new to the game

[txnative]

I've finally decided to join what seems to be a group of anglers chasing a frustration-inducing species of fish.  My first question is this: what would be a good rod/reel combo for this time of year ? Key points: i do not want to break the bank (saving some $ for an upcoming saltwater excursion) and i will be fishing artificials.  I am assuming a baitcast combo in the heavy power/fast action rating will fit the bill, but the advice of seasoned muskie vets would be well appreciated.  I will be in a yak, so manageability will also come into play.  Thanks.


Chris

[gaspergou]

Depends entirely on what you want to throw. Okuma is making surprisingly good and moderately cheap conventional muskie rods and reels; St. Croix stuff is excellent, too. A good general purpose rig would be an ~7.5-8' H action with an Abu 5500. Look around for used stuff and you might score some good deals; I just picked up a Calcutta 400 CHEAP from a bass fisherman that thought it was ridiculously big...

I netted a couple fish for bass fishermen that hooked up on muskie on MH last year with light spinning gear. Luckily it didn't end in dead fish. I also ran into a guy who was throwing clousers on what looked to be a 5 or 6wt trout outfit in the hot hole at MH; when asked he claimed he was after muskie. I didn't stick around to see the outcome... If you're going to chuck flies you're going to want at LEAST a 9wt.

[Striperfishin]

 Chris,
I have a 5500C3 I'll sell cheap, but for now you can use it anytime. Matter a fact I can probably outfit several people with all the stuff I have laying around. I also have an older 6600 Black Max and a Pro Max that I need to get rid of. I just need to find the Pro Max.
I have a calcutta 400, curado 300, Daiwa Millionaire, Daiwa SL20SH and several other reels in that class some levelwind and some not that I like a lot. I throw a non level wind reel a lot for big plugs, especially when it is really cold, one less thing to ice up. In saltwater, it is one less thing to burn up or corrode. You don't even realize you don't have a levelwind once you get used to it. I got so used to using a non level wind reel for Calico bass and other stuff throwing swimbaits in the Pacific, it seems weird to have one. Not something you see around here very much but something to consider when looking for a reel for that purpose. When you accidentally hooked a yellow tail, white seabass or big Bonito, you were glad to not have the screaming through any extra mechanical devices that could break.

Bass Pros Offshore angler line has some decent heavy inshore rods that are appropriate for musky, striper and big bass baits. There are lots of economical rods out there though. A good reel is of course the most important thing. Not like your trying to detect a finesse bite when throwing an 8" lure.

Lets go capture, Photograph and release some of those toothy monsters.

Brian

[Bfish]

I too fish from a yak. Just not yet for muskie from a yak.  

If your fishing while sitting down, I would be looking for a shorter rod.  I am not concerned with length but with butt length.  You still need enough to tuck, but for me, an 8' rod's butt is just too dang long to use while sitting down.  Also a short rod will give you more leverage and gives you the ability to sweep the lure yakside (sort of a partial figure 8 ).

Also for a general purpose rod, I think I would be looking for a moderate or moderately fast action rather than fast.  But that will depend on what lures you are throwing.

In addition to the rods mentioned above, I have been eyeing the Shimano muskie rods.  Also BPS and Cabelas have muskie rods starting at $50.

Don't forget to have wire/bolt cutters, a deep net, and a game plan for landing.

[txnative]

Lemme know what you want for the 5500 c3. I have two penn levelmatic 940's i was gonna get rods for, but the abu is a more castable reel. Also, 940's were discontinued in '04, and parts are getting hard to find.  Using a reel for stripers is not like musky fishing. Muskies put more strain on movable parts due to the constant casting. With stripers, i use them primarily on my live-bait rods.  Thanks again.

Bfish, i agree with the shorter rod suggestion. I was thinking 7'. Release plan is as follows: get to shore during the fight to have a more stable platform (the ground) to help prevent injuries to the fish or myself. I don't want to risk unnecessary injury to any fish, especially apex predators like musky & stripers.

[propcheck]

thats a good battle plan tx, handling a musky in open water would be little iffy. they tend to get violent when least expected.