Pete's Top Ten Tips to Catch More Muskies
Pete Maina

Pete Maina wants more anglers to savor the thrill of catching the toothy critters at the top of the food chain. "I know from experience just how tough it can be to catch muskies, "Maina says. "But what makes fishing so great is that it is a battle against you and the fish.  And you can come out on top, with a little common sense, some luck and a few simple techniques."

Here are Pete's suggestions to improve your chances for reeling in that Muskie:

1. Don't be intimidated - Some anglers are afraid to try for muskies after hearing how 'tough' they are to catch. They're not any smarter - muskies are really only tough to catch because there simply aren't many of them. In nature's balance the apex predators are present in lowest numbers.

2. Learn to use bait-casting reels - The most expensive, highest-tech rods and reels aren't necessary for Muskie fishing, but bait casting style reels are recommended. They are easy to learn to use. Plus with the larger lures commonly used in Muskie fishing the spool tension provided with this style of reel prevents lure tangling as they fly through the air - a common problem with spinning reels.

3. Understand the structure of your location - Fish, from the tiniest minnow to the biggest predator, seek 'structure'. When looking at a map, any areas that offer cover weeds, rocks, trees or wood of any type and possibly artificial structures are places to concentrate. Also, areas where depth changes quickly are natural travel zones. Combinations of cover and depth changes are ideal.

4. Pick your lures carefully - Choose lures of different types that will cover different depth ranges. The main lure types include spinners, crank baits, jerk baits, surface lures and jigs. Make sure you select lures of each type. With the first spinners, crank baits and jerk baits, choose some that run at different depth levels to cover the water column effectively.

5. Stay close to cover - When they're hungry predator fish like muskies generally hide in cover looking out, ready to ambush prey passing nearby. The easiest prey gets attacked. For this reason, choose lures to run as close to cover as possible, even contacting it is good.

6. Concentrate on the task - Fishing should be fun, but don't daydream too much. It takes focus and patience to be effective. Opportunities are few, so be concentrating on what you are doing at all times and be ready. It is far better to take a break and start fresh later than to miss an opportunity when not paying attention. Muskies seem to know this.

7. Use Your Eyes - Muskie fishing is a visible sport. Get quality polarized glasses that will allow you to see in water far better ' and protect your most valuable asset. Besides sight fishing - casting to muskies you see - muskies are more prone than any freshwater fish to 'follow'. The sooner you can see a follow, the better. You can react by trying to trigger a strike to give the appearance of attempting to get away.

8. Avoid boat side strikes - Muskies are not afraid of boats and will hit at boat side with lures going in circles or figure eight patterns. Before you get in this situation, practice circles and eights at boat side with every lure you use, so that you are able to smoothly go into large circles or figure eight patterns effectively.

9. Practice boat control - All great anglers for any species are very good at boat control. Concentrate on learning how to consistently maintain a desired pace of movement, whether with wind, into wind, crosswind ' whatever the situation. Consistency in water coverage is key to being effective at Muskie fishing.

10. Hiring a Guide. If you are new to Muskie fishing, either fishing with an experienced friend or hiring a knowledgeable guide is recommended. You can learn a lot more in a short period of time with a guide. After learning a few key elements from an expert you'll be catching muskies like a pro!