The primary “rubber” muskie bait I ever purchased (I name it rubber however the right time period is tender plastic) was a Musky Improvements Magnum Bull Dawg, broadly often known as a “Magazine-Dawg.” The hype was properly established and I used to be keen to make use of it. Having heard there’s no incorrect option to fish a Bull Dawg, I experimented with retrieves as I labored the primary spot of the day. I forged to the tip of an beneathwater rock level and started pulling the Dawg again with facet sweeps, adopted by a pause to reel up slack line. Mid-retrieve, I felt weight and set the hook.
The rod loaded and pulsed from heavy head shakes, adopted by the unforgettable sight of a giant muskie clearing the floor, gills flared, and my Bull Dawg pinned within the nook of its mouth. From their introduction in 1993, Bull Dawgs modified the sport of muskie fishing. The final 30 years has seen the market flooded with each conceivable dimension and form of rubber bait.
Tubes, Dawgs, and Medussas
Chaos’s Medussa and massive tubes within the seven-to 12-inch vary are additionally mainstays within the rubber sport. The popular technique of fishing these baits is the pull-and-pause Chaos Medussa approach, for which the phrase rippin’ rubber was coined. Their massive profile and lifelike appendages surge by the water, drawing consideration. The pause gives a simple goal, triggering strikes.
To fish deeper, rely them down or use longer pauses. Shorter, extra fast rips preserve them increased within the column. Rubber may be very versatile when it comes to hurry and depth. Experiment so much.
An unusual, however nonetheless efficient option to fish Dawgs and Medussas is a straight retrieve.
The most important muskie I’ve ever seen ate a pounder-sized Bull Dawg that was being jerk-trolled within the propwash, just below the floor.
The fish wasn’t landed, however I nonetheless name that spot “World Report Reef.”
Swim it
Swimbaits are a class all their very own. Merely put, they appear and swim like fish. With sizes ranging from six to 18 inches, swimbaits get the nod from opener till ice-up.
Notable baits embrace Chaos’s Poseidon, Musky Improvements Swimmin’ Dawg line and Ontario-made Waterwolf Lure’s Shadzilla household. The hole physique design of the Shadzilla offers it further physique transferment and a extra pronounced tail kick.
A shopper of mine introduced the primary magnum-sized Shadzilla I ever noticed. At 12″ and ¾ of a pound, they’re a giant bait. By the tip of the journey, he landed a 50- and a 53-inch muskie on it. There’s not a lot extra to say — large swimbaits work.
I sometimes straight retrieve all my swimbaits, various depth and velocity of retrieval. One exception is the Shallow Bull Dawg, which I rip over, round, and thru weeds in the summertime. This aggressive tactic triggers strikes and has turn out to be a staple for fishing summertime weeds.
Jig it
Bondy baits are one other stand-alone class of muskie lures. Huge, heavy, and streamlined, they’re made for jigging and so they work exceptionally properly.
In case you’re not jigging for muskie, you’re lacking out. Huge tubes additionally work as properly when jigged. Tubes could be rigged gentle to fish shallow or heavy to fish deep. There’s by no means a time within the season after I don’t have a tube able to go. They’re presumably essentially the most versatile muskie lure obtainable.
The attraction of rubber muskie baits is multi-faceted however stays rooted of their massive profile and lifelike motion. As a information and muskie nut, I’m excited to see what 30 extra years of ripping rubber will carry.
A swimbait that appears like a muskie fetch toy. I restore tender plastics in my store by heating a utility knife blade with a blowtorch, then making use of it to the tears to fuse the fabric.
Gown it up
Including blade rigs to rubber baits brings vibration and flash. Hawg Collars are spinnerbait arms that pair properly with swimbaits for each casting and trolling functions. Bull Dozer Blades are an inline blade possibility for the entrance of any kind of rubber. I add a Colorado or willow blade to the tail treble hook of all my tubes.
Keep away from a fouled forged
Smooth baits are likely to foul so much on the forged. A hook will seize the chief or the tail of the bait, and it gained’t run proper. A trick I discovered is to make use of a forged that may greatest be described as a lob. Start by letting out just a few ft of line. Mid-cast, contact the spool along with your thumb to tighten up the road in flight, letting the bait draw back from the chief. If it nonetheless fouls, give some fast pops of the rod with the tip up excessive. Generally it’s sufficient to free the chief from the hook so your forged isn’t wasted.
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