You would possibly assume that since muskie lures are costly, that might be a disincentive to purchase them. Properly, let me be the primary let you know that pondering is flawed. I used to be bitten by the muskie bug within the mid Eighties, and ever since have felt compelled to speculate a substantial amount of cash in muskie lures. Many (most?) of them have by no means seen the water. Why this compulsion exists is a thriller to me, however I do know I’m not alone. It’s a half of muskie-fishing tradition. A core a part of its ethos.
My muskie fishing mentor was the late Russ Swerdlyk of Thunder Bay. A schoolteacher by commerce, his sideline was outside writing. Within the mid Eighties, Swerdlyk was a area editor for this advantageous journal and the one muskie angler I had ever met at that level. The primary time I visited Swerdlyk at his house in 1986, we rapidly started speaking muskie fishing. As a full neophyte, discuss of huge fish following to the boat — solely to reject the lure, fascinated me.
“You wish to see my muskie lure field?” Swerdlyk mentioned, with a smile. He already knew the reply.
Moments later, we have been digging by way of his selfmade field, a milk crate with PVC pipe to carry lures. This was within the days earlier than muskie sort out containers have been widespread. In that field have been lures I had solely ever seen in outside magazines or catalogues. Most have been bigger than something I’d ever seen, measuring six inches or extra. There was a floor lure that seemed like a child duck and one other jointed bait referred to as a Tallywhacker that had a prop for a tail.
Swerdlyk mentioned the noise that prop made might “name them in.” Among the lures had break-away hooks, which he defined was good when a hooked muskie jumped and tried to shake the lure. Simply the thought of a four-foot muskellunge on the road was sufficient to make my coronary heart skip, by no means thoughts one which jumped.
Additionally within the field have been quite a lot of bucktail spinners, together with the basic Mepps Muskie Killer and some massive spinner baits. Swerdlyk appeared to have solely one among every lure, apart from one thing he referred to as a “Suick.” There have been a number of of those lengthy, skinny picket baits, in six and eight-inch sizes. I made a particular be aware of this.
The opposite factor I famous in regards to the lures was a normal lack of color. The spinner blades had some color — reds and fluorescent greens, however most lures have been predominantly one shade. When requested about this Swerdlyk responded that muskie fishing follows the Henry Ford idea: “Any color so long as it’s black.” That rule of thumb would stick with me for fairly a couple of years.
Feeding the beast
Shopping for muskie lures quickly grew to become an obsession. In the times earlier than the Web, there have been no on-line retailers, so purchases have been made in particular person or by catalogue. On the time, my hometown of Thunder Bay had no sort out shops that bought muskie lures. You would possibly see the occasional Muskie Killer at Canadian Tire, however that was pretty much as good because it acquired.
Fortunately, there have been retailers within the western a part of the area that catered to American muskie anglers. The one I favored finest was Bobby’s Baits and was positioned proper alongside the freeway within the city of Vermilion Bay, on Eagle Lake.
Strolling into Bobby’s for the primary time was like coming into the Magic Kingdom. The partitions have been filled with lures the like of which I’d by no means seen earlier than. Maintain in thoughts, we’re nonetheless speaking in regards to the Eighties right here, earlier than the muskie fishing growth actually took off. So, the lure selections have been fewer and less complicated. But, for a brand new muskie angler it was Nirvana.
I purchased my first 10-inch Suick there (black, in fact) and a number of other massive Eagle Tail spinners. The Eagle Tail had a black bucktail dressing and the biggest blade I’d ever seen. I purchased a few them, one with a fluorescent crimson blade and the opposite silver. These have been lures prompt by the proprietor — whom I assumed was the Bobby the store was named after.
I additionally purchased some severe muskie leaders made of stable wire. The full on the until was just below $100, which appeared like a fortune to me then. It was actually essentially the most cash this columnist had ever spent on three lures and some leaders at that level. Over time, I’d discover a couple different retailers that had muskie gear, together with some in communities round Lake of the Woods. But it was Bobby’s Baits that acquired the lion’s share of the gross sales again then, and I might all the time get at the very least one or two on the means by way of.
My principal muskie fishing buddy again then, Invoice Friday, of Kenora, began ordering lures through a list within the States. This was pre-Web, and it was everywhere in the cellphone. At one level, Friday started particular ordering customized Believers that had the identical gelcoat end as bass boats. They have been referred to as Spinda Believers and have been 60 bucks a pop US.
Once more, this was 35 years in the past when $60 was massive cash for a lure. I although he was nuts and he agreed, though he caught a number of monster fish on them. Invoice handed away final yr, and I inherited a couple of his huge repertoire of muskie baits. Sadly, all of the Spinda Believers had lengthy since been left on water traces in Lake of the Woods.
My muskie fishing dependancy has calmed in current years. I not often get to fish muskie lately, and after I do, I’ve many choices in my containers.
Nevertheless, it’s nonetheless practically inconceivable to not go look in any respect the beautiful lures after I’m in my hometown sort out retailer, D&R Sporting Items. Sure, even a Thunder Bay-based retailer has muskie lures on the partitions lately. For an almost reformed muskie lure addict, the temptation isn’t distant.
Initially revealed within the June-July 2024 difficulty of Ontario OUT of DOORS
