the absolute best time seems to be late fall.

Best Muskie Lakes In Canada

When it comes to the best muskie lakes in Canada, Ontario is king. Ontario is home to two of the best muskie lakes in Canada, Lake St. Clair and Lake of the Woods.

Lake St. Clair

Yes, Lake St. Clair again. About half of Lake St. Clair is in Ontario, with the other half being in Michigan. So, re-read the section on Lake St. Clair above to see why it may be the best muskie lake in Canada.

Lake of the Woods

Even though Lake of the Woods in incredibly popular with muskie fishermen today, it’s possible to catch trophy muskies while not seeing another boat in site. There are plenty of reefs, outcrops, and islands to find muskies.

What makes Lake of the Woods one of the best muskie lakes in Canada is that it covers roughly 1-million acres and has an impressive maze of over 14,000 pine and spruce lined islands. This creates a near endless supply of muskie hots pots.

Best Musky Fishing In Pennsylvania

Allegheny River

In the northwestern part of the state is where you’ll find the best musky fishing in Pennsylvania. But, just like New York, it’s actually a river, not a lake. Stretching over 325 miles, the Allegheny River includes a large reservoir that was created by the Kinzua dam.

Just about all areas of the river produces monster muskies, some in the 50-55 inch range. What’s more, these fish are fat! Often up to 40-50 pounds. Muskies in the Allegheny River in Pennsylvania feed on trout, large dace, and suckers.

Most of the lower section is pretty navigable, but the upper and middle sections require the use of a jet boat in order to get around due to wood and rocks in the water.

Allegheny River muskie activity usually is found in the 2-15 feet of water, near log jams, weeds, and rocks. Since the current tends to be strong, anywhere that you might find a break in current can be a prime spot. As for muskie lures, it’s best to mix it up to see what is working on any particular day.

Once again, late fall going into winter is prime trophy muskie season. Those periods are also the best for predictable fishing: fish generally deeper most of the day, though checking shallower water at midday can pay off, and avoid shallows on cold mornings.

There is also decent musky action ins spring and summer, especially around fresh weed beds. Some guides like to target the reservoir during these times. This is with good reason, as the reservoir is often where the largest muskies are caught.

Conclusion

Understand that this list is not an all-inclusive list of all great muskie lakes. Thankfully, there is plenty of other muskie rich waters out there. However, the muskie lakes and rivers above are the best of the best.

If you are in search of a guide for any of these best muskie lakes, search our musky guide directory now.

Last updated on August 25th, 2018 at 02:17 pm

Welcome Muskie fanatics from all over North America! We are pleased to officially introduce the TigerMuskie.net Muskie Fishing Directory, which aims to be the Internet’s largest database of muskie guides, muskie resorts & lodges, muskie tackle manufacturers, muskie tournaments, muskie shows & expos, and muskie boat dealers & marinas. You can search our muskie directory from the bottom right sidebar, or perform an advanced search here. The direct link to the directory can also be found among the menu bars at the top of any page.

Click Here To Create Your Own FREE Basic Listing now.

Muskie Guides Directory

If you are a muskie fisherman (you’re on our site, so you must be!), we hope that our muskie directory will make it easy for you to find and connect with some of the best muskie guides and muskie tackle manufactures from across North America. Hiring a guide and using the best lures and gear can exponentially increase your chances of landing a trophy muskie. Ask most anybody who has gone out fishing with a guide and they will tell you that it was a great time and a great investment with the knowledge gained.

Muskie Resort Directory

We also hope that you will visit some of the many great muskie resorts & lodges around the US & Canada that you will find in our muskie directory. Most of the resorts feature all of the modern comforts and conveniences that will make your musky fishing trip a memorable one.

Muskie Tournament Directory

Maybe your skill level is a little more advanced and you are looking to showcase those fishing skills in a muskie tournament. Well, we have some of the most popular muskie tournaments listed in the directory. There are muskie tournaments listed for nearly every season. Landing a trophy muskie could also land you a musky trophy. Get out there and show your stuff!

