LAKE MUSKIE

[SmallieBumm 0]

Glad to see this forum is moving again. I'm living in the Ft Wayne area right now and I'll definitely be here all the thru the year so if you wanna take me out in you Ranger, I'm more then cool with that! As of now I'm fishing out of a 16 ft ganoe on the smaller water, but thankfully for me its always pretty calm out here.

 

Sorry to hear about your bum luck with the leg. This spring is slowly coming up so it'll be on once the ice gets off. If the ice ever even comes this year. . .

 

As far as the flies go, I think their legit. I have no real issue with blades on a fly. Its all about tying a fly that you have confidence in. I haven't integrated any blades into mine yet but I was just talking to a buddy about doing it the other day. I'll probably end up borrowing some of your pattern ideas.

[Arkman 0]

I'm a muskie guy, other than May when muskie is closed and I fish smallies. I use nothing less than 10's and sometimes 11's and 12's depending on where I'm fishing and what I'm casting. But for the water I fish, a 50 is possible on any cast, and I pretty much only cast massive flies, so for me 10 is the best choice.

 

I didn't write the book on muskies on a fly, but I've been doing it since before there was a book. Only caught a few this year due to a broken leg and a truncated season, but I'll do it again next season and get back on pace.

 

OK, let the "those aren't flies because they have blades on them!!!" discussion begin. They cast with a tight loop on a 10 and you they need a sinking line to get them to break surface tension. They're flies.

 

 

 

Kodiak- Where are you from. I recognize that sticker on your desk. I shop there whenever I can. I know a few guys at the shop. Have you ever thought of doing a step by step or video of your flies. They look like winners to me. I'd like to learn more.

 

I had my first run in with a musky on a fly this year. Had a blast, I didn't hook one on the fly but I did wet my pants! Well, not really, but close I think.

[creekhound 0]

Kodiaksalmon there must be half a chicken tied in those flies Great looking flies, and i'd have to agree with Arkman you should do a SBS on those flies.

[jhammer 0]

Nothing wrong with spinner blades on a fly. Many of my woolly buggers have props on them. The catch rate is a lot higher in the muddy waters I fish.

[kodiaksalmon 0]

Glad to see this forum is moving again. I'm living in the Ft Wayne area right now and I'll definitely be here all the thru the year so if you wanna take me out in you Ranger, I'm more then cool with that! As of now I'm fishing out of a 16 ft ganoe on the smaller water, but thankfully for me its always pretty calm out here.

 

Sorry to hear about your bum luck with the leg. This spring is slowly coming up so it'll be on once the ice gets off. If the ice ever even comes this year. . .

 

As far as the flies go, I think their legit. I have no real issue with blades on a fly. Its all about tying a fly that you have confidence in. I haven't integrated any blades into mine yet but I was just talking to a buddy about doing it the other day. I'll probably end up borrowing some of your pattern ideas.

 

Yeah, my boat makes me pretty popular. I fish alone the vast majority of the time, not counting my dog. But I do take people out from time to time. This season was a mess, but hopefully I'm still stationed here next year and can redeem myself and get some more fish over the gunwales.

 

 

Kodiak- Where are you from. I recognize that sticker on your desk. I shop there whenever I can. I know a few guys at the shop. Have you ever thought of doing a step by step or video of your flies. They look like winners to me. I'd like to learn more.

 

I had my first run in with a musky on a fly this year. Had a blast, I didn't hook one on the fly but I did wet my pants! Well, not really, but close I think.

 

I'm originally from Indiana, but am stationed in MI on LSC right now. My parents live in Brainerd, which is how I got my love for muskies. So stop by Thorne's every time I'm up there to visit. I'm 90% fly for muskies but I do dabble a bit in conventional gear for them; mostly just big blades during the height of summer, and then pounders in late fall when I'm fishing channels, so I love going in there where I can look around for a couple hours and tend to my fly and my gear side.

[SmallieBumm 0]

Hell yea man. Being on LSC pretty much puts you in the best Muskie waters around. That lake is so thick with them its not even funny. All the muskie guys from around my area usually make a yearly trip up there in the fall and come back with pictures of straight dinosaurs. The pattern of the fish here, is a little different then the fish up there which I find to be pretty interesting.

 

You'll have to post some more fishporn on here from your muskie feats. Were all looking forward to seeing more of those burly muskie flies of yours as well. I tie alot of doubles that are mainly just high quality bucktail tied in backwards and the longest schlappen I can find as a 'tail'. I've got a couple triples tied up now but I haven't got them in the water yet.

[Arkman 0]

Awesome. My grandparents live in Brainerd so I know the area well. If you are ever in the area and want someone to fish with let me know. I'd love to head out. I'm not too far away from brainerd.

 

I'm waiting to see some step by steps too!

[PACOFRANSICO 0]

Here is some of my musky flys. Ive caught 10 this yr and lost 2x that. They cast great well on then right gear. In my oppinion putting hard wear on a fly makes it a spinner bait or a a cowgirl (inline spinner). ya might as well thow em on a baitcaster. Each to his own

 

 

 

Here is some of my better musky this summer.

 

 

[Rocco 0]

JUST STOP IT!! You guys are overcharging my batteries.

 

I got the fly rod musky itch this fall and did some reading and local research which revealed a thriving fishery -- mianly rivers -- within an hour or so drive. I found a guide who specializes in the species too and have made plans for a spring trial run. I have two 9 weights set up and soon will scare some of the local bass with big patterns I am tying in some casting practice sessions if the weather breaks.

 

Any tips on tippet materials, knots would be much appreciated.

