Muskies & Northern Pike

[hunting170]

Anyone on here have any tips/suggestions for fishing in the International Falls, MN area? It seems like the northerns that I see caught on the Outdoor Channel will bite on just about anything. I really think my best chance would be to take my bowfishing rig, and do a little sight fishing. I`m open for suggestions so fire away.

[Warmouth]

Steel leaders, big bucktail spinners, spoons, and jerk baits. I'd string up 20lb+ line for a dedicated pike/muskellunge rod.

Good luck, but don't forget the smallmouth, walleye, and trout. myself.

[powerdive]

Most of the lakes around IF have stained water, which limits weedgrowth. Find any decent patch of cabbage weed, you can buzz big Mepps spinners over the weedtops and have a field day. Long rock fingers adjacent to deeper water (the kind the gulls hang out on) can be great for parallel cranking, catching northerns and some bonus big smallies... For a shot at a big muskie, I'd target slab-rock bluffs with big jerkbaits. Crowrock Inlet off Redgut Bay on the Canadian side of Rainy has some nice water, with some deep timber too.

[Rafe Hollister]

Okay, I'll play your little game.

Muskies & Northerns have big ol' honkin' teeth.

[Warmouth]

I've just been slaying them at Pomme. Tearing it up, 42", 45", and 46" were my best yesterday, but I could only stay out for 45 minutes or so.

[Warmouth]

You don't even fish. I was using 14" trout for bait, and a 0/6 circle hook.

[Rafe Hollister]

I'd also like to note that pickerel are getting screwed here. Just because they're smaller than pike & musky doesn't mean that they aren't important, too. We all know how important 2B, Limbshot, and Dave are to this board. It's kinda the same deal.

[Warmouth]

I agree with Rafe. I've caught a few of them pickerels too.