Skunked...again

[Anzomcik]

I am in a rut, a pretty big one. I went out last night thinking it would be good. I was wrong i could not even get a pike bite. It seems that the past few weeks i can not get anything to move. In fact i happen to float up on two muskie layin by a log, and i could not get them to move. Well I am looking foward in a few weeks some fall fishing.

If any one has tips to break out of my slump that they are willing to share, ill take anyhelp you can share. Thanks

[Red Childress]

I wish I had a definite answer for you but here is my .02 cents............

We have had nice fish moving the past 3 weeks but getting them to eat AGGRESSIVELY has been the toughest part......welcome to August fishing where the bait supply never ends.

If you are fishing pressured muskies, maybe try working baits slowly then when you get one on your tail, burn it back to the boat and hopefully close the deal. Smaller, erratic baits like hellhounds, phantoms, freestylers, 7" grandma twitchbaits, and 8" mantas might help as well.

[Anzomcik]

I went out friday morning, at a lake with a high pike pop. and good rep for muskie. I know the lake fairly well. I fished all my favorite spots. I could not beilieve the pike activity, they were aggressive, but could not seal the deal they would jet out like lighting and then the last foot or so just take a ho hum swing at it.

I missed six pike this way, i did manage to boat three pike. One real healthy 32 incher. While the other two were hte skinnest hammerhandles i have ever seen. these fish were 20-24 inch fish with a girth of like 7 inches. I did manage to lose my 12th muskie this year. But i am learning.

My question is what do you guys do when small pike (like the ones i described) Are hitting fairly large bucktails and cranks? I enjoy catching pike but i am really after muskie. I am perplexed when those pike hit bull dawgs that are longer than themselfs. Anythoughts?

[Jim_Bortz]

In 30 years of musky fishing... this is what I've learned about hammer handle pike... When the pee wee pike are chomping, the muskies are not. You can have a ball catching pike, but anymore, they just annoy me. I've never had a follow from a musky (not even a small one) on a structural element where I caught a small pike on the same pass. NEVER! Now, when I catch a small pike, I pull up the trolling motor and try something completely different. If I caught the pike in the weeds, I go look at rocks or wood... maybe even try trolling. When the muskies are eating, the pike seem to know and they hide.

Now big pike are a completely different story. If I stick a 3-foot or better pike, I head right to my best big fish spot. And more often than not, I connect! 15 to 20 pound pike are often harder to move than a big musky, so if you stick one, pay attention! It's a good sign.

[Anzomcik]

Thanks Jim, I am not sure if you are aware of how helpful it is to have people that not only listen, but comment and give there experences they have lived. I am sure i mentioned that i am still on my first full season muskie fishing. I am having a blast, learning new things, making alot of rookie mistakes but thats all part of the game. Looking back i have learned so much, and with you guys backing me up on questions and answers it makes my life alot easier.

Ok here is another question. When you set the hook, i know a strong hook set is necessary but how many times do you guys set the hook? I have heard people setting the hook 3 or 4 times, anyone do that? Also when you feel the strike do you imeditally set the hook, or give it a secound before swinging the rod?

[Red Childress]

IMO, if you have your drag cranked down, sharp hooks and using some type of braid, there is no reason to go King Kong on the hookset. One set is all it will take as soon as you FEEL the fish. There is a huge difference between setting too hard and the fish simply mis-hitting your bait.

If the truth be known, a "committed fish" sets the hook for you most of the time provided the drag is cranked and hooks are VERY sharp........that little "grunt" and tiny "boat rock" should do the trick UNLESS you are using big rubber, then it is ok to give her whiplash.

You will get many differing opinions on this one.