LIPLESS CRANKBAITS -- DEADLY FOR SPEED FISHING
Rat-L-Traps, Cordell Hotspots, Sugar Shads, etc. Great lures for all kinds of gamefish, but highly underrated for muskies. These baits can be especially effective on spring or early fall muskies cruising overtop weed flats. Like all lures, specific situations exist where these lures really produce. Personally, I really like these kind of baits whenever muskies are average in size, but high in numbers, and are cruising overtop shallow weed cover.
These baits produce, and they enable one to cover tons of water in a very short time. Their best fished on heavy baitcast gear utilizing long bomb casts and a fast retrieve speed. No finesse is necessary here. Just heave the bomb, crank & wind. Cover ground, lots of it. The larger bass sizes, 3/4 ounce or more, are the best musky producers and perform most efficiently with larger baitcasting gear. As far as colors go, the blue/chrome has nearly always been #1, but chartreuse firetiger patterns have done well for me in stained water at times.
Some key tackle points to consider with …show more content…
Anytime you see big marks of suspended fish over deep water the potential to encounter active suspended muskies is possible, but the trick is to get a lure down to the right depth. This is where knowing how fast the "sink rate" of the lure, and knowing approximately how deep the fish are suspending is vital. Match the two, and make a number of casts over a high potential area you're likely to hit a home run once in awhile. I've had lots of success with this tactic during the mid to late summer period on deep clear lakes, but the same production is possible on shallower ones that have a lack of cover. Anytime your sonar shows signs of suspended fish, and your success with shallow presentations has been nil, a few pitches over the open water are worth your time, and a countdown cranker is your best
Rat-L-Traps, Cordell Hotspots, Sugar Shads, etc. Great lures for all kinds of gamefish, but highly underrated for muskies. These baits can be especially effective on spring or early fall muskies cruising overtop weed flats. Like all lures, specific situations exist where these lures really produce. Personally, I really like these kind of baits whenever muskies are average in size, but high in numbers, and are cruising overtop shallow weed cover.
These baits produce, and they enable one to cover tons of water in a very short time. Their best fished on heavy baitcast gear utilizing long bomb casts and a fast retrieve speed. No finesse is necessary here. Just heave the bomb, crank & wind. Cover ground, lots of it. The larger bass sizes, 3/4 ounce or more, are the best musky producers and perform most efficiently with larger baitcasting gear. As far as colors go, the blue/chrome has nearly always been #1, but chartreuse firetiger patterns have done well for me in stained water at times.
Some key tackle points to consider with …show more content…
Anytime you see big marks of suspended fish over deep water the potential to encounter active suspended muskies is possible, but the trick is to get a lure down to the right depth. This is where knowing how fast the "sink rate" of the lure, and knowing approximately how deep the fish are suspending is vital. Match the two, and make a number of casts over a high potential area you're likely to hit a home run once in awhile. I've had lots of success with this tactic during the mid to late summer period on deep clear lakes, but the same production is possible on shallower ones that have a lack of cover. Anytime your sonar shows signs of suspended fish, and your success with shallow presentations has been nil, a few pitches over the open water are worth your time, and a countdown cranker is your best