Fish for Muskies on Spinning Tackle a Taboo?

[wolfe]

OK, I'm starting this up under a separate thread, as I wanted to make sure people would see it.

I have to be honest here: I don't like baitcasters. I just had the chance to use one again yesterday on my 3 hour foray for tiger muskies, during which my brother and I were completely skunked. It felt like picking up a telephone pole and trying to swing it around. I got tired pretty quickly. Now granted, my brother's gear was probably oversized for me. He goes up to Georgian Bay and other key muskie waters in pursuit of the biggies.

But here's the question: is it ever appropriate to fish for muskies, including the big ones, with heavy duty spinning tackle? Does anyone do it? Anyone that pursues muskies specifically?

Point being, I need a better rod and reel combo more suitable for my next stage of muskie fishing...getting a little more dedicated and intoxicated here. But I'm still not feeling the love for baitcasters.

Looking for some feedback. Thanks again, all.

W.

[Markus]

Wolfe, I fish shark with spinning gear. It'd be a bit bulky for casting though. The big cats I wrestled with this spring also came on spinning gear...again, bulky.

[jig head]

Just ask ed from paddletales

[gorfman007]

The few muskies that I've caught on the Rideau river were all caught with my regular tackle . Stuff that you have seen me fish with. I have a rod nicknamed the pool cue, just because it looks like one. My Mitchell 300 reel and 8 pound test line. Mind you the muskies were small (8 to 10 pounds) and the fight was lengthy. But I always landed them. The only one that got away was one that hit a bass caught on my ultra light rod and reel combo. I think taht you have enough experience fishing that you could fish with lighter tackle and land the big one.

[ratsotail]

Wolfe,

The problem with spinning gear is you need a fairly large reel to handle the 20 lb+ test line and a large spool so the line doesn't kink and ratnest on you all the time. I'm with you on the baitcaster woes, but you can fish with large spinning gear, but it is much heavier to cast all day and the hooksets aren't as clean. Take the pain, never cast directly into the wind, and never try to cast too far with a baitcaster and you'll get used to it.

ratsotail

[Snag]

Never tried it, but I would assume the reeling in would be a bit harder.

With spinning gear, reeling in is slower because of the wide reeling style.... if you hook into a 50" muskie, might make it a big tougher.

Using big heavy duty baitcaster like the Abu's is more tiring, but its gonna happen anyways when you cast out big muskie baits.

How long was the rod u used? The one I use is 6'3" making it a bit less awkward.

I fell in love with the Abu Gacia Ambassadeur series after borrowing one last year. Yes its a bit bigger, but casting it I found easy as it jsut a small button you press to cast out.. and reeling in is very smooth.

[wolfe]

How long was the rod u used? The one I use is 6'3" making it a bit less awkward.

I'm not sure, to tell you the truth Snag. All I could think of was that it seemed more sized to Paul Bunyan. Not my 5'5" frame.

I was getting the knack of casting down a little better, but upon reeling in the base of the rod would actually be sliding back and forth with my hand motions. The base was way too long. It was just too big and awkward for me. I guess I should give baitcasters another fair shake, with one more fitting to my size. But I'm still not ruling out a hefty spinning combo. At least for tiger muskies.

W.

[Moosebunk]

I don't think it's taboo at all wolfe. In fact, I'd just as much see it, that way there wouldn't be two points of view at all. Kidding.

With braids, and the quality of rods today, there's absolutely no reason why you can't have a strong and durable spinning outfit that will bring the biggest muskies in. Afterall, 99% of the time you have the advantage of being in a boat if you get into a real lunker. Out west last fall for chinooks that could get up to 60lbs and are being fought in the heaviest of currents, spinning oufits loaded with a 65lb mainline braid on 9ft rods was the gear to use. The guides used Okuma mid-priced reels that they replaced every year to two years because so many anglers were handling them in a year, and the bearings do just burn out in time. But, in the case of muskies, you'd have to pray for that much good fishing cause it wouldn't happen that quick. Baitcasters are tougher though, and they do sit in most rod holders better. I guess it's my opinion that either way is acceptable. People might argue the advantage is to get these precious gems into the boat quicker because they fight until they tire themselves to death, well, I doubt (and I've never caught one) that any muskie has been hooked by a baitcasting rod and just said "to feck with it, it's a baitcaster so I'm just gonna give up, quit trying, and save my energy in case they're C&R guys and not dirtbag filleters."

They do make reasonably sized spinning reels that'll spool 200+ yds of 50lb braid. And the rods can be bought in med-heavy to heavy. Sounds good enough.

[steve-hamilton]

my father and I use the Berkely Canadian Specialist Series Medium Heavy Spinning Rod with a Shimano Sedona 4000 Spinning Reel.

We have 65lbs Power Pro on the reel, and it has taken its fare share of muskie....

I have no doubt it would handle a quality fish.

[Relic]

As long as it's heavy enough to land them quickly your fine. Their is lots of it out on the market.

I know of a Lake Scugog guide that uses spinning tackle at times.

[Moosebunk]

Relic, you're avatar pic needs work bud. I can barely see anything except a black mass holding a big muskie. Crop'er down to the important stuff then blow'er up and link it from another site.

You've got great fish, better to see 'em

[Lucky4]

Hi Wolfe,

My musky casting rod is a 7 feet spinning musky rod from Shimano with a Shimano Stardic 4000 reel and it is working great with 50lbs braid.

I caught all my sturgeons (with 30+ fish over 30lbs including 4 fish over 50lbs and one over 70lbs) with spinning reels (However, larger models than the Stardic 4000 were used).

We also used to fish in salt water for jack cervall, different species of ray, cobias, baracudas, etc. using a large spinning outfit.

I am able to cast using a baitcaster outfit, however, I have more fun using the spinning gear!

Lucky4

[wolfe]

Soaking up all this advice, as always -- and it's appreciated for sure.

I should mention that I plan to do 99% of my muskie fishing by CASTING.

But anyway..............I'm liking all the info that's coming in.

W.

[Relic]

Bunk, that happens to be Darth Vader with his first muskie Did that just for S#$%@s and Giggles.

[FLOATFISHIN]

Relic, ahahahhahahahahahahhahahahahahaa

Hooohhhhhhhh Hahhhhhhhhhh, 50"errrrrrrrrrrrrrr Hohhhhhhh Hahhhh




F.F