The 3 essential baits every muskie angler needs—and how to fish ’em

When it comes describing lures, it’s almost as though muskie anglers speak a different language. If you’re new to muskie fishing—heck, even if you’ve been at it for years—you’re bound to be confused after discussing bait choices with a seasoned muskie hunter. Take my beloved and battered 40-year-old Grandma bait, for example. At 10 inches in length, it’s just an overgrown jerkbait, right? Not to most muskie anglers, especially the trollers—they would call it a crankbait. When they refer to jerkbaits, it’s likely they’re instead talking about a dive-and-rise lure, glide bait or twitch bait. And knowing the differences among those three essential baits—and how to fish them—will make you an all-round better muskie angler…