Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 24
TACKLING
MUSKELLUNGE
photo-James Swearingen
by Braden Eisenhower
W
24
ith the rapid advancement of Muskellunge fishing
tackle, my affliction began during the " big bait
craze " in the late 2000s. Many rods and reels
of the era were undermatched for the trend in outsized
lures. But, rods got longer and carried various powers and
actions-more refined for technique-specific applications.
Reels became faster or more powerful and sometimes both.
The modern Muskellunge angler ditched the " pool
cues " of the past and armed themselves with specialized
equipment capable of completing desired retrieves,
executing perfect figure-eights at boatside, and delivering
solid hooksets.
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater
Rods: long versus short
I use 7-foot, 6-inch and 9-foot, 6-inch rods. Short rods
work best whenever downward snaps of the rod manipulate
the bait. I feel in control of every movement with 7- to 8-foot
rods when walking topwater lures or twitching side-to-side
(gliding) jerkbaits. Here, longer rods are too cumbersome.
Long rods (9-foot and longer) prevail with straightmoving
baits, namely bucktails. With straight retrieves,
Muskellunge are apt to follow and pounce once the lure
makes the first directional change, usually at boatside
during the figure-eight maneuver. Success in the
figure-eight hinges on the ability to execute large, fluid
movements that keep the lure in front of the fish. Long
rods work best.
An 8-foot, 6-inch rod is suitable as a general purpose
rod. Then again, these rods also fill a valuable niche for dive
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - Cover1
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - Cover2
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 4
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 5
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Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - Cover4
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