Trophy Northwoods Musky Kills Small Bucktail! EPIC FIGHT! S6.E44

[@edraagyn]

My heart rate and breathing went up along with you!! What a ride with a happy ending. Great fish.

[@MuskyMastery]

Thanks Eric!!! I know haha I was nervous rewatching it haha!

[@deanmentjes7774]

A+ on the solo net job! Great video, thanks!!

[@MuskyMastery]

Thanks Dean! It was a net job that really shows that there is “not a manual” for how to get the job done lol!

[@davidhardt9924]

Dude monster best film of the year Watching you deal with that huge fish and finally netting her was the best. Taught me a lot of patience . Thanks keep em coming

[@MuskyMastery]

Thanks Dave! Yes patience on these larger fish is key to ensure that when you do go to net them, that the time is right!

[@CTRFishing]

Wow what a beautiful fish! Good stuff Chas

[@MuskyMastery]

Thanks so much Cole! Tight lines man!!

[@jackrademaker5696]

Mr. Martin it’s Jack Rademaker from Saint Pats. I was in your physics class in 2019-20. It’s awesome to see you come up on my recommendations. Hope all is well and the musky stay hungry. Thanks for being a great inspiration! TIGHT LINES AND GO ROCKS🙌🏻☘️

[@MuskyMastery]

Jack it’s so great to hear from you man!!! Wow…what great times we had back at SPHS. I’m really excited you’re getting into fishing. Reach out anytime!!

[@jameschurch1277]

What a brute, of a fish, and a heck of a solo net job! Congrats on a successful hunt!

[@MuskyMastery]

Thanks James! really appreciate it! Yes, it was a knee knocker for sure.... tough to watch without sweating a little still!

[@brandonsemrow3086]

Yeah Buddy, Nice Fish!!!

[@MuskyMastery]

Thanks Brandon! Much appreciated brother!

[@maia_litlove1351]

Luv this video❤

[@MuskyMastery]

Thanks so much Maia!!!

[@bigfishbrau]

solo netting is always fun!

[@MuskyMastery]

HA! lol……it is definitely challenging to say the least!

[@ronheller467]

Chas what is the difference between bucktails w/ shrink wrapped treble hooks and those without? Which do you prefer and why?

[@MuskyMastery]

Ron, great question and topic! I generally use shrink wrap anytime I have a situation where a hook will tangle 1) with a blade or 2) with another hook etc. if there are going to be tangling issues…shrink wrap comes out. From a fish fighting / hooking perspective I’m not sure it matters too much. The argument could be made that NO shrink wrap provides a musky with LESS leverage to throw a bait during a fight.

[@Fishboy68]

Nice fish!! You attached that blade with a split ring?

[@MuskyMastery]

Thanks!! Yes, I rig up all of my lure with split rings. No snaps.

[@benrollinh526]

I noticed you have the rear hook free swinging. Do you always have it like that, or are there times when you have it shrink wrapped? Also that hook doesn't look stock...it looks larger and heavier guage. i am guessing it is a it's a round bend plasma point? Why round bend and not a kvd tg90 like you use on cranks?

[@MuskyMastery]

Ben, I will definitely experiment with the kvd tg90. Great idea as I love those for my cranks. I have had good success over the years with bronze round bend plasma points. Just a confidence thing and they have served me well. They sharpen easily too. Yes, those hooks are larger and heavier gauge.

[@amfish14]

Any specific reason why you prefer using a musky net and not another option like a 60” Frabill musky cradle while fishing alone? I’m asking as I fish alone most of the time and have rigged a 60” fishing cradle with two paracord rope handles, where I tie one off securely on a boat cleat, then I use the second handle to open the cradle fully when I drop it in the water boat side. I typically fight the fish until I see I can safely land it when it’s ready, then I drop the cradle in guide the fish over into the cradle at which point I secure the loose rope handle on the cleat with the stationary rope handle. It’s works extremely well especially when you are alone, as the musky stays much more calm inside the cradle that is sitting below the water level. It make unhooking easier as well as releasing the fish easier. Trying to maneuver around with a rod and musky net is something I used to do as well, but decided to go with the cradle option as it lets me focus on making sure I land the fish.

[@MuskyMastery]

compared to a cradle I believe a musky net offers me the most versatility when fighting a fish. I can move around quickly and take a shot at netting a fish - which is important if it is not hooked well. I can also net a fish more quickly (I believe) with a traditional net which is important as to not tire the fish too much (i.e. in warmer water etc.) Let's discuss....

[@amfish14]

@@MuskyMastery There are advantages and disadvantages to both options. A musky net takes up a lot of space, can easily get tangled up in the boat around rods and can even create issues sometimes when netting a fish. On the other hand a cradle can’t net a fish that is more than a few feet away from the boat, it’s stays in one place so the fish needs to be brought over to the cradle, but it packs up nice a secure under a rod strap while driving around. I’ve used the cradle for a long while and have always seemed to be able to guide the fish into it fairly quickly where it calms down much faster than it does in a net, as the thrashing around pretty much doesn’t happen in a cradle. In many cases the cradle has saved me from over fighting a fish many times, as the rounds I need to make rushing around the boat fighting the fish are much less. Definitely worth discussing with fellow anglers, as I’d be curious to see what others think of both options.

[@jdean1851]

WOW" EPIC FISH on that Trout" Size Spinner! NUTZ"

[@MuskyMastery]

Thanks JD!!! Yea hard to watch this without your hands sweating haha!!! Tight lines dude

[@stephaniesend1124]

Nice Muskie! Is there a certain situation that you like to use free spool v. Not?

[@davidhardt9924]

I don't think he knows about reel drag HA

[@MuskyMastery]

Free spool during all fights. This is especially important when you are battling BIG BIG fish at boatside. They will break things. You can of course loosen the drag during the fight.... but I find this to be a little difficult in the heat of the fight.