Muskie, the common nickname for the muskellunge (Esox masquinongy), derives its name from the Ojibwe “maashkinoozhe”--meaning “ugly pike.” And that’s not a bad description of this large relative of the pike and pickerel. While edible, and indeed to some people quite delicious, we generally recommend catch and release for reasons we’ll explain below. And to […]
If there’s a freshwater trophy that can excite every angler, it’s a monster muskie. Esox masquinongy gets its name from the Ojibwe “maashkinoozhe”–meaning “ugly pike,” and just one look reveals that these fish are close kin. Relatively uncommon and hard to target precisely, there are things you can do to tip the odds in your […]
Muskie vs Pike: these not-so-gentle giants fire the imagination of anglers. Known for their sharp teeth, voracious appetites, and incredible power, these apex predators are enough to give you a second thought before you take a swim in a northern lake! Close kin that share the genus Esox, E. lucius and E. masquinongy have a […]
Tying crankbaits isn’t exactly rocket science, but it’s something people ask a lot about nonetheless. Which knot is the best for crankbaits? Should you use snaps or just tie directly to the split ring? These choices matter, both in terms of how quickly you can get your lure back in the water as well as […]
Muskies are ornery, aggressive fish. This makes them ferocious and extremely fun to catch. However, you won’t be catching many without a great lure to bait them in. Below, we’ve labeled what we believe are the best musky lures on the market--and we hope the work we did will save you a ton of time […]
When you’re fishing for musky, your gear needs to be heavy duty and up to the task of landing these ferocious fish. The rod is the piece of equipment that takes the most abuse, as it’s used to wrangle the fish in, holding all of their force along the way! Given the importance of the […]
Catching musky is one of the most enjoyable types of fishing you can partake in. Picking the quality reel is essential when fishing for musky. Below, we’ve put together a comprehensive list of the best musky reels we think could be just right for any aspiring or veteran musky anglers. Related: Best Musky Fishing Rod […]
