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This article will provide you with essential information about Muskie, a fascinating fish that many anglers seek to catch.
When muskie fever takes maintain, any boat that will get you out there may be the one. My first boat was a budget-friendly mashup with the boat, motor, and trailer all coming from totally different sources. The 16-foot, no-frills tinner was featureless. Casting meant balancing on one of many three bench seats and trolling meant one hand was at all times working the tiller. It had no rod holders, flat flooring, storage compartments, or different goodies.
However that was no drawback. It obtained me the place I wanted to go, and noticed loads of muskies come aboard.
My subsequent boat, a well-equipped 18-foot tiller with a 90-hp motor, felt like a huge leap ahead. It had casting decks, pedestal seats, a trolling motor, rod holders, storage compartments, and room. All of this added as much as elevated vary and fishability. I spent many nice years fishing within the huge tiller earlier than upgrading to my present boat, a 20-foot plus Lund with a console and a 200-hp motor.
Dream huge
With regards to muskie fishing, all the pieces is outsized and the perfect muskie boat displays this. Massive nets, lengthy rods, and large deal with bins all take up area. Add two or three anglers, further gear, coolers and so on. and ground area and storage compartments replenish quick. Boats within the 18- to 22-foot vary present the area wanted to haul gear and folks.
Even huge boats can really feel small when rigged for muskie. Two anglers are supreme, with one within the bow and one within the stern. This leaves a number of area for casting and figure-8s. With three anglers, casting area is tighter however manageable. 4 isn’t enjoyable, even in a 20-foot boat.
Console? Tiller?
Tiller, single-side console, double console, centre console or full windshield are all viable choices.
There’s no good boat for all situations, every has execs and cons.
Over my years of guiding, I’ve fished in each possible model and dimension of boat. In the end, my alternative of a full windshield boat comes all the way down to the incontrovertible fact that I fish from ice out till ice in and make huge runs on an enormous lake. The windshield offers comfort, particularly late within the season when the climate turns chilly. The draw back to a full windshield is simply that it takes up area.
In a dream world I’d run a 20-foot tiller within the summer season, and a 20-foot plus full windshield boat within the fall. One of the best of each worlds — broad open, unobstructed area within the tiller and the comforts of an enormous windshield boat.
Practical compromises that work for lots of muskie anglers are single side-console and double-console rigs. These layouts take up much less area than a full windshield, whereas nonetheless providing some professionaltection from the weather. Additionally, tiller life isn’t for everybody and boats with steering wheels are an enormous professional for a lot of anglers.
To not be forgotten within the console boat class are bass boats. I’ve fished many days for muskie in bass boats and there are some distinct benefits. First is how shut you might be to the water, permitting for very simple figure-8s. The wide-open format and most deck area are perfect for casting.
Rig it out
A totally functioning muskie boat wouldn’t be complete with out electronics. Price range dictates dimension and variety of items. I run one 12-inch unit on the helm and a 10-inch unit on the rear casting deck, the place I fish from.
A bow mount trolling motor is a should. Palms-free management whereas casting to construction will end in extra fish within the boat. Scale the voltage and thrust of the motor to the scale of your boat. Onboard chargers make simple work of battery charging and upkeep.
Including a kicker motor retains hours off the principle motor when trolling.
Even the smallest budgets and boats can get you on the water chasing muskie.
In the end, get the largest boat you may with a layout that fits your model. Odds are your first muskie boat received’t be your final.
Initially revealed within the August 2023 situation of Ontario OUT of DOORS
To learn extra on muskie, click on right here
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