Muskie Expo Directory

If you are in the market for anything muskie related, then your best bet is to attend the next muskie expo or show near you. Muskie shows and expos feature all of the latest and greatest gear, boats, and resorts. Seriously, send the kids to Disney while you attend your own fantasy land. Muskie expos are a muskie angler’s dream. If you have never been to a muskie expo, make this the year to attend one.

As we are just launching this new muskie directory, you will notice that most of the listings are still in their basic format. We fully anticipate many muskie businesses registering for Premium listings over the coming weeks and months. Continue to check back with the directory as it becomes more and more robust.

Muskie Directory Sign Up For Muskie Businesses

If you are a muskie guide, muskie lure or tackle company, resort owner, expo or show manager, muskie boat dealer, or run a tournament, search for your Basic listing in our muskie directory, as we may already have you listed. If you are not listed, or if you would like to upgrade to a Premium listing, click here. If you need any information in your listing updated, contact us.

We have many thousands of visitors to our site each month who are looking for the products and services that your business provides. And, for a limited time, we are offering 50% off of the Premium listing fee. This is your chance to get in our muskie directory early and get grandfathered into our super-low introductory rate. Upgrade to a Premium listing now, as the promotional introductory rate won’t last long.

Click Here To Create Your Own FREE Basic Listing now.

Last updated on March 27th, 2020 at 10:10 am

If you are anything like us and most fishermen, you likely began your fishing hobby with one or maybe two fishing rod combos. But, as the addiction took hold, your muskie rod collection began to grow. For muskie anglers in particular, it doesn’t take long for their rod collections to grow. Keeping that collection organized, however, can become a problem. Luckily, KastKing came up with one of the nicer and most modern looking storage and organization solutions on the market with their aluminum Rack em Up Fishing Rod Holder. This particular muskie fishing rod rack was a big hit during a recent ICAST event in which it won the Best of Show Award that year. We, too, consider it to be the best fishing rod holder available.

Pros & Cons Of The Best Fishing Rod Holder

Without a doubt, there is a lot to like about the KastKing Rack em Up Rod Holder. So, let’s start with the pros.

Pros

• great looking, modern style
• aluminum, not wood
• plenty of storage
• supports rod & reel combos
• easy setup
• well built
• well priced

So, what do we not like about this muskie rod rack? Honestly, not much! We like it so much that we can’t even come up with any cons. Instead, we’d offer the following two suggestions that would only make this rod holder even better.

Suggestions

• Black color option
• make it lockable

When you factor in the very reasonable price for this musky rod holder, it is a solid deal. We have seen a lot of ugly rod holders over the years, and none even close to the style and function of this one.

Certainly you have seen those very much dated-looking wooden fishing rod holders. If you have a collection of DIY tools such as a table saw then you could make your wooden fishing rod holders. Sure, those serve their purpose, but they look like something that you would see in a Polaroid photograph from the 1970’s. In addition to being difficult on the eyes, those older style wooden rod holders are often limited in their functionality. They are often not very well designed.

Sleek, Modern, Aluminum Design Of The Best Fishing Rod For Sale

With the introduction of the Rack ‘em Up fishing rod holder, KastKing created a modern, stylish, highly functional fishing rod rack. Being made of all aluminum, this rod rack is both sleek and highly usable.

The KastKing muskie rod holder is available in two options, one which holds 12 muskie rods and the other which holds 24 musky rods. The 12 rod rack is designed primarily for freshwater rods, and the 24 rod rack is designed for both fresh and salt water rods. The cheapest place that we found the KastKing fishing rod holder for sale was on Amazon. At first glance, you might expect to pay over $100 for this rack. However, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to know that it sells for around half that.

Setup of the rod holder is required, but that process is really quite simple. In fact, you won’t even need a screwdriver or any other tools. You probably won’t even need the included instructions, if you are just the least bit intuitive. Setup should not take more than few minutes.

After the KastKing fishing rod holder is assembled, you can begin organizing your muskie rods. One of the great features of this rod rack, is that unlike traditional fishing rod holders, it doesn’t use cheap plastic or rubber clips to hold your rods. Instead, this unit utilizes the outer versus inner rack edges and gravity to hold your fishing rods or combos into place. Foam inserts on the upper and lower arms ensure that your rods won’t be scratched when inserting or removing them.

