Muskies are rambunctious, aggressive fish. As a result, they are ferocious and a lot of fun to catch. However, you won’t catch many unless you have a great lure to entice them.
Catching Muskies is one of the industry’s fastest-growing sports. As a result, the market has become oversaturated with various baits and gimmicks. The best Muskie fishing lures are those that can catch fish all year in a variety of water conditions.
They are designed specifically for catching this species of fish. Because they have rows and rows of razor-sharp teeth, standard tackle usually won’t cut it. The most common options are extensive, durable, and take up a lot of space in a traditional tackle box.
These baits behave differently than other types of lures. The fish of 10,000 casts enjoys picking and choosing. The baits are elusive and designed to elicit strikes. They are challenging to catch, but having the right baits on hand can help you catch them more frequently.
There are a plethora of them as well. There are hundreds of options. How do you go about choosing the right one? It never hurts to stick with the ones that have proven to be effective for many anglers. They are dependable and continue to work regularly.
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What are Muskies?
The muskellunge, also known as the muskie, is one of North America’s most sought-after fish. Here are the lures you’ll need to get one on your line.
The muskie, the most prominent member of the pike family, is one of the most beautiful freshwater fish in the Americas and one of the most rewarding to catch.
These water monsters can found in the northern and northeastern regions of the United States and across the border in Canada. They are something of a destination fish for many anglers. There are many methods for catching muskies, ranging from topwater lures to jigs that dance beneath the surface.
Whether you live in the muskie region and want to try a new sport, or you’re planning for a fishing trip to the north, consider stocking your tackle box with these best muskie fishing lures.
Here are the 7 Best Fishing Lures to Use in your Muskie Fishing
A good musky lure presentation can mean the difference between a big bite and a follow-up. As a result, you don’t want to spend all your time and effort casting subpar lures. Here is our pick of the best musky lures and northern pike fishing baits on the market right now.
1. Magnum Musky Killer Bucktail
The adage “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” describes why the Mepps Magnum Musky Killer Bucktail will always be at the top of our list of best muskie baits.
Anglers have used bucktails to catch muskies for nearly as long as these fish have been targeted in the first place. It’s the ideal muskie lure for the summer months, and these lures have been responsible for a plethora of trophy fish.
Its simple design and wide range of colours make it an ideal choice for both novice and experienced anglers. If you get hooked on muskie fishing, you can make bucktails, which adds a fun and personal touch to the fishing experience.
Advantages:
- Time-proven
- Simple to catch
- Available in various colours and sizes
Disadvantages:
- Not ideal for weed fishing.
2. Whopper Plopper
The Whopper Plopper is, without a doubt, one of the best topwater lures on the market and is an excellent choice for catching trophy muskies. The Whopper Plopper earns its keep as a topwater lure by swirling and splashing its tail as you reel it back. This fish imitates a dying one on the surface, attracting monsters from the deep searching for a quick and easy meal.
You’ll get the most out of your Whopper Plopper in the summer and on calm mornings or evenings when the splashing action is at its most potent. It’s an excellent intermediate lure because anglers can experiment with speed and consistency while bringing it back to the boat.
Advantages:
- Casting is simple.
- Retrieval that is enjoyable and playful
- Reasonably priced (with even cheaper knockoff brands)
Disadvantage:
- The tail’s durability
3. Musky Mania Jake Crankbait
Crankbaits are traditional muskie baits, and the Musky Mania is no exception. Jake Crankbait has long been regarded as a pioneer in this field. The motion of this lure, when reeled back to the boat, is unrivalled. It has a flash, shake, and wobble that all work together to create the illusion of a dying fish, a hungry muskie’s dream!
The Jake Crankbait is an excellent choice for beginning anglers due to its natural water movement. It does the majority of the work for you!
Advantages:
- A movement that is both simple and realistic
- Excellent lure for deep weeds.
- Time-tested
Disadvantages:
- Triple treble hooks are prone to becoming entangled.
- For inexperienced anglers, triple treble hooks can be difficult to remove.
4. Drifter Tackle Jointed Believer
The jointed believer is a versatile muskie bait that can use in a variety of conditions. Because of its design, Jointed Believer can be fished from 20 feet down to the surface — and everywhere in between.
It can be attached to your leader via one of two eyelets, allowing for shallow trolling or deep dives. If you’re weed fishing, reel in slowly so the bait can skim the surface. If you’re on a dropoff, reel faster to get it to dive.
You can also use it as a crankbait or jerk bait, depending on your preferences. This versatile lure is guaranteed to produce no matter how you fish it!
Advantages:
- Very adaptable
- Excellent lure for beginners who want to practice retrieval techniques.
- There are joined and non-jointed varieties.
Disadvantages:
- At $23 per lure, they’re not cheap.
5. Musky Mayhem Double Cowgirl
While a little pricey, Musky Mayhem’s Double Cowgirl is an excellent beginner lure that also produces fish for experienced anglers, the Double Cowgirl, like the others listed above, does all of the work for you upon retrieval.
Similar to a bucktail, this lure contains two treble hooks and two spinner blades to add vibration to the water. Its nylon fibres are also slightly more robust than bucktail alternatives.
It’s simple in design but does an excellent job of imitating real fish. The Double Cowgirl can be fished efficiently in all conditions and popular among novice and experienced anglers.
Advantages:
- Excellent for beginners.
