I recently started Musky Fishing, and am looking for one good rod/reel combo for

throwing both Cowgirls and Bulldawgs (just smaller Dawgs, nothing over 10 Ozs)

Any suggestions? I'd also prefer to have the rod 2 Piece so I can bring up to the BDub

for monster pike (are Bulldawgs and Cowgirls good for big pike in the BWCA?)

Also, anyone ever fish East Pike and hook into a Muskie? Just wondering...

Thanks!

~WishfulWalleye

I would recommend a Tackle Industries 2 pc Muskie rod XXH if you ever want to throw pounders or #10 blades. For #8 blades and Mag Dawgs you can get away with XH. 8'6" is really nice for figure 8's or O's.

I have had great luck with the Abu Revo Nacl. Daiwa Lexa 300 or Okuma Kommodo fit the bill too.The Shimano Calcutta D is great but more expensive. For way less money, a 6500 Ambassador from Abu is good for a few thousand casts too. I always tell people to buy the Muskie rod they can afford and the reel that they can't (just the opposite for Walleyes).

I catch a lot of Pike from 2# and up on very large Muskie lures, dawgs and cowgirls included. I'm sure Bdub Pike would go crazy for them, especially since they don't see too many lures this big. I have caught some nice Bdub pike on 7-1/2" Phantom gliders, they love 'em.

Good fishing/camping equipment is a very high priority in my life. I find high quality equipment is pleasurable in and of itself.......it's just nice to use.

After some research for my WCPP muskie trip I settled on what is generally accepted as the top of the line muskie reel........a Shimano Tranx. I choose the high speed version and had no problem throwing big double cowgirls and ripping them in while sitting in a canoe. No small feat. The reel will now accompany me even while pike fishing as the reel throws 80 lb power pro like a dream. It also handles large black fin tuna and grouper as well. Is its worth the $500 price tag? Certainly a question each will have to ask for themselves........I have no regrets as the reel performs as advertised.

I strongly second Arlos advocation of the Phantom gliders. Superior lure, I can't wait to try some of the smaller versions for redfish, snