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5:19 am
Hello. New to the message board. I recently moved to a property on the banks of a creek. Neighbors told me there were muskie here. I was sceptical. That was until a few weeks ago when I saw 2 and hooked and lost one. I've been fishing pretty much everyday since then. Missed one today on a believer. What would be the best approach to fishing these muskies? Creek is about 100 yards wide. 6-7 feet deep in the middle. Silty to small rocks on bottom. Mostly featureless though. Water is stained with a brownish hue. I've been working the banks a lot lately, produced the hit I had this afternoon. Is this where I should be fishing? Baits? I've been throwing 6" and larger rapalas, both jointed and standard, 8" believer, 6" high roller topwater, number 5 spinners, and 6" berkeley swim shads. Any suggestions on baits and presentations? I know I asked a mouthful. I've fished northerns in new York and Canada for years. These muskies are a totally different game! What can I say, Im unhealthily obsessed at this point. Thanks in advance.
2:32 pm
August 28, 2007
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Hi Steve, welcome to the site. It sounds like your working it pretty good. Bucktails, 7" Grandma's work real well too. 8" Believers are sick, cant go wrong there. Welcome to the sickness! LOL. Just keep plugging away, these fish are like you said, "a totally different game". Good Luck in your hunting.
ITS NOT THE SIZE OF YOUR BOAT
ITS THE SIZE OF WHATS ON YOUR BUMPBOARD!
M.T.F
8:12 pm
January 19, 2009
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Good luck Steve! What krick is that,? a 100 yard wide creek is twice crackensack and passaic where i fished and there rivers!! ha ha ha Awesome Krick!!! ha ha Again Nice find!! ;D
6:22 am
It's the conewago. Classified as a creek. Looks more like a small river. Heck, it's bigger than some parts of the susky.
4:38 pm
So with the type of water Im fishing, im primarily fishing from shore and wading. Any suggestions on what to do in lieu of a figure 8? Difficult if not impossible from in the water or on shore. Also, how should I fish this believer? That isn't a pause and twitch type of bait, correct? I've just been varying rod angle and retrieve speed. When I got a strike, I was burning it accross the bottom, bouncing the nose of the rocks. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks guys.
9:50 pm
January 19, 2009
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I do and try all different types of retrieves! At anytime bait could freak out and get chomped just for that reason! ya never know! Atleast thats me and i only fish from shore, tell me how it works for ya netting getting the pointy things out getting pic and releasing the top of the food chain Happy!! Be Safe!!! True Half n Half is a whole!! ;D
10:06 pm
April 29, 2007
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Hello, I've caught a couple of muskies casting an 8 inch beleiver. It's mainly thought of as a trolling bait, but definitely an effective casting bait. I like using the deep setting. Thumb the reel when casting so the front trebile doesn't get caught around the leader. Just reel it in slow and steady in a straight line and hang on! Good luck.
Team MTF
5:00 am
Thanks for the advice, guys. And I have noticed that the leader does get wrapped around that front treble hook. I've been running the shallow setting, mostly because I dont want to snag a pricy lure. Haha. I really gotta crank it to get deep. I'll start using the deep setting, see if they like that better. Gonna devote some time to topwater too. I'll post my results if any. Or, ask more questions. Haha
12:16 am
If you guys had to choose one bait to throw in the type of water I've described, what would be your choice? Maybe that will point me in the right direction. Water temp is mid 70s. Just a guess. Warm enough to wade chest deep.
3:19 pm
December 7, 2006
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Rip 7 inch grandma's and regular bulldogs, if you can't keep the dogs off the bottom try the shallow dog.
"I Have a Musky Problem"
7:44 pm
March 20, 2004
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Do not forget about Topwater. Creek / river muskies will hit topwater like the lake ones!! Perhaps more so.
2:32 pm
I've fished topwater quite a bit without so much as a follow. I'm using a 6" high roller and a 6" jitterbug. Just happen to be the best options at the local tackle shop. I've always preferred topwater. For some reason, I have a lot of confidence in it. Most of the incidental muskies I've caught over the years have come on topwater, so maybe that's why. I've read good things about the topraider. Good bait? Topwater retrieves are generally fast and straight, correct? Not a finesse technique. Thanks
5:28 pm
August 28, 2007
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Topraiders are a very good bait. Topwater isn't always a fast retreive approach. We've done very well with Salmo Maasmurader in a slow retrive, walking the dog action. By far my favorite topwater bait along with the Weagle.
ITS NOT THE SIZE OF YOUR BOAT
ITS THE SIZE OF WHATS ON YOUR BUMPBOARD!
M.T.F
2:08 am
January 19, 2009
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I love that weagle!!!
1:55 am
April 26, 2011
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You're Believer is a super topwater too. Shallow setting and crawl it on top.
4:15 am
March 26, 2004
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I'm jealous, you have an opportunity to fish that creek regularly until you figure them out. The fact that you've hooked one already says that you're on the right track. River/stream muskies are one of the things that I miss the most about not living in PA anymore.
All of the options mentioned are good, but I would be make a habit of chucking a topwater at last light on humid summer evenings. Pretty quickly you'll learn the little spots that they prefer; sometimes the difference between a good spot and a not-so-good spot is very subtle.
I seem to have better luck ripping Believers than with a straight retrieve; the retrieve that got your strike is one of my favorites. There really isn't a bad way to fish them as long as they're staying in the water.
Regarding your figure-8 question, about the best you can do is an L-turn or some other sudden change in speed or direction.
Chris
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