We are going to start talking about very specific tools to target different species of fish. In this blog the talk will be about Muskie Rods.

The muskie is one of if not the largest fresh water predator in waters of the United States. Some say a fish of 10,000 casts. A most humbling fish to target, you will see them, they follow lures, then swim away at the last minute only to turn on a dime and attack the bait. The strike will send chills up your spine for sure.

Due to the size and power of this fish, the strain on equipment, make muskie fishing like no other. It absolutely requires special rods, reels and lures. Generally, the rod should be between 7'6" and 8' in length, medium heavy to heavy action and power. The rod must be designed to handle mean toothy fish up to 50 pounds or more. A walleye or bass rod will not fit the bill at all. There definitely is a trend to use longer fast action heavy powered rods up to 9' - 10' long. Custom handle length is also an issue with ardent fisherman.

Muskie fishing regulations can be found in 32 states in the US and 4 provinces in Canada. Groups such as Muskies, Inc. have been instrumental in maintaining and improving the sport of muskie fishing across its range. MI originated and pioneered the catch and release concept so common in many species today. Muskies often experience difficulty reproducing successfully. Stocking efforts and programs are active in 37 of the lower 48 states. The primary range lies in the Canadian Shield lakes, Minnesota, Wisconsin and down into the Ohio basin.

Heavy duty rods are the only way to successfully land a big fish without damage to the equipment or injuring the fish. Manufacturers have developed technique specific rods for these monster fish. The custom builders have taken the blank materials and continue to build even stronger and better fish fighting tools using tried and true techniques to match the power of these beautiful creatures. The spiral wrap discussed earlier is a technique now being employed by custom builders to help make better muskie rods. Each muskie fisherman has his/her own story to tell and want/needs in a fishing rod for this species.