Rods
St. Croix Musky Casting Rod
A heavy, long casting rod for big bucktails, jerkbaits, and figure-eights.
Check PriceSpecies / Muskellunge
Pike
Muskellunge Fishing
The fish of ten thousand casts, a giant pike relative of Northern lakes and rivers. Fall is trophy season.
Best Months: Jun to Nov
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Plan by Month
Best Flies, Lures & Bait for Muskellunge
Month
2 picks for October.
Pike and Musky Fly 6 to 10 in
FlyStreamer
Shop This FlySuspending Jerkbait 4 to 5 in
LureHard Bait · Big glide or jerkbaits in fall.
Shop This Lure
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Rod & Reel
Muskellunge Setup
Muskellunge
Fly 9 ft 10 wt rod, intermediate or sinking line, big articulated flies, 80 lb bite tippet.
Spin / Cast 8.5 to 9 ft heavy casting rod, 400 size reel, 80 lb braid, 130 lb fluorocarbon leader.
The US
Where to Catch Muskellunge
Lakes & Reservoirs · Illinois
Fox Chain O'Lakes
A chain of connected glacial lakes in northern Illinois with muskie, walleye, and bass.
Walleye · Muskellunge · Largemouth Bass
Lakes & Reservoirs · Michigan
Lake St. Clair
A shallow lake between Lakes Huron and Erie, among the best smallmouth and musky fisheries anywhere.
Smallmouth Bass · Muskellunge · Walleye
Lakes & Reservoirs · Minnesota
Lake Minnetonka
A metro Minneapolis lake with bays and weed edges for bass and musky.
Largemouth Bass · Muskellunge · Bluegill
Lakes & Reservoirs · Minnesota
Lake of the Woods
A vast border lake called the walleye capital of the world, with a big winter ice fishing scene.
Walleye · Northern Pike · Yellow Perch
Lakes & Reservoirs · Minnesota
Lake Vermilion
A rocky Northwoods lake with about 340 miles of shoreline and 365 islands.
Walleye · Muskellunge · Smallmouth Bass
Lakes & Reservoirs · Minnesota
Leech Lake
One of Minnesota's largest lakes, with walleye and big muskies.
Walleye · Muskellunge · Yellow Perch
Lakes & Reservoirs · Minnesota
Mille Lacs Lake
Classic Minnesota walleye lake with a big ice fishing community and trophy smallmouth.
Walleye · Smallmouth Bass · Muskellunge
Lakes & Reservoirs · Nebraska
Merritt Reservoir
A Sandhills reservoir and Nebraska's top musky water.
Muskellunge · Walleye
Rivers & Streams · New York
St. Lawrence River
The Thousand Islands region with world-class smallmouth and trophy muskies.
Smallmouth Bass · Muskellunge · Northern Pike
Lakes & Reservoirs · Wisconsin
Green Bay
A Lake Michigan bay with trophy walleye, musky, and smallmouth around Sturgeon Bay.
Smallmouth Bass · Walleye · Muskellunge
Rivers & Streams · West Virginia
New River
A big, rocky river through the New River Gorge with excellent smallmouth.
Smallmouth Bass · Walleye · Muskellunge
Recommended
Gear for Muskellunge
Line
PowerPro Spectra Braided Line
Thin, strong braid for long casts, sensitivity, and pulling fish from cover.
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