Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2020 - 10
Soft Baits
for Muskellunge
and Northern Pike
by Braden Eisenhower
photos by the author
Times change. New trends emerge. Oversized crankbaits
and spoons were once the prototypical lures when seeking
toothy fish. Anglers today rely less on hard baits, choosing
instead one of the many soft plastic options. Although
crankbaits, spoons, and similar options remain effective
fish-catchers, there is no denying Muskellunge and
Northern Pike sink their teeth into soft baits.
Soft baits then and now
Soft baits are trendy, but soft baits are not new. In fact, they
date back to the 1960s, when a group of midwestern anglers
developed specialized jigs and modified existing soft plastic
trailers, creating what later became known as "creatures."
"Creature" jigging is still practiced in small circles, though
the fishing style is now loosely presented with skirted swim
jigs and shad-bodied trailers. Soft baits have since grown to
create an expansive category. Popular choices include curly
tail pull baits, paddle tail swimbaits, and tubes.
Rather than adding the plastic body to a single jig hook,
most are molded around an internal wire harness. The
10
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater * September/October 2020
harness adds rigidity to the lure and fashions hook hangers
for one or two treble hooks. Lure action is dictated by the
position of the line tie and internal weights on the harness,
as well as the lure's shape and profile.
Soft baits vary in size to represent forage options
from small shad and Bluegills to gamefish like perch and
Walleyes. Some weigh less than 1 ounce and fit comfortably
in the palm of your hand. Of course, the quintessential
Muskellunge and Northern Pike plastics weigh nearly 1
pound, measuring around 20 inches with the tail extended.
Seasonal strategies
Seasonal conditions provide the baseline for
Muskellunge and Northern Pike location and soft plastic
presentation styles. Further adjustments can be made to
control short-term mood changes, which are largely the
consequence of weather patterns.
Spring/early summer
Post-spawn spring Muskellunge and Northern Pike are
often difficult to catch. Traditional lures seem to produce
minimal results during this time, but bass anglers report
frequent incidental run-ins on smaller baits. Downsizing
plastics and presenting soft baits with slow jigging
movements or subtle straight retrieve produces best results.
www.fishandboat.com
http://www.fishandboat.com
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2020
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2020
Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2020 - Cover1
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2020 - Cover2
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2020 - Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2020 - 4
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2020 - 9
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2020 - 10
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2020 - 11
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2020 - 12
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2020 - Cover3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2020 - Cover4
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