The elimination of clips means that the KastKing rod holder can hold smaller diameter rods, like trout rods, and also larger muskie fishing rods (and even most saltwater rods on the 24 rod model). Fly rods with fly reels can also be accommodated. If you are using giant gear, you may need to stagger the rods every other spot, so that there are no obstructions.

Be aware that this aluminum rod holder was designed to hold 12 or 24 fishing rods by themselves, in reality it is more likely to hold only half that number of freshwater rod & reel combos. And, as we mentioned earlier, the 12 capacity version is made for freshwater fishing rods and the 24 version is designed for saltwater setups. Since the 24 version costs only a few dollars more than the 12, we’d encourage most anglers to go with the 24. Having a nice, adequate capacity rod holder will allow you keep all of you combos together and ready for action at a moments notice.

Final Thoughts On The Best Fishing Rod Holder For Muskie Rods

Easy setup, lots of storage, light weight & small footprint, modern look, aluminum construction, affordable price….it’s easy to see how the KastKing Rack ‘em Up Rod Holder won Best of Show at ICAST. Unlike a lot of products that are often over-engineered, the simplicity of this muskie rod holder is what makes it great.

If you are in the market for a musky fishing rod storage solution, we highly recommend that you hop on over to Amazon and pick up the KastKing Rack ‘em Up Rod Holder today.

Last updated on August 25th, 2018 at 02:10 pm

Have you ever wondered what musky fish tastes like, or which state produces the most muskies, or tiger muskies favorite habitat? Well, here are a few fun musky fish facts.

What Do Musky Fish Taste Like?

Having gone fishing for musky fish for years, many people have told me that musky fish taste like bass or pike. Musky fish are actually part of the pike family. I personally do not eat Muskie fish, as I fish for the enjoyment and thrill of the catch, not to consume them. I have heard from many people that they are not an exceptionally tasty fish. In fact, many people have told me they are bland and do not have a lot of flavor. Many fish are much more flavorful and can be cooked in different ways. Musky are not one of these fish. Can you eat them? Yes certainly, but in my opinion, fishing for these majestic creatures is far more enjoyable than eating them.

What You Need To Know About Muskie Fish Teeth

Imagine a very thin, sharp razor capable of easily slicing your skin. When fishing for Musky, you must protect your hands, unless you wish to risk being cut. Musky fish must be handled with care, as with any fish, but their teeth are far sharper than most fish in the same families. Some tiger musky have large mouths, with significant numbers of teeth. In order to prevent any slices or cuts to your hands or arms, I highly recommend protecting them accordingly when fishing. The last thing you want to deal with is having to bandage up a would from a slice from a Musky. If you have been fishing for many years, you should know how to deal with this accordingly.

Musky Fish habitat

Where do Musky fish live you say? Muskie fish are found in the lakes and rivers of the Great lakes region. It is important to know when fishing for Musky, that they are found in areas where there are aquatic plants, rocks, stumps, and other vegetation exist. They prefer to wait on prey in these areas to dine on other fish. They prefer the cold water areas away from sunlight and the warmer areas of the lakes and rivers. They do not like moving or turbulent water, and tend to stay in calm water of different depths to wait on other fish to eat.

Top Musky Fish States

Musky fish are found in many states in the Great Lakes region of the United States. Some of these include: Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Originally, they were found in the colder waters of the United States and Canada, but over the years have been introduced into many different places. Here are some of the best muskie lakes. Muskie have been introduced into Maine, many of these from Canada. Also, Muskie surprisingly can be found in southern states like Kentucky, Tennessee, South Carolina, West Virginia, and Georgia. Also, some species of Muskie have been found in the great Northwest in Washington as well. This provides fantastic opportunities for the sportsmen in both the United States and Canada to go fishing for this majestic creatures. So, don’t just think about the Great Lakes, when planning your next trip to go fishing for tiger Muskie. However, many areas of the Great Lakes region, Wisconsin, in particular, provide fantastic areas to commune with nature in pursuit of peace and quiet when going fishing.

