Muskie and Northern Pike

[mg5000]

How big does a Muskie and Northern Pike in Michigan have to be to keep?

 

[JB]

Re: Muskie and Northern Pike

I don't know about northern pike (snakes), MG5000, but for musky it should only be academic.<br /><br />I fish for muskys in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Ontario and haven't seen a musky killed in at least 20 years. Musky are low population, very slow growing fish.<br /><br />The modern ethic is to release all muskys. The result is that musky fishing is better in the areas I fish than it has been since the thirties.<br /><br />Take a camera with you. If you catch a trophy, practice CPR: Catch, Photograph and Release. Reproduction mounts made from photos are better looking, less expensive and longer lasting than "skin" mounts.<br /><br />The feeling is so strong in Minnesota that someone killing a musky risks getting lynched.<br /><br />Red sky at night. . .<br />JB

 

[mg5000]

Re: Muskie and Northern Pike

Yeah, I hear ya on the Muskies JB. I caught one last summer trolling in Northern Michigan. It was decent sized, 46 inches and I'm not sure how much it weighed but it was heavy, a nice fish, and it gave me a heck of a fight too. Unfortunately, I was fishing by myself and when I reeled him up to the boat, I tried to net him, but he darted across under the boat and he snagged the hook badly in his gills. By the time I finally got him in the boat he was in pretty bad shape, so I had no choice but to keep him. The last time I checked with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), if I recall right I think in Michigan a Muskie has to be at least 42' to keep and only one per day, so the one I got was at least, legal, so I didn't feel as bad. But I agree on catch and release with Muskies, and bring a camera too.<br /><br />-mg5000

 

[495v]

Re: Muskie and Northern Pike

J.B., just out of curiousity, what kind of line do you prefer on your muskie rigs? I'm just starting with the musky thing and began using 30LB Fireline. A new aquintaince told me he lost a big one on fireline and would never use it for musky again. He said his line just snapped like it was cut, thought maybe one of the eyeholes had a flaw but he insisted it didn't. He named off a brand that he now uses, I believe it was dexron or something to that effect. Should I change lines? Also what do you think about the Schmitie jerk baits. Been trying to find some around my area but have had no success.

 

[495v]

Re: Muskie and Northern Pike

MG5000, what about your choice in gear? What is your preference in regards to my post here? Always looking for pointers

 

[JB]

Re: Muskie and Northern Pike

Ahoy, 495v.<br /><br />I think Fireline would be okay, as would any superline. I used to use Fenwick Iron Thread but can't get it anymore. I now use Cabelas Ripcord SI, 30lb, or Spiderwire, 30lb.<br /><br />I sympathize with your friend losing the big one. Last summer on LOTW I lost the biggest tiger musky I ever saw when it rolled up the leader and got at the line, which it promptly cut.<br /><br />I now put three or four feet of 50 to 80lb Spiderline or other superbraid between my titanium leader (12") and my line.<br /><br />When you take on a big musky there is no way I know of to guarantee success.<br /><br />I don't use big "Musky" lures. I fish mainly Mepps Musky Killers, #18 Rapalas (not Mag), Spinnerbaits, Bagley DB3 and DB06 and a homemade spinner I make up out of a #5 Mepps. The result is that I get a lot of bonus fish: BIG smallies, walleyes and snakes.<br /><br />The truth is that my most successful lure for the last few years has been a DDKB2 Bagley in the H69T fire tiger finish. Danged small for muskies, but it is my walleye/smallie favorite and it will get those @#$%^& followers to hit when they wont hit anything else. Big job on 8# line with no leader and lots of cutoffs but very exciting on a very light rod.<br /><br />Red sky at night. . . <br />JB

 

[495v]

Re: Muskie and Northern Pike

Thanks for the info J.B. #5 Mepps are one of my ultimate favorites. That's all I throw up in Minn. and I get all kinds of things to hit it; Walleye's, Largemouth, snakes, even some mocho perch. Silver blade with white hair seems to be the best for me. Once I loose all of those I'll switch to the fire tiger. I've never heard of the Bagley, is it a spinner or jerkbait or what?

 

[JB]

Re: Muskie and Northern Pike

Howdy, 495v.<br />Bagley makes (made) great balsa crankbaits. I really like the DB (Deep B) series. They look a bit like Rapala Shad Raps but go deeper and have a wider wobble. They are expensive and hard to find because they wont give the big discounters a price break. I have collected a huge inventory by buying them from collectors on ebay.<br /><br />I use DB2, 3, and 06 (the DB06 is also known as the Bang-O-B) and the very rare DDKB2 and 3. (Deep Diving Killer B).<br /><br />If you want a crankbait that will go deep, quick, and float up fast when stopped nothing comes close to a Bagley DB or DDKB. You can pick up big smallies 3' off of a rock wall and 5 or 6' down.<br /><br />No, I don't sell Bagley stuff, and I only buy them on ebay.<br /><br />Try this on one of your #5 Mepps: Get a chartreuse blade Aglia with plain hook. Cut the hook off. Put a fire tiger spinnerbait skirt on a #2 treble (backwards, so the legs face forward) and attach it with a split ring. Then put a yellow, green or chartreuse spinnerbait skirt on another #2 treble and split ring it to 2 of the three legs of the first one. This gives you a medium tandem spinner with the extra fluttering action of the spinnerbait skirts. Killer on any esox, walleye of big smallie.<br /><br />Red sky at night. . .<br />JB

 

[495v]

Re: Muskie and Northern Pike

I'll have to keep my eye's open for some of those Bagley's. Thanks for the insight J.B.

 

[DaleT]

Re: Muskie and Northern Pike

Mg5000, Northerns have to 24" to keep, however keep checking the Michigan DNR web site, www.midnr.com there are some new regulations going into effect this season. I believe it's just bag limits but better to be on the safe side. There are some exceptions to the size but not many, the regulations book is pretty good at explaining these exceptions, you just have to know what county, and lakes you plan on fishing. As far as Musky go, if you get lucky enough to catch one, please for the rest of us who have tried for years to catch one mount it on Kodak and let her swim.<br /><br />Dale