Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022 - 25

and rise jerkbaits, crankbaits, and plastics. I sweep
these lure styles forward with crossbody pulls
rather than downward snaps. The additional
length improves figure-eights and allows the rod
to flex better to secure hooked Muskellunge.
Rod power varies by manufacturer, but there
are basic guidelines. Medium-heavy power rods
toss lightweight lures when downsizing. Heavy
and extra-heavy power rods handle standard lures
(6- to 8-inch, 2- to 5-ounce lures). Heavyweight
lures like plastics and high-resistance lures like big
crankbaits and bucktails require stout extra-heavy
or extra-extra-heavy power rods.
Reels: slow, medium, fast
All but one of my Muskellunge reels are
400-size baitcasters. In simplest form, reels with
low gear ratios (4:1 or 5:1) are the slowest yet most
powerful. Conversely, higher gear ratio reels (6:1
or 7:1) recover more line but often compromise
the ability to retrieve hard-pulling baits.
In Muskellunge fishing, a major consideration
is lure resistance (and subsequent fatigue) from
hard-pulling lures.
My large bucktail reel is a 500-size baitcaster.
Besides gear ratio, the size of the reel spool affects
the amount of line recovered, measured as inches
per turn (IPT). The larger reel allows a lower gear
ratio (4.9:1) for the power, while maintaining a
line recovery rate of high-speed reels (30 IPT).
Gear ratio and IPT work together to precisely
dial in lure speeds. When crawling surface baits
after dark, I look for reels with 22 IPT. I prefer
mid-speed reels-25 to 27 IPT-for gliding
jerkbaits. Many anglers like 30 IPT, but I find
faster reels hinder lure cadence. I move to faster
reels with plastics and dive and rise jerkbaits.
Remember, longer rods, necessitate faster reels,
and 30 IPT is about right. To get the lure moving
at blazing speeds for " burning " retrieves, 40 IPT is
the answer.
Line and leader
No need to overthink line selection. Braided
lines are the rule, and 80-pound covers nearly
every application. Downsizing calls for 40-, 50- or
65-pound line, depending on lure size and weight.
I use 150-pound fluorocarbon leaders for most
applications. Some side-to-side lures perform
better with solid wire leaders. I pair standard
Muskellunge lures with 174-pound wire. When
downsizing (lures smaller than 6 inches), I choose
124-pound leader. My leaders come pre-tied from
the manufacturer.
Anglers don't need all of this gear to catch
Muskellunge. But, with growing popularity, the
knowledge and specialization helps.
I use 7-foot, 6-inch and 9-foot, 6-inch rods. The six baitcasting outfits
pictured above cover most casting applications.
Retrieve speed and angler fatigue should be considered when selecting
a reel. The model 400 (left-5.8:1 gear ratio, 30 IPT) recovers a hardpulling
lure easier than the 400HG (right-7.6:1, 40 IPT). However,
the 400HG retrieves lighter lures faster.
September/October 2022
25
photos-Braden Eisenhower
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - September/October 2022

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