What Do Musky Fish Eat?

There are many misconceptions about what many Muskies eat. Many people have stated that Muskie’s love to eat Walleye. That is not really the complete truth. Muskie’s will eat any and all kinds of fish in their habitat. The truth is that they prefer to eat fish smaller than them. They will also eat other creatures such as insects and worms. They prefer to eat prey that is available to them, and are not so selective about what kinds of prey to eat, but simply as to what they are bigger than, and if it is available for them to consume. Musky are not a fish that is going to devour other fish like a piranha, but they are a fish who is capable of controlling populations of other fish within their habitat.

Why You Should Fish For Musky Fish?

In my humble opinion, the Muskie is an incredible opportunity for anglers to understand the thrill of the chase. This is what fishing is about. Whether fishing for the first time, or for many years, the thrill of musky fishing is incredible. Having your picture next to a giant muskie is fantastic. Fishing for muskie is about being in the outdoors, communing with nature, and most of all about relaxation. Clear your mind, release your everyday worries, and most of all enjoy it! Life is short, so get off your couch and go catch some Muskie!

Last updated on August 25th, 2018 at 02:11 pm

St. Croix is known for their quality fishing poles, including their St. Croix ice fishing rods. Featuring a built-in strike indicator system, St. Croix ice fishing rods can help any angler catch more salmon, trout, walleye or pike. Read on to learn more about the benefits of St. Croix ice fishing rods for sale.

Why Choose St. Croix Ice Fishing Rods?

St. Croix muskie rods have always focused on quality. Did you know that they also have a wide variety of ice fishing rods for sale, including rods for casting, trolling, and spinning? All St. Croix ice rods are made from durable materials, to withstand years of use.

Beginners and pro anglers alike will all appreciate the detail that goes into a St. Croix ice fishing rod. They are built for precision and sensitivity. This is combined with a durable design for an ice-fishing pole that will provide years of use. You can compare St. Croix to other brands, but you will not find the same quality at this price. When you want ice fishing rods for sale, shop St. Croix.

Here are some of the primary benefits of choosing St. Croix ice fishing rods:

• Built-in strike indicator
• Fully adjustable and interchangeable spring indicator
• Made from solid carbon blank for durability and sensitivity
• Lightweight stainless steel guides

The built-in strike indicator is a system designed by Greg Wilczynski, a world ice-fishing medalist. Greg has spent years developing this system, creating a coil spring that is responsive and sensitive. This high-tension strike indicator features super finesse.

The spring indicator system that is used for most St. Croix ice fishing poles is fully adjustable and interchangeable. Adjust and customize your ice fishing rod as needed.

You want a lightweight pole, for improved sensitivity, but you also want a pole that will not break. To maintain its lighter weight, most St. Croix ice rods are made from solid carbon blank. These ensure you have a lightweight, yet durable pole. The guides are all stainless steel.

Choosing the Best St. Croix Ice Fishing Rod

As mentioned, St. Croix has a large selection of ice fishing poles. Some of these poles are especially suited for catching musky, walleye, or pike. When choosing the right St. Croix ice fishing rods, consider what you are type of fish you are aiming for.

St. Croix Legend Gold Ice Rod LGR24M Review

For those that want a general, all-purpose ice-fishing pole, the St. Croix Legend Gold Ice Rod 24″ Medium (LGR24M) is the perfect choice. The super-finesse coil spring is more sensitive than any other indicator that you will find in this price range. You will be able to detect even the tiniest bump. Increase the number of fish you take home, by using St. Croix.

You can choose from other St. Croix ice fishing rods, if you know the level of sensitivity that you need. There are light, medium, and heavy rods of varying lengths. The St. Croix LGR24M is right in the middle, with 24-inch length and a medium weight.

If you are looking for a combination of affordability and durability – choose St. Croix ice rods. The St. Croix LGR24M ice-fishing pole is top of its class. Pick your’s up today and start catching pike, walleye, bass, trout, or salmon during your next ice-fishing trip.