Tools for Battle...
Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at 09:49AM 
While I love fishing for just about anything, many of you are aware that I have a special craving for those toothy critters known as the Mighty Muskellunge! I'm not sure if it is the thrill of the hunt, or the unbelievable excitement when they attack, but it is a fish that has changed my life forever. With that being said, one of the most frequently asked questions that I get is, what kind of equipment do you need to catch one?
I often answer with the simple response of "The biggest and heaviest stuff they make!" While that might sound kinda foolish, I am not exaggerating one bit. When I first started fishing muskies years ago, I remember fishing for a whole summer, and when I finally had that first fish on, I lost it from having a bad leader on my line. It literally snapped my wire leader in half. The feeling that I got after all that effort just made me sick to my stomach, and since that day, I have vowed to never let that happen again. Muskies aren't a fish to take lightly, and chincing on any of the tackle is not acceptable. They seem to find a way through your weaknesses, and leave you sleepless for nights reliving every moment of the loss.
So here's the shake down on what I do to prepare myself for battle. Starting with the rod and reel. The first and most important part is the reel you choose. I recommend a Calcutta 400. I'm not sponsored by them or anything, but I just have found Shimano as the number one brand of reels. They cost more, but you have a great reel that will withstand the thousands of casts you make. I have burnt up numerous other reels in no time, so that's where its at period! The Rod is simple. Find something heavy duty, the longer the better (even 8+ feet). The key is finding something very light. Your arm will fall off if you are throwing a ten pound 2 X 4 all day. I have found some great rods for about $60 - $70 at Gander Mountain.
Once you have the rod and reel combo, you need some line. As a wise man once told me, "the only thing between you and that fish, is that line." Don't slack here either, or you will be staring at the ceiling in your bed wondering what you almost had. I use 80lb Power Pro. This stuff has been great for me over the years. It never breaks, and lasts a long time. The leader is the last point of contact with you and the fish, I go heavy duty here as well with 100 + pound leaders and heavy duty ball bearing swivels.
That will get you on the water with the right equipment, the next part is picking through the thousands of lures to find the ones that really work the best. Since I could spend days on that one, I will just have to wait for another time to elaborate. As always, feel free to ask me any questions about this topic, cuz I love every second of muskie talk. Good luck, Catch a big one, Let it go, then send me a picture!
Travis Frank - Livin The Dream!
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