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

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#3  TWITCH BAITS

Usually featuring a plastic lip, twitch baits are the muskie lures that most resemble bass-style jerkbaits. You simply jerk them down with your rod tip on slack line, causing them to dart erratically. The Shallow Invader (pictured) from Musky Innovations is probably the most famous twitch bait.

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Even though twitch baits often look identical to crankbaits, it’s worth noting there’s a big difference—the angler must impart the action on a twitch bait, while a crank will look after itself. Knowing that helps explain why muskie anglers may sometimes refer to the same lure by different names, depending on how they present it. If they cast out a Grandma bait and just reel it in, for example, they’ll call it a crankbait. But if they rip it down, then work it erratically, they’ll say it’s a twitch bait.