 

Rocco

[Arkman 0]

JUST STOP IT!! You guys are overcharging my batteries.

 

I got the fly rod musky itch this fall and did some reading and local research which revealed a thriving fishery -- mianly rivers -- within an hour or so drive. I found a guide who specializes in the species too and have made plans for a spring trial run. I have two 9 weights set up and soon will scare some of the local bass with big patterns I am tying in some casting practice sessions if the weather breaks.

 

Any tips on tippet materials, knots would be much appreciated.

 

Rocco

 

 

Rocco- This video is pretty good. He tells you what material to use and how to tie it all up. A good resource for sure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=466P-Uyorm0

[PACOFRANSICO 0]

Leaders I tryed the 1 in the link above. It didnt suit my style of fishing & the flys I throw. Go short and strong you dont need taper to turn over a 4 ft leader. And the flys are heavy enuff to straiten out what doesnt turn over. I never fish a leader over 4ft with any fly. This isnt a finesse game. And musky will not be leader shy. So a 9ft leader isnt needed.

[kodiaksalmon 0]

Here is some of my musky flys. Ive caught 10 this yr and lost 2x that. They cast great well on then right gear. In my oppinion putting hard wear on a fly makes it a spinner bait or a a cowgirl (inline spinner). ya might as well thow em on a baitcaster. Each to his own

 

 

Nice flies. I like their colors and profiles.

 

As for "hard wear" I get that alot, though it's usually from trout guys that only cast upstream. But as I see it, (and in my defense) comparing my flies to a DCG just because they both have blades is like comparing a muskie to a bluefish because they both have teeth. I don't fish these even remotely the same way you'd fish a DCG. These swim more like a cross between a 10" Phantom and a mag Dawg. And the blade doesn't spin like on a DCG. It's more of a flutter on each strip and on the fall...just extra "thump" and extra flash, which for me have always helped with muskie, especially in the big water I fish. And not that I'm into records, but mine are flies by IGFA standards, and for the last 12+ years that I've gotten away from trout and dries and have been tying huge flies, that's where I've always drawn my line- no scent, no live bait attached, no trebles, and casted and carried by the fly line, rather than casting the fly itself...and as such, you couldn't cast my flies on a baitcaster, so I personally think that assertion isn't accurate. They actually weigh less than a fly with I-Balz or large hourglass eyes and don't even sink on their own. But if any type of "hard wear", beit blades, rattles, or diving lips disqualifies it as a fly, then I guess I'm not been a fly fisherman for many, many years.

[Arkman 0]

I'm more with you Kodiak. I think one could argue both ways for hours on end and not get anywhere. In my opinion is it a fly? I don't care. Does it make you less of a "Fly Fisherman"? Who gives a rip. Is it fun as hell? That's all that matters to me.

 

On a side note. How do you think the blade affects the castability? I could see that the blade would offer more resistance during the cast. That would be the one reason for me to avoid it...at least for now. I'm not the best at casting the giant wet sock type flies.

[kodiaksalmon 0]

 

 

Any tips on tippet materials, knots would be much appreciated.

 

 

I'll diverge again from "mainstream" muskie fly fishing and I use 100# flour for my leaders vs titanium or knottable steel. I've been down that road and between the failures I had and the headaches I fought with, I switched to FC. I used to tie my own and did up until this year when I started having John Bette at Stealth tackle custom make them for me. Depending on what line I'm using and how I'm fishing, I'll use either a 14" on a clear line and a 30" or sometimes a 36" on a "dark" sinking line. They work great for me, don't foul, don't kink and contrary to often popular belief, I get plenty of action on heavy FC and a snap and I don't mess with knots anymore.

 

Get ahold of John and tell him Jeff sent you for fly leaders. He'll tie up whatever you like and he'll be at the muskie shows this winter if you'd like to talk to him.

 

www.stealthtackle.net

 

He's not a fly fisherman himself, but I'll be in his booth in Ohio and MI if you'd like to see some flies and how the leaders work.

[kodiaksalmon 0]

I'm more with you Kodiak. I think one could argue both ways for hours on end and not get anywhere. In my opinion is it a fly? I don't care. Does it make you less of a "Fly Fisherman"? Who gives a rip. Is it fun as hell? That's all that matters to me.

 

On a side note. How do you think the blade affects the castability? I could see that the blade would offer more resistance during the cast. That would be the one reason for me to avoid it...at least for now. I'm not the best at casting the giant wet sock type flies.

 

Not a problem at all. I don't think it's an argument, so much as it's just a preference. If people don't want to use blades and lips, that's cool. I don't like using strike indicators, droppers or ESL's, but I consider all of those still fly fishing. I just "defend" myself when it's asserted that my flies aren't flis. But I open myself up to that by posting pics, which is why I often don't. Like I say, I abide by IGFA standards and definitions when it comes to fly design and couple that with AK regs that state a fly is "a lure constructed by means commonly recognized as "fly tying." That (in my opinion) separates my flies from DCG's, spinnerbaits, Heli-Dawgs, etc.

 

As for casting the blades, they cast fine. I've experimented with prop style and even buzz-bait style blades and they do pick up a lot of resistance in the air, but the Colorado blades I use lay down against the fly very nicely and you don't feel them in the air. The flies are predominantly hackle and yak, or all Flashabou and as such, don't hold much water and they lay down to next to nothing (wet) in the air and then blow up in the water. They cast well. I'd consider myself a better than average, and pretty aggressive caster (meaning huge double hauls, super heavy lines and super short heads I make myself) but they cast well enough that any decent caster could move them on proper gear.