Last updated on December 21st, 2018 at 10:16 am

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!

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. You can also find their baits on Amazon.

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

If you are looking for the biggest of the big trophy muskies, then you need to be fishing in the best muskie lakes in 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 Muskie Lakes In The U.S. & Canada

Best Muskie Lakes In U.S. & Canada

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 Muskie Lakes In Kentucky

Cave Run Lake

Perhaps the best lake for muskies 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. 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

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 the U.S. located in central 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. 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 is the best muskie lake 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 Ontario

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 Muskie Lakes In Pennsylvania

Allegheny River

In the northwestern part of the state is where you’ll find the best muskie lake 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.

Best Muskie Lakes In Wisconsin

Green Bay

The best muskie lake 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 Muskie Lakes In Vilas County, Wisconsin

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 muskie lakes in Vilas County is Big St. Germain Lake. Big St. 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.

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 August 25th, 2018 at 02:17 pm

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. 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.

Last updated on August 25th, 2018 at 02:09 pm

Tiger musky fishermen are without a doubt passionate about tiger muskie fishing. And, most of those anglers are already familiar with what tiger muskies are, and how to catch tiger musky. However, if you are new to the sport, you may be wondering exactly what is a tiger musky. We’ll explain below.

Tiger Musky

Tiger muskies are the non-reproductive, or sterile, hybrids of muskellunge and northern pike parent fish. Their distinctive “tiger” stripes, found on the sides of the fish, are what give them their tiger musky name.

While muskies and northern pikes are closely related, the hybrid tiger muskies only rarely occur in nature. A very interesting trait of all hybrid fish is what is called “hybrid vigor”. Hybrid vigor allows the fish be less prone to diseases, to grow up stronger, and best of all — they grow faster than the parent fish would grow. This is good for tiger musky fans, as northern pike and muskellunge are among the fastest growing fish in all of North America. A muskellunge can reach over 30″ in 5 years, while northern pike follow behind only slightly.

 

Tiger Muskies

Tiger muskies feature another characteristic which a lot of other hybrid fish don’t, which is that they are sterile. You may first think of this as a bad trait to have. This means that fish hatcheries need to continuously supplement the tiger muskie stocks in the wild. The fact that tiger muskies are sterile allows fish biologists the opportunity to stock a large, predatory fish in various habitats and that they will not pose a threat of overpopulating. This fact also ensures that fishery managers can limit consumption or loss of other game fish in the lake by stocking only a certain number of tiger muskies. Biologists and scientists raise tiger musky in fish hatcheries, release them into the wild, where they can grow nice and big, then we hunt for them.

Hybrid vigor has another benefit, which is habitat tolerance. What this means is that lakes typically too warm for either one of the parent fish to survive are usually just fine for tiger muskies, up to a certain point. Although, tiger muskies do much better in cooler waters of reservoirs and lakes, just like the parent fish. Tiger muskies have been able to make their way to farther southern lakes, due to their ability to tolerate warmer lakes. In the early 1970s, the first tiger muskies were stocked in roughly 25 states in waters which might not otherwise be home home to big predatory fish.

Last updated on August 25th, 2018 at 02:14 pm

The true fisherman for Musky is not the guide, not the resort owner, not the feature writer, it’s you. You are the only one who is going to be able to measure your successes and failures. Half the fun in tiger muskie fishing and catching the mighty Musky is the preparation and follow through that you’ll put into each and every trip. Throughout this site, we hope to teach you how to catch muskie.

Learn How To Catch Muskie

There will be days of musky fishing when you have covered a lot of water and made a lot of casts, only to come up empty handed. Then there will be days when you will be successful when you least expect it. Of course, the best reward is when you put that cast exactly where you want it. And, on the retrieve you watch and feel that massive energy climb up the end of your fishing line all the way through your muskie rod and into your hands and wrists waiting for your instant reaction of setting the hook. While learning how to catch muskie, patience and understanding your prey will be the most successful tools you’ll have at your disposal. But you’ll also have to have skills and luck on your side.

