Muskies

[catchandrelease]

Has anyone ever targeted and/or saw muskies on the lake?

[cheftommy70]

I was fishing a topwater frog over thick vegetation 3 yrs ago in late june looking for some mid day bass action and a very large muskie came up out of the weeds like a missile with my poor frog in its mouth.When it hit the water i set the hook and it just swam hard!!!! i never had a chance

[sasnyder]

While we were fishing in the cove to the left of rasberry island casting a green and white scum frog my nephew had a very hard hit as it jumped from the water it was truly a amazing sight, although sad he did not have a chance of hooking it.

[Niagara-eyes]

I ususally raise one or two musky during my week of fishing in late September using larger baits for bass and pike. I have never hooked one, however. They may be more plentiful than many fisherman think as there is so much forage available and good habitat. Competition from pike may be a limiting factor though.

[HappyCamper]

Those frog lures make for some exciting hits but it seems getting the hook to set is a matter of chance.

[cheftommy70]

i hear ya on the frog lures but...i actually got the hooks buried on the muskie...just my drag wasnt set for the run he made!!!

[wildchild]

The frog lures can be frustrating! I use the Spro bronzeye baits and bend the hooks up slightly off the body of the frog, something that I read in a fishing mag. It works, I hook twice the fish that I used too. Just something that you all might want to try.

[ragincajun]

I personally LOVE frog fishing and did it most of August last year. Slower but fun when you catch one. I am currently addicted to the zoom frogs.

[Believer]

Just to add to what Niagara said: The two main antagonists of muskie numbers are northern pike and largemouth bass. Don't get me wrong, those are both great fish. But pike and largemouth are tough on fingerling and juvenile muskies. I've not caught a muskie in Black Lake. But I've seen them coming to the surface.

[Niagara-eyes]

I think its just normal to miss alot of strikes on the surface frog lures. But, try these ideas they have helped me. First, don't use braided line. I know....its strong and good for horsing fish out of the weeds but it has no stretch to it. This is good for alot of presentations but not this one. Use 12-14-17 lb mono like green Trilene XT. There is some "give" to this line so the fish has more time with the bait. Second....always give the fish a chance to "get hooks" by pausing a couple seconds before setting the hook. Then pull like crazy to get the fish out! Finally always sharpen the hooks! Hope this helps.

[wildchild]

I think its just normal to miss alot of strikes on the surface frog lures. But, try these ideas they have helped me. First, don't use braided line. I know....its strong and good for horsing fish out of the weeds but it has no stretch to it. This is good for alot of presentations but not this one. Use 12-14-17 lb mono like green Trilene XT. There is some "give" to this line so the fish has more time with the bait. Second....always give the fish a chance to "get hooks" by pausing a couple seconds before setting the hook. Then pull like crazy to get the fish out! Finally always sharpen the hooks! Hope this helps.

I totally agree with you! You have to wait untill you feel the fish, not setting the hook as soon as you see the strike.

[HappyCamper]

I've read about pulling the hooks out away from the "frog's" body slightly for a better chance to hook. I've used a jitterbug instead of my frog and had much better success with it but maybe I'll "adjust" my frog this summer and give it another chance. I'll also try a slower hook set but it was my understanding that fish tend to reject the frog rather quickly and that a quick set was needed.

[wildchild]

The strike to hookup ratio is much higher with the classic Jitterbug as well as the pop-r type baits, plus they are a ton of fun! I didn't know that I was trying to set the hook too fast with the frogs until I saw a Bill Dance show and he explained that you should feel the fish before setting the hook. I still have to force myself to slow down with the weedless stuff!

[mbanko17]

this 45" suprised me right at the boat,peeled off 50' of my 10# mono, but I got it to the boat. Didn't catch it on a frog but a rapala hj-12. the fish was released after some pics.

[billbo]

Nice one. Kudos on returning it