First musky of the year (pic) 2024

basser89 reply :

Well, I decided to do a little "hobby" fishing this evening and give the bass a break. I hit a spot on the Potomac that I had some action with a 40-42 incher last week. Well, I was out for about 30 minutes when I tied into a small one. This little guy hit a bucktail (my first ever on a bucktail). I stuck around to see if I could get some action with the bigger one I had seen last week and had another one hit a top water bait but could get that one hooked up. Guess it was a day of firsts cause it was the first action I had on my Quantum musky rod! Here's a pic of the one I landed. Please excuse the pic! I was in a rush trying to get it back in the water and cut my head off in the pic! LOL!

S I G M A reply :

that looks about the same size as my first northern

basser89 reply :

I actually read my post and realized I never said how big it was! LOL!

This one was 30 inches. A far cry from the other one I had seen last week. It's a start though and alot sooner than last year! It took me until late November til I caught one last year. Now to just figure out what that bigger one wants! ;D

S I G M A reply :

never mind... mine was about half a foot smaller

basser89 reply :

Hey, a 24 inch pike is a respectable pike and bigger than mine! I've never caught a pike. :-[

firefightn15 reply :

Not bad. I can't buy one up here this year. I don't usually run around to much for musky, pretty much stay on one lake. I don't know if it has been the weird weather this year or what. Normally toy with atleast one on any given outing, but haven't even turned one this year. Post more pics so I can try and remember what they look like.

basser89 reply :

I'll see what I can do firefightin15 but I can't promise you much! A couple years back, I focused really hard on the toothy critters and faired fairly well but my bass game really suffered (IMO). That's why I call musky fishing my "hobby" fishing now. I'll do it on occasion but I'm not as focused on it as I used to be. If I get 2-3 more this year, I'll consider it to be a good year on the musky side. What shocked me was the power this little one had on the small time I fought it! That's why I like fishing for them in the rivers! Better battle IMO! Although, I would like another shot at the bigger one I had seen! I'll post a pic of that one if I get lucky enough to hook into her!

SPEEDBEAD. reply :

LOL, I will buy a MD fishing license for the sole purpose of fishing for muskies.

Anytime you want to let me into your spot, you have my number.

basser89 reply :

I'll let you fish that spot as long as you only catch that little one I released and let the big girl for me! Hee hee hee!

SPEEDBEAD. reply :

LOL, set it up!!!

BTW, once the garage is cleaned out at the new house and I have some room, I have an idea for some bucktails....

Give me time, I will need a tester LOL

MskSlyr reply :

Nice work Basser especially with the first on a bucktail. I have heard rumor there have been some good ones over the years come from that river.

basser89 reply :

Thanks Slyr

Hmmm, rumor eh? I won't go into detail, but I know it to be more than a rumor and I'd be the second to know that!

MskSlyr reply :

I have no doubt you will get that muskie you missed. The question would be though isn't the one you really want the one that trashed your ledgebuster a ways back? Hobby fishing my foot, be true to your roots.

firefightn15 reply :

MskSlyr, that's a nice one in your avatar. 45-47"? Nice girth on it to!

MskSlyr reply :

Good eye firefightn15 and you are right it was 47". That is one that did not survive one evening when Basser and I were out muskie fishing so we checked it in. Initial weight went 30lbs 4oz and the certified weight from the state after 2 hrs was 28lb and 4oz.

firefightn15 reply :

That is a sweet lookin' fish.

Basser 89, not to hiijack, but a question for muskey slayer. There was a thread awhile back about a fella taking his father up north "one last time". In the posts braided and mono line was tosse around. I recently read an article on that debate. One of the pros to using braid was that the musky didn't get played so long, increasing it's chance of survival upon release. What's your take?

MskSlyr reply :

I see both sides of the argument. Braid does allow in most cases for someone to haul a muskie in quicker. There are some cases cold weather I would not use braid if you paid me. A good guality mono made for musky fishing can be a top notch alternative. Ask Basser he can beat a musky into submission with mono quicker than any human being I have ever seen hands down. So both have there place but in the warmer weather braid is a great option.

firefightn15 reply :

basser89, when you get back, I guess I'd like your take. I switched to mono years ago and have had no problems, but do you think that by using mono and maybe playing the fish longer that it decreases it's chance of survival?

MskSlyr reply :

I don't know if this will help or not but we fish the same waters as a state biologist that is a wealth of knowledge. His take on it is the quicker you get them in no matter what line you use the better. Muskies build up lactic acid in there muscles as they fight so the longer they fight the greater the risk of them having problems.

basser89 reply :

I have a feeling this is going to come back to haunt me with MskSlyr! LOL!

MskSlyr and I both use mono, although for some reason, I seem to land the muskies a little quicker than Slyr. Even the 45 incher in my signature was landed rather quickly.