Here is something to consider while you learn how to catch muskie. The most successful lakes, the lakes where the most Muskies are caught, generally have an average population of fish that are the same size; whereas other lakes, lakes where Musky are scarce but are still there,  those lakes have larger Muskies on average. That’s where the trophies lie. This is due to the competition for the food source. The more Muskies there are, the less food per fish, so the competition for food is high. In lakes that have fewer Muskies, the competition is less, so they eat better and grow larger.

How To Catch Muskie: Select the Proper Bait and Stick With It

Watch the surface of the water for activity. One of the things you will learn quickly is that if there is a Loon in the water, swimming about and actively diving below the surface, then you can rest assured that there will be no fish in that area. They dive below the surface, look around, and then come back up. This disturbs the larger game fish and they quickly vacate the area. You will notice Loon chicks traveling on their parents back. This is because they are great bait for the huge fish.

Don’t keep changing baits! If you have confidence in what you’ve chosen to use, and have chosen the muskie lures by following our steps as to sky conditions, water conditions, etc., you be able to keep with it, tossing that lure for longer periods of time. Some anglers may make ten thousand casts before they get their first muskie strike. When they do hook onto a tiger Musky it is not uncommon to lose a fish because the line breaks or the knot releases on the lure or swivel, especially when first learning how to catch muskie.

>> Check Out Some Of Our Favorite Muskie Lures <<

How To Catch Muskie: Deep Water And Steel Leaders

Don’t be afraid to try tiger muskie fishing in deeper water. You don’t have to constantly fish by casting up against the shore line. Yes it is true that Musky will cruise the shore line looking for a meal, but if they are feeding on perch as they do in Lake St. Clair in Ontario Canada, they will also search and feed in the perch schools. Try musky fishing in fourteen to sixteen feet of water and use crank baits that looks like a perch. The crank bait will usually dive down about six feet or so. If the lake you are fishing in allows trolling, then these baits are ideal to troll with.

Use a wire steel leader when muskie fishing. If you are going to use smaller bait lures, like crank baits, and the tiger Musky is of any size, when the fish strikes he will most likely devour the entire lure. Without that leader, your line will surely be severed. And no one wants to lose that trophy fish, especially if it is your first one and you are just learning how to catch muskie. If you are going to have to lose a fish, make sure it was because the fish was smarter than you and not because of a mistake you made.

How To Catch Muskie: Proper Drag Setting

One of the things we have not mentioned here is line drag. Every muskie fishing reel has a drag setting. Fishing line is sold in tensile strength, meaning, how many pounds of force does it take to break the line. The drag on a fishing reel is designed to provide resistance against being pulled off of the reel. The fish will feel this force and will apply the opposite force to that resistance. The musky thinks that the food in his mouth is trying to escape. It is also designed to make the fish tired or take the fight out of him. Fish exert a tremendous amount of energy when they have been hooked. So much so that if you think of a Muskies anatomy, they have a huge mouth, and very large muscles along each side of its back running from the back of the head all away down to the end of his tail. The larger the fish, the stronger that muscle is.

So how much drag should we apply? The recommended amount of drag is 25% of the lines breaking strength. A good way to measure that is by using a fish scale and the following formula where x is the line strength and y is 25% and the drags setting is Z. Here is the formula to be used: X/Y= Z. So if the line is a twenty pound test line then 25% of the line strength is five pounds. The drag should be set to five pounds. To do this properly, tie one end of the line to the end of a fish scale, and attach the other end of the fish scale to a stationary object. Once force is applied, adjust the drag setting so that no line is allowed to come off the spool until the scale reads five pounds.

Now that this is completed you should never have a line break because of the drag. As the muskie fights against the line and the flexibility of the rod, when the five pounds of force limit is met, then line will be let out. Now keep in mind that if you are using a bait casting reel, as opposed to a spinning reel, that there are two drag settings. One is for when you are fighting the fish, and the other one is when you are casting. What this second drag is for, is to apply tension to the reel spool when casting in order to control the free spooling, and therefore limiting any kind of backlash and line tangling on a reel. I am sure we have all done that before. The more practice you have with casting and getting to know your equipment, the better chances of success you will have.

