Muskie fishing help...

workcanwait....
Last year I caught my first muskie landed a few while visiting a friend in eastern PA.
Tried fishing Woodcock for them last summer a handful of times produced a few lil ones(20 inches).
Been trying French Creek and landed my 1st muskie out of there last week 32 in and had a lot of follows from bigger fish which just got me more interested.
I respect the wisdom present here and was wondering if anyone wanted to give me some advice.
I live in Edinboro area and have researched a lot online as far as where to go not really asking for anyones hot spots looking more for advice on which conditions are best and techniques used.
I been just tossing stickbaits(ALL my success so far has come from same lure) and spinners.
Any help would be appreciated feel free to PM me...WCW

 If you live in Edinboro, you are missing one heck of a good musky fishery. I like overcast windy days, lower light conditions, using the same lures you speak of. Also, speed......I like to keep the lure moving pretty fast, but sometimes the fish have to tell you what they want. If you miss a bunch at the boat, or have followers that side out on you, maybe time to change your presentation.
 
Some guys swear by figure 8's, but I have never had much luck.
 
Also, don't be afraid of big shiners and/or chubs, Expecially for French creek.

You'd be suprised at what will hit a size 5 mepps this time of year ;)

What should I be using as leader Steel or heavy floro...WCW
 
 

The fish do not care what boat your fishing out of, your gear well its better to have the proper gear but is doable with heavy bass gear. Good gear will make musky fishing easier (a big cat fish rod doesnt count as a musky rod), release tools are a must. 
 
Be warned to get set up correctly with a good basic setup, including tools, baits, box, rod, reel, line... ready to fish and not feel lacking you would have about $800-$1000 in the setup. It isnt a cheap fish to target if your going to do it with gear designed to do it.
 
I know people will say "well i use this bass bait and use that cheap rod/reel, you dont need all that stuff...."  all i can say is yes that can work, but you would be outfished 99 days out of 100 using musky gear, compaired to settleing for cheap stuff
 
WCW my avatar is a musky i caught in Edinboro for what that is worth

Thanks for all the replies keep em coming...
The bead is a great idea.
I have a nice long pair of pliers and a long handled salmon net.
Going to pick up a spreader for mouth...anything else you guys using to unhook them.
I do know fish and how to revive and release.
I am stuck with heavy bass gear now but probably will buy new rod and reel if fever gets any worse.
 
Got a 33 in Pike today that made my day...
 
Thanks again...WCW

What type of gloves?
Bear with me its a new world to me and the one thing I knew from the start is handling a big one would be a challenge would like to be prepared really do not want to harm fish or myself.
WCW
 

Any type of a tight fitting work glove will do. Good luck and if I can ever help you out just ask.
Tim

D-nymph
Whatever you do, just don't ever use those boga grips.  They break jaws.  If anyone feels they need a boga grip because you are too scared to unhook & release a musky, take up some other sport, please.  Bogas are for fish that go into the cooler.

That is simply not true. The Boga grip does not break jaws the tool can freely spin, so when the fish rolls the tool also rotates. you have lumped in cheaper knock offs in calling them Boga grips. The cheaper knocks do not spin and will break jaws.

For the average angler they can not justify the cost of a real boga. For the hard core musky guys who catch more than a few muskies a year it is an valuable tool that gets used to protect the fisherman and the fish believe it or not.

It's a tool.

I am including a link below, it's a podcast that can be streamed on your computer, phone or subscribed to and downloaded. I bet if you listen the the episode I linked in you would change your opinion.

http://musky-talk.madewit...sode-1-the-boga-grip/#

post spawn stress.  or jaundice.  

sir.  children read this forum. 

I remember a big outcry regarding Bass being held by the bottom jaw and parallel to the water for picture opts.  A that time it was said holding the fish vertical was by far the best position because it creates less stress on the fish being out of it's weightless environment.  That was the consensus from the Pros. and stemmed from the picture opts. taken during bass tournaments as well as fishing shows.  Touching the fish was also of concern in that the fishes slime layer would be disturbed, allowing for bacteria attack.
 
Given the fact that most people do not fish for Musky but do catch the fish, may not have a net, cradle or, know how to properly lift the fish without damaging the gills I'd say a Boga Grip (if available) gives the fish much less chance of being harmed.  
 
Good grief, people still carry gaffs to boat these majestic fish and still place scale hooks under their gill plates just to see what they weigh.  
 
Cut the line you say, yeah right, not without pictures you can bet and not by non-seasoned anglers catching a fish of a thousand casts and the fish will be going in the boat.
 
Give the fish the best possible means of being returned to the water in a timely manner and without injury.
 
In my book, the Boga Grips are the best possible means to prevent injury to both fish and angler.
 
Thank-you.

BeenThereDoneThat.
I remember a big outcry regarding Bass being held by the bottom jaw and parallel to the water for picture opts.  A that time it was said holding the fish vertical was by far the best position because it creates less stress on the fish being out of it's weightless environment.  That was the consensus from the Pros. and stemmed from the picture opts. taken during bass tournaments as well as fishing shows.  Touching the fish was also of concern in that the fishes slime layer would be disturbed, allowing for bacteria attack.
 
Given the fact that most people do not fish for Musky but do catch the fish, may not have a net, cradle or, know how to properly lift the fish without damaging the gills I'd say a Boga Grip (if available) gives the fish much less chance of being harmed.  
 
Good grief, people still carry gaffs to boat these majestic fish and still place scale hooks under their gill plates just to see what they weigh.  
 
Cut the line you say, yeah right, not without pictures you can bet and not by non-seasoned anglers catching a fish of a thousand casts and the fish will be going in the boat.
 
Give the fish the best possible means of being returned to the water in a timely manner and without injury.
 
In my book, the Boga Grips are the best possible means to prevent injury to both fish and angler.
 
Thank-you.

Nobody carries gaffs in freshwater, don't be ridiculous. 
 
"The best possible means of being returned to the water in a timely manner without injury", as you say, is with single hooked barbless baits/lures/flies and without a boga.

Musky fishing is a blood sport, plain and simple. D-nymph I think you understand what my examples are ment to show. Your right any vertical hold can be damaging. But I do not know any other way to lift a fish into a boat than with some amount of vertical lift.

Have you ever seen a gill plate get ripped out from a hand lift? I have, and have it happen to myself as well with a fish thrashing in the net I'm about to lift. Fish was calm until I got it about half out then head shaked till I dropped it back in net. She swam away but not sure if she made it.

Is the boga perfect, nope nothing is. But if you know how to use it, it's the best method of safely releasing musky for both fish and angler. Education is key to teach people proper way to use a boga.

The only way to protect musky 100% is to not fish for them.