My take on playing a fish, whether its a musky or a bass, is to get them in as quickly as you can so the lactic acid doesn't build up and potentially harm them. I know its rougher on muskies (especially in warmer water). I did pay the price a few years ago on the first 45 incher I caught that I landed rather quick. When I tried to remove the hook (and I wasn't properly equipped), the musky kicked its head around and threw two of the hooks into two of my fingers on my right hand. That wasn't a pleasant experience at all! It's a VERY fine line, but fight them just long enough so they're not completely "green" when you land them, then take your time CPR'ing them.

firefightn15 reply :

Yeah, I remember you mentioning that awhile back. A friend of mine did that recently with a northern thrashing around, got hooked in the finger with "fish on".

Thanks for your insight guys. Been fishin em myself for a few years, but rarely get the chance for the ideas of others!

billbrum reply :

My reason for not using mono is their hard mouth and the stretch that mono has. I used to use mono a lot for muskie fishing until I started using 80 lb braid. The fight is also quite a bit shorter.

I have never had a problem with braided line in sub freezing weather.

BTW, congrats on your first muskie of the year.

MDBassman reply :

basser89 and MskSlyr - I am new to this site and occasionally fish the Potomac. When I do get out I usually target walleye or smallmouth. I have never caught a muskie and really never targeted them. I have fished anywhere from Paw Paw to Dargen Bend.

My question to either of you is where would you start targeting them and what would you use? I don't need exact locations just some general ideas.

Thanks!

Jason

Max-in-Mn reply :

Hey MD, welcome to the site! I'm no expert at Muskies but I usually fish for them on weedbeds, rocky points or reefs, sunken islands, and humps. Sometimes they will suspend out in deep water as well, but those are hard to fish! Generally you don't need many lures for Muskie, just get some inline spinners {bucktails}, few jerkbaits and maybe a topwater bait or 2. Do you have a Muskie setup? If not you will need one!

MDBassman reply :

Max, thanks for the welcome. Since I live here in Maryland I have never targeted them but have a lot of gear suited toward Stripers that I figured I could make work for Musky. My casting outfit is a 7'2" heavy St. Croix with an AbuG reel spooled with 50lb braid.

Max-in-Mn reply :

I think most guys would say 80lb braid is ideal, but 50 should be ok as long as it's good stuff. Your rod and reel sounds good. Just make sure to get a really heavy duty wire leader of 100lb+ test, those are a must! Other than that I'd recommend you make sure you have proper landing gear such a huge net, long pliers, heavy duty hook cutters, and maybe a steel mesh glove for grabbing the fish around the gills {they can cut up your hand real bad}. If you catch one, I'd recommend trying to get the hook out while he is in the water {in the net or have a buddy grab its tail}. You really don't want one of those things thrashing around in you boat with a big lure in it Good luck and let us know if you have more questions!

P.S. Do some research online about the "figure 8". You will almost always get a following fish during an outing, so make sure you're ready and know what to do when that happens!

billbrum reply :

There is a nice muskie fishing site called muskiefirst. Ask a question there. Alot of good people that would love to help out a beginning muskie angler.

Munkin reply :

The secret to catching them around here is not to fish for them? Try fishing for bass and you will hook into a couple. They will hit just about anything but seem to like jerkbaits better than other lures. The biggest one I caught (45")was on a oatmeal ball fishing for carp.

Allen

basser89 reply :

Quote
The secret to catching them around here is not to fish for them? Try fishing for bass and you will hook into a couple. They will hit just about anything but seem to like jerkbaits better than other lures. The biggest one I caught (45")was on a oatmeal ball fishing for carp.
Allen

My majority of my action with muskies on bass tackle has come late in the year. I landed two late last year on jerkbaits. The only other one I've had on, on the Potomac, came on a Norman Mad N crank (that one was about 30"). The rest of mine on the river have come on my typical musky gear (although, one of my go to baits has been a 6" jointed Rebel minnow). Most of mine come on top water musky baits! What fun that is!!!! ;D I have had limited luck swimming a bucktail jig (that I tied) as well. The rest of my MD muskies (tigers) have come at Black Hills and all have been caught on my bass gear (mostly spinnerbaits). I've had a couple on there over 40" but they've thrown the baits one way or another. > The last bigger one I had on there, hit a 1/2oz Rattle Trap and cut my line after a short fight. :'(

MskSlyr reply :

I think you are right on the money with the jerkbait suggestion Munkin. I have had a few instances like basser and yourself with bass gear and a bass size jerkbait/minnowbait where fishing for walleye/smallies and a muskie hammer it. The muskies size jerkbaits are great as well.

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First musky of the year (pic) 2024

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