>> Click Here To See Our Recommended Muskie Reels <<

How To Catch Muskie: Always Be Ready

You should also always be ready with a good quality musky net, like one of the Frabill musky nets for sale. Also, it’s important to keep your musky lures organized is the best musky tackle box for sale.

The last thing to remember when learning how to catch muskie is to always be ready! It is always when you least expect it that a Musky will hit your lure. Good luck!!!

Remember, our main goal here at TigerMuskie.net is help you to learn how to catch muskie. While we do have a lot of experience in this area, we admit that we don’t know it all. If you have any tips, tricks, or advice to share on how to catch muskie, feel free to contact us.

Last updated on August 25th, 2018 at 02:13 pm

The muskellunge (aka musky or muskie) is believed by many to be one of Wisconsin’s most unique and important trophies. In 1955, the State Legislature proclaimed the musky to be the official State Fish of Wisconsin, due to it being so highly valued. Thanks to WI putting the muskie first, Wisconsin has the most musky world records than anywhere else. Taken from the Chippewa Flowage, the current state and world record muskie is an astonishing 69 pounds and 11 ounce musky, according to the WI DNR.

Putting Muskie First

Nearly 50 years after fishermen pulled the final of 4 world-record fish from Hayward, WI area lakes, huge monster musky are once again on the prowl in Wisconsin waters. This is due to Wisconsin’s efforts of putting the muskie first.

A great catch-and-release ethic among anglers, restrictive size limits, and a state-sponsored hatchery system have combined to rebuild Wisconsin musky populations that faced near collapse due to 30 years of over fishing after those world-record muskie catches in the 1950s. Things have really started to move in a positive direction since folks began putting tiger muskie fishing first.

Wisconsin has done an excellent job of rebuilding the musky population to trophy quality fish. 30 or so years ago, a 40″ musky in Wisconsin was nearly nonexistent. As recent as 10-12 years ago, 50″ musky in Wisconsin were exceptionally rare.

Since putting muskie first, Wisconsin has not only broken both of those size barriers, it can be argued that they have smashed them. The next decade looks promising for more world-class Wisconsin muskies.

Muskies, which are commonly referred to as the fish of 10,000 casts, are today actually being caught in Wisconsin waters on average in about only 3,000 casts. According to the WI DNR, each year for the past 13 years fishermen have caught an average of 29 muskies larger than 48″ and 9 musky larger than 50″ from Wisconsin lakes and rivers. These are the true measures of Wisconsin’s efforts to put muskie first.

Check out this near world record Tiger Musky (52″) caught in Vilas County, Wisconsin in August 2014.

The number of musky hunters has grown significantly to an estimated 360,000 fishermen, about 3 times the number from the late 1950s. Thanks to mutual respect among muskie anglers and respect for this great fish, nearly 98% of the muskies that are caught are being released so that they can grow bigger and live to fight another day. It’s great to see the fishermen also put the tiger muskie first.

This change in conditions, which has exceeded even the most optimistic of expectations, is leading to an evolution within Wisconsin’s approach to muskie stocking. Wildlife biologists expect a change in the public’s perception of musky stocking will also transpire.

Many don’t realize that muskie stocking is a relatively expensive, intensive process. It costs about $70 for each stocked musky fingerling that will survive for at least 18 months in the wild. So, the next time that you purchase your Wisconsin fishing license, know that your dollars are also contributing to put muskie first.

Wisconsin Fisheries Put Muskies First

In the late 1970’s, the growing belief that muskie populations were decreasing due to over fishing and poor spawning habitat inspired WI state fisheries officials to take action. Official’s research indicated that by the year 1990 increasing numbers of musky fishermen and a growing muskie harvest would possibly exceed the levels required to sustain the fishery. Fishing resource managers began a strategic process to short-circuit the possibility of that happening.

The newly created muskie management plan outlined for more restrictive harvest regulations which included increasing the 30″ minimum size limit across the state, increasing and improving data collection, protecting musky spawning habitat, and encouraging voluntary muskie catch-and-release. An increase in musky stocking was a key focal point.