- Muskie magnet that has stood the test of time
- Long-lasting
Disadvantages:
- More expensive than comparable muskie lures
6. Suick Thriller
The Suick Thriller is commonly considered the first muskie lure, and it has been assisting anglers in catching the big one for nearly a century. The Suick Thriller is the best no-frills lure because it has been around for so long.
You can control the metal tail to change the lure’s action in the water, but these wooden lures are generally jerked baits that require the caster to make the lure look and act like a hurt baitfish.
The Suick, like bucktails, comes in a variety of sizes and colours, allowing experienced anglers to experiment with these variables. It takes some practice and skill to perfect, but you’ll soon see why these old lures are still manufactured today.
Advantages:
- Hooks are simple to install.
- Long-lasting
- Suitable for a wide range of conditions and lake types
- With practice, realistic movement can be achieved.
Disadvantages:
- Not suitable for inexperienced anglers.
7.LiveTarget Field Mouse
The LiveTarget Field Mouse, with its floating, hollow body and fairly realistic mouse appearance, is a compelling, if unusual, lure for pike, muskies, and bass. So, yes, a hungry muskie will enjoy this highly rated lure.
Advantages:
- Snags are avoided with weedless design.
- The floating body can be effective with little skill. The unusual design, in comparison to most lures, may catch wary fish off guard.
Disadvantages:
- Pond scum can accumulate on lures and cause them to sink.
- When struck by a fish, the body and tail can be damaged.
What are the criteria for selecting the best Musky fishing lures?
You can’t just walk into your local tackle shop and grab anything off the shelf and expect to catch a big musky. You should go in with a plan, and you should know what types of lures will give you the best chance of catching a fish.
When selecting a lure to catch muskies, there are numerous factors to consider. Fortunately, you have many options, and you’ll be able to test out different lures to see which one works best for you.
While we’ve heard of people catching muskies with bizarre contraptions, we’d much instead use tried-and-true working lures with which we know we won’t waste a single cast. Muskies are challenging to catch as it is; why make it any more complicated?
There are numerous lures on the market, but some will work better for your situation than others. Let’s take a look at some of the most important factors to consider when purchasing a musky lure.
- Fishing lure size – Muskie are large apex predators, so why bother eating a tiny snack when they can gorge themselves on the entire buffet? If you go out on the water with a small lure on the end of your line, your day will most likely end in disappointment.
With the right musky rod and reel, you’ll be able to cast large lures that will catch the fish’s attention. Given that muskies can feed on fish up to a third of their body length, casting your tiny rooster tail and hoping for the best is a pipe dream.
- Fishing lure depth – Topwater lures or deep divers can be used to catch muskies. They’re highly aggressive, and as such, will attack almost any bait that stirs up in their vicinity. However, it is essential to note that there are times when you should consider topwater and times when you should go a little deeper.
When the summer heat is unbearable, fish tend to dive deeper into the water to stay calm. This is the time to pull out lures that can reach appropriate depths. On the other hand, fish will rise to the water’s surface more during the colder months of the year.
- Water condition – Choosing the right lure for your requirements is critical when looking for a musky trophy. If you like to fish in murky water, you’ll need a bright lure to catch their attention. A shiny metallic that can catch at least a partial glint when the sun shines through is a definite plus.
If you prefer to fish in clear waters, use a more earthy tone to match the local wildlife that musky prey on. Natural and enticing greens, oranges, and tans will be used.
- Action – Your chosen action must be appropriate for the situation. When they are on the bottom, you don’t want to fish topwater. In addition, you should avoid fishing aggressively in cold water. Because there are so many different types of action, it is critical.
It is not a matter of which action is better, but of which one is best for the situation. They all catch fish and work together. One could be more effective than the other.
- Hazards – Muskies prefer to spend their time in the shadows. This means you’ll have to think outside the box when it comes to casting.
When casting around logs and trees, as well as underwater obstructions, you want to make sure your lures are durable and can withstand a little abuse. It’s also a good idea to get a lure that can easily glide through thick weeds. Few things are more aggravating than having to deal with your lure becoming entangled in seaweed while you’re attempting to find the ideal casting location.
- Price of the fishing lures – The final consideration before purchasing 38 tackle boxes of various baits is their cost. Muskie fishing lures are a little pricey. You might have to take the wallet out and spend some money.
While Largemouth Bass fishing equipment costs only $3 to $10, species-specific pike lures start at $10 and can cost much more. If you have a limited income, this is not a hobby you should pursue. If you are, the price must justify the value that you receive.
Read also: What Are The Best Musky Fishing Lures?
Read also: Muskie versus Pike: All You Need to Know
Muskie fishing: Final thoughts
Overall, the best Muskie fishing lures are those that consistently produce fish all year. While they may be more expensive than traditional bass fishing tackle, that doesn’t mean they have to cost an arm and a leg to be successful. They are a tricky species to catch, and the excellent fishing lures only make it easier.
The first critical steps in consistently hooking up have the best lures in the tackle box and finding the fish. Finally, good baits will never compensate for a lack of practice.
Always use a lure that is appropriate for your fishing location and environment. Specific lures perform better in murky water, while others perform better in clear water, and still, others perform better in fast-moving water. So don’t be afraid to alter it to suit your needs. The Mepps Musky Killer Bucktail is an excellent all-around choice for catching big musky!
If you’re serious about catching musky, get yourself one of these. You will not be disappointed in the least.
