Posted by MuskieKid on 2/7/2003, 6:59 am Now that I've said that, I want to reiterate that we are talking about Tiger Muskies, not naturals. They are a combo of a Male Northern Pike and Female Muskellunge (usually). These fish display the characteristics of BOTH the Northern Pike AND Natural Muskellunge. Methods for either fish MAY work depending on the time of the year. In my opinion, the greatest difference is in the summertime when they have a tendancy to suspend over very deep water. Yep, I have caught them using traditional Musky methods (as mentioned in response here and on the Musky forums), but I have also caught them on Pike spoons adjacent weedbeds, and trolling large AND small crankbaits, and using small jigs (Yamamoto twin-tailed hula grubs & tube baits.) Generally speaking I recommend the following to simplify things: Spring: go small, shallow and fish slow. Bass sized minnowbaits & bass jigs are dynamite during this time of year. Bass spawning areas are the areas to fish in addition to the edge of weedbes (if they have grown by then). Summer: Musky sized black topwaters (prop type) have worked for me early in the morning. Jigs at the weededge & dropoffs are good. I also use large tubebaits in deep water (25 ft. or so). My friends have had luck with small baits also. They will suspend in deep water (up to 55 ft. in my lake) and I have found them in the trees this time of year. Also, look for bait dimples and cast minnow plugs to them. Early in the morning, use musky topwaters in the treetops if you have them. Fall: I troll 8 & 10" Believers adjacent the weedbeds or dropoffs. Jigs in deep water also work then. Of course, try the Natural methods too and figure 8 at the end of each cast. They do work. I purposely did not mention any specific lure (other than the Beleiver). If you can imitate the size and color of the present size of the forage in your lake, you should be successful. Doesn't matter whether it's a crankbait, spinner or plastic bait. All of them will work. As mentioned earlier, initially I believe that your Bass baits will work (although you may want to go up one or two sizes on your hooks). You also may pick JUST A COUPLE of Muskie baits and see what happens. In that case you would want something to cover the different depths in your lake. Remember...lures are only tools, not some magical potion to catch fish. Use what you have confidence in and read Buck Perry's book if you haven't already. Quite frankly - whenever I think I have them figured out, I get skunked. Try the methods you have seen here and on the boards and you should catch them. Good luck & keep us posted.
Message modified by board administrator 2/7/2003, 6:12 am
One thing I left out that you may try (due to pressured waters) is night fishing. Although I have never had any luck in the dark for Tigers, you might give it a try. I know some of the Muskie experts have luck with this fishing for NATURALS. As you will find out, a lot of the tips you will receive are for Natural Muskies. Little is written about these hybrids naturally (in other words natural reproduction by nature) OR reproduction in the hatcheries. As stocking programs increase (more are being stocked each year), perhaps additional information will become available. Even the "experts" that fish up north have very little tips to give because they seldom come across Tigers.. Therefore, they fish for Naturals and occasionally catch Tigers instead. Ordinarily, when Tigers are stocked, there are no other Muskies or Pike in that body of water. In those bodies of water, you may find fisherman that can give you good information, but I am discovereing that very few anglers actually fish for them on purpose. A lot this has got to do with little written information being available. In my lake (although it is loaded with Tigers), very few anglers fish for them. I also believe anglers have a tendancy to be very secretive about how to catch them. The DNR gets little feedback, thus little info. is passed on to anglers. In my lake, there are only 4-5 angers that specialize in these wonderful fish. Amazingly, a lot of anglers don't even know there are Tigers in the lake.
Message Thread:
« Back to thread