There are many types of fishing rods; choose a rod that best fits you andyour style of fishing. Fishing rods for muskies are usually rated for 2-16 ounce lures in 6-9 feet lengths. Longer rods are good for making larger figure-eights next to the boat. Short rods work well with jerkbaits and glide baits. It’s much easier to make quick twitching motions with short fast action rods.
Bait casting reels rated for 50-100 pound braided lines are used most often. The gear ratio of a reel is important when choosing what type of lure to use. For example, a 6.4:1 gear ratio is suggested when using twin bladed bucktails, while a 5.3:1 is better for jerkbaits. Higher gear ratios let you retrieve faster using less energy.
Most anglers use braided line. It is smaller in diameter, resists scratches and doesn’t stretch like a monofilament line. Anglers usually use leaders made of wire or fluorocarbon since muskies have sharp teeth that can cut or fray the line while fighting.
First-time musky anglers will find bucktails, spinnerbaits, topwater lures and crankbaits easiest to use in the beginning due to retrieves being mostly straight. As experience is gained, jerk and glide baits are also great lure options to use throughout the fishing season when muskies may not like fast moving straight line retrieved lures.
Crankbaits come in a wide variety, but all are fitted with a metal or plastic lip that makes them dive to a specific depth. Crankbaits used in Iowa usually range in size from 6 to 12 inches. Different crankbaits styles have a wide range of dive depths, so tailoring what depth you're working the lure in is very easy.
Crankbaits are equally effective for trolling or casting. When trolling, put the lure 10-60 feet behind the boat at a speed of 3 to 8 miles per hour. Use a depth finder to help you find submerged weed lines; troll just along the outside edge. For casting, find a likely spot, let the boat drift with the wind or move it slowly with an electric trolling motor and cast the lure as far as possible using a steady retrieve with quick twitches and rips of the rod tip followed by slight pauses.
Spinnerbaits and bucktails have a metal spinner, in a single or tandem pattern, followed by a group of weights attached to a single or multiple hooks. They come in many colors and patterns using natural materials like feathers and deer hair or synthetics like flashabou and rubber skirting. Some anglers will also attach a soft plastic like a twister tail to the back hook to add color and increase the action of the lure. While spinnerbaits and bucktails are used mostly while casting, they can still be used for trolling.
Bucktails excel for retrieving over and around aquatic vegetation, spinnerbaits are at their best when retrieved through vegetation.
Topwater lures come in two types, straight line and walk the dog. Walk the dog topwaters move in a zigzag motion across the surface. This lure type is best used around cover like aquatic vegetation or flooded wood that might hold muskies waiting to ambush bait fish during low light conditions such as sunrise, sunset or before a storm or even at night. Always listen to the sound of the topwater lure while you retrieve to help figure out the retrieve speed that the muskies prefer that day.
Jerk and glide baits, which are made of wood or plastic, imitate injured baitfish. This style of muskie lure can take some time getting used to since each individual lure can react differently to the action given by the angler. Best used by experienced anglers, they are named for how you retrieve them. Jerkbaits will dive sharply and darts side-to-side while glide baits will zig zag. Some jerkbaits have a metal tail that you can bend to change the action. Otherwise, the angler must supply most of the erratic action. Jerk and glide baits come in a variety of colors and styles.
Jerk and glide baits do not dive as deeply as crankbaits; they work best in shallow water, especially over submerged plants or other structures near the surface. They are usually fished in less than 12 feet of water.
Swim baits are made of soft plastic and rely on a large paddle tail that waggles side to side to attract fish. They are either unweighted or have an internal weight system. They come in many lengths ranging up to and over 12 inches. This bait is typically counted down to a certain depth and then straight line retrieved with occasional pops and jerks of the rod tip. It is best used when muskies are suspended in basins or around habitat.
Muskies have a habit of following lures for long distances. A commonly used trick anglers use is a "figure 8" motion beside the boat. With approximately 6 inches of line still out, the angler in one smooth motion will stick part of the fishing rod tip into the water and make a large figure 8 or oval pattern with the lure beside the boat. This sudden change in lure direction can trigger following muskies to attack and give anglers a thrilling upclose bite and fight. With enough experience anglers can judge the mood of the following muskie and determine the speed of the figure 8 to convert the follow into a strike. This figure 8 motion should be completed at the end of every cast.
Muskie lures come in a kaleidoscope of color, so one never knows what might trip the muskies interest. Iowa anglers have reported success with colors such as black, brown, firetiger, black and orange, bluegill, shad, and perch. Bright colors like purple, blue and white can also have their moments.