For one thing, there are a lot more muskies swimming around out there. Used to be we would get bit off every once in a while and maybe catch a muskie once or twice during the spring walleye run. Saturday & Sunday night I got bit off four times & landed four other muskies. All were quickly photographed and released unharmed. The first one gave me a challenge trying to figure out how I was going to get a quality picture without harming the fish. The fish ended up being just fine but the 2nd finger on my left hand sprung a leak in the process. Well worth it in my opinion!
It is pretty awesome catching muskies while targeting spring run walleyes at night. Yes, you do tend to lose some baits along the way and I definitely need to figure out a better setup for the terminal end of my rig. Right now, my plan is to splice in a two foot section of 8# seagur flourocarbon but I'm not sure that will make much of a difference. Light line is very helpful when it comes to the action of the lure so adding a steel leader is out of the question. Superlines are another option but so far, I've been very disappointed with the way they cast, especially when the weather dips below 32 degrees which is pretty common at night this time of the year.
Stickbaits are my favorite baits this time of the year. Go to lures include the F9, F11 & F13 rapalas, #8 & #10 Husky Jerks and countdowns in similar sizes. Jig/plastic combo's also work very well at times. On those nights when they don't want a stickbait, a 1/16oz Precision jig & ringworm from B Fish N Tackle can be dynamite on the walleyes. When the current picks up a little, the new Dragon jig from B Fish N tackle will also get a workout on the end of my line this spring.
