Arrowhead Chapter #48
Contact us at
Arrowhead Chapter #48
PO Box 603
Tower, MN 55790
email
Arrowhead Chapter #48
There's no better way to educate yourself when it comes to muskie fishing than fishing with an expeirenced muskie angler, that's why we encourage all anglers to join the Arrowhead Chapter #48 of Muskies inc. We have a number of members who have a vast knowledge about this great sport and they're very easy to approach and willing to share their expriences.
For most folks who are just getting into muskie fishing the first questions you will have is about equipment;
What rod and reel should I use;
We would suggest a medium heavy or heavy action rod in a 6'6" to 8'
length. There are many rod manufactures out there and a price range
to fit everybodies budget. The length of the rod you choose will
depend on a few different elements, how tall you are and the
boat you fish out of. Once you become more experienced you'll
want different rods for different lures but that's something
you'll pick up on later in your muskie fishing career.
If you're in the market for a new reel you can't go wrong with the
Abu Garcia Ambassaduer C-3 6500 it's an all around reel that
will work with most lures out there. As time goes by you find
yourself with a number of different reels for different applications
but for starters the C-3 6500 is a good choice.
Fishing line is another important part of your equipment, I don't know how many times I've found expensive lures lying on the bottom of the lake tied to a cheap plastic coated leader and 8lb test monofilament line. Please spool your reels with the proper line, these big fish can't survive when they break your line and have their mouths pinned shut by the hooks. Most experienced Muskie anglers that I know use at least 80 lb test Braided line, there are many reasons why.Power pro is a good line but there are many different manufactors out there that produce similar line, it's all personal preference. The leader you choose is also a major component that you need to consider. There are many different leaders on the market today, they can cost just a few dollars to over ten dollars a piece. The single wire leader made by Windels is a good place to start, it comes with heavy duty ball bearing swivel and a heavy duty snap, the wire itself is 150 lbs test and very rock resistant which is a good thing on Lake Vermilion. These big fish will find your week link so use Quality components and don't loose the fish of a life time to a cheap plastic coated pike leader.
For most Muskie anglers selecting lures is a problem. The problem is, we all have way to many lures and we're always buying more. So have fun selecting your favorite lures.
Most Muskie anglers have large nets, they're used as a holding pen for the fish while your unhooking them. Please make sure you have a large coated , knotless Muskie net like a Beckman Fin Saver or Frabil aboard, it's for your safety and the fish. Remember never bring a muskie into your boat and lay it on the floor. It's probably the worse thing you could do to a fish. It's very important to treat these big fish with care especially in warm water conditions, try and keep the "out of water time" to a minumum.
Release tools are a very important part of your muskie fishing equipment, every year I find myself lending my pliers to an angler who isn't properly equipped to release a big fish,but yet they have this monster boat side, in a net that's to small and the fish has a bad attitude and a face full
of hooks. That is a senario that is played out numerous times
throughout the summer, because some folks don't take the
time to properly equip themselves.You should have a good pair
of needle knose pliers, Large fish mouth spreaders and quality
mini bolt cutters so you can cut hooks when neccessary.
Please don't buy the cheap version, you'll only have problems
when you need them the most. A Baker hook remover or similar
item is a good tool to have on board too. You can never have
enough tools so plan on buyingmultiples of each, you'll be glad
you did.
Handling and Photographing a Fish
• Keep fish in the water as much as possible to minimize air exposure.
• Never place your fingers through gills or in the eyes.
• Don’t hold heavy fish by the jaw (verticle hold) as this may damage the jaw and vertebrae.
• Hold large fish horizontally and support its body to avoid damage to the internal organs.
• Use wet hands or wet cloth gloves to handle the fish.
• Have camera ready prior to landing fish to minimize out of water exposure.
• If possible, photograph the fish while in water.
Warm Water & Muskies
During midsummer, July through mid August water temps on Lake Vermilion and other Minnesota muskie lakes can reach into the high 70's to low 80's. With temps
this high muskies are subject to high rates of delayed mortality
due to angler stress. When the water is this warm reduce stress
factors by reducing fight time, not fishing during the warmest
part of the day when the water is at it's highest temp, pratice
water release and handling only, and photograph the fish in the
water if a picture is needed. A goodway to think of this is to
picture yourself as a marathon runner. When it's really hot out
you become exhausted quicker and can not hold your breath
very long. It's no different for a muskie under warm water
conditions. They become exhausted during the fight and if they
are brought out of the water where they cannot breath it doesn't
take long for them to experienceproblems. Help us conserve
this great resource for the future.
Taxidermy
If you catch a trophy sized fish, instead of keeping it to get mounted, consider releasing it and getting a fiberglass reproduction instead. Several taxidermists do these and their quality is absolutely stunning. All you need is alengh and girth measurement and some photos of the fish. You will get a special feeling of releasing a trophy that can be caught again by you or other anglers and your fiberglass reproduction will last indefinitely for you enjoy over and over again. Muskies are too valuable to be caught just once.
If you enjoy fishing for muskies and are not a member of Muskies inc. and would like to become a member, please click on the tab below and fill out a membership application, don't forget to mark down chapter #48
Muskies Inc.
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