Image Via: Chris Huskilson
Image Via: Chris Huskilson

Secret strategy revealed: 3 light-tackle techniques for monster muskies

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Chris Huskilson
Chris Huskilson

#3 Spybaiting

Spybaiting is an ultra-finesse technique that, much like the drop-shot, is typically used to target other species. But much like the drop-shot, it also produces a lot of muskies for me. And as effective as the drop-shot rig is, it pales in comparison to the subtle yet deadly action of a spybait. Since this is not your usual muskie technique, however, finding muskie-sized spybaits at first proved difficult. Luckily, I discovered what is currently the fishing industry’s sole manufacturer of muskie-sized spybaits (above)—Chaska, Minnesota’s Kodiak Baitworks. (You can contact Kodiak Baitworks via facebook at www.facebook.com/kodiakbaitworks.)

For a spybait to work properly, you need to tie your 20- to 30-pound fluorocarbon leader directly to the main line. I use an Albright knot, which I use as the connection knot for every leader I tie; I’ve found it to be most reliable. Plus, the Albright is very small and easily flows through the guides when I choose to run an extra-long leader. I generally use an 18- to 20-inch leader, but will go longer in gin-clear water to maximize the realism of my presentation. Note that if the leader is too heavy, the bait will roll over during the retrieve and lose its natural action.

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For this finesse technique, a spinning combo is an absolute; I use the exact same set-up as I use for drop-shotting for muskies. I like to make long-bomb casts over deep basins, counting the bait down to the depth I’ve detected forage on my graph. Then a slow and steady retrieve is all it takes to elicit a strike. The bait may appear to be doing very little, but its tiny propeller blades churn up a lot of water, which muskies can easily detect. They can hear it, see it and detect it with their lateral line—and I can’t keep them off it.

When a muskie does hit the spybait, it’s often a subtle take, feeling as if the lure has run into a clump of weeds, with a solid weight suddenly on the end of the line. Then a simple flick of the wrist followed by a sweeping hookset is more than enough for the lighter-gauge hooks to penetrate the fish’s mouth. And the same rules apply when reeling the fish in as they do with the drop-shot. Simply maintain good, solid pressure and allow the medium-heavy rod and spinning reel’s drag to absorb the high-impact headshakes, jumps and runs.

Fishing deep isn’t the only productive approach—I’ll fish anywhere with a spybait. Sure, 90 per cent of the bigger muskies will be taken in or directly adjacent to the deeper sections of a waterbody. But if I can’t catch them deep, I’ll gradually go shallower until I start to contact fish. The only thing I’ll change is my retrieve speed, reeling in faster to avoid hanging up on cover. Indeed, spybaiting is extremely versatile when it comes to muskies.

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Considered a finesse bait demanding a slow retrieve when targeting other species, spybaits can be fished at any level of the water column for muskies. And they can be slow-rolled, or reeled in with a steady or moderately fast retrieve—just take care that at no point the bait starts to roll over. Best of all, spybaiting excels all season long. It’s a sleeper technique that, I believe, will take hold on the muskie scene in the very near future. And you read it here first.

When not hunting muskies, Chris Huskilson competes in bass tournaments across Ontario.

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