The research showed demand for muskies increasing and supply decreasing. Officials felt that the best way to address the issue was to establish a fairly extensive musky stocking program.

In 1985, the musky hatchery system produced some 200,000 fish for stocking. The general rule at the time was to stock musky lakes at twice the annual rate of harvest. Musky fisheries employees assumed that the harvest rate to be 1 musky per acre, because at the time they didn’t have great information on the harvest. Most Wisconsin lakes were being stocked at 2 muskies per acre, regardless of if the lake had it’s own naturally reproducing muskies first.

Officials now know that the musky stocking rate used then was very high given present conditions. Creel surveys showed that the musky harvest is a lot less – only .02 muskies per acre, or 2 muskies per 100 acres now.

The muskies first stocking formula did not anticipate the rising popularity of catch-and-release musky fishing, nor the implications that it would have on reducing the musky harvest. Non-profit groups encouraged anglers to ‘let the  muskies go’ – and fishermen did.

Early on in the 1980s, the expected harvest from 356 Class A Wisconsin lakes, or “trophy waters” as some call them, was 38,300 muskies statewide. By the year 1990, that total had decreased to an estimated 8,540 muskies, and by the year 2001, a paltry 1,980 muskies were actually kept.

This was a huge shift in the way anglers viewed the fish. Fishermen began to put muskies first, as well.

DNR officials and biologists, including some who had been active participants in fisheries work since the 1970s, began seeing the harvest declines brought on by the great catch-and-release ethic. Creel and population surveys verified the new trend. A lot of data began to come in as the DNR ramped up it’s sampling programs in the mid-1980s in order to help set Native American tribal spearing quotas for muskie and other fish like walleye.

During the past 20 years, catch-and-release has been rolling among the musky faithful. Since they began raising muskies, the hatcheries have been putting out a good quality product. The muskies were big, and their survival rates were improving.

The research and surveys showed that increasing the minimum size limits of musky helped to rebuild the populations. In 1984, the statewide musky size limit went from 30 to 34 inches.

Putting Musky First – A Look At The Numbers

In 1997, much of the research findings were beginning to come together when the LAB, or Legislative Audit Bureau, reviewed the Wisconsin DNR’s musky propagation program. The Legislative Audit Bureau concluded that the DNR’s system was not sufficient to meet the increasing demands for Wisconsin muskie fishing. In response to this, the DNR fisheries scientists recommended setting up a management framework to help protect and preserve the genetic integrity of native Wisconsin fish, and to also make the stocking of muskie and other species of fish more effective and less expensive.

Watch as the Hayward Lakes Chapter of Muskies Inc. stocked 1,300 tiger muskies averaging 10 to 12 inches long in Round Lake.

The DNR has since learned that stocking fewer muskies first, but larger fish has been proven to be much more economical than stocking a lot of smaller fish. Roughly about .004 percent of tiger muskie fry stocked soon after hatching in the spring would survive to fall season, and roughly about 4% of those that did survive would make it to the following year. Consequently, approximately 588,200 fry would be required to be stocked to end up with one surviving musky, and have a cost of nearly $800 per fish, according to numbers from the work done by UW – Stevens Point and DNR research teams. Cost and survival for stocking musky first as 10″-12″ long fingerlings only requires 25 muskies to yield a single surviving musky and a rough cost of about $70.75 per each musky.

Each of Wisconsin’s 220 stocked muskie waters has been assigned to it’s own specific stocking practice for a period of 10 years based on its natural reproductive status. Biologists and scientists will monitor and assess the musky first fisheries using continued surveys.

Officials feel that the worst-case scenario is fishermen will have slightly lower numbers of muskies, but larger muskies in Wisconsin waters. On the other hand, the best-case scenario would be that they will be able to discontinue stocking some lakes altogether. This, in fact, would be great news and a true sign of success with putting musky first. This would mean that something truly great is happening in Wisconsin musky lakes.

If you’re ready to get out there and put muskie first, check out our muskie rod reviews, best musky reel recommendations, and take the best musky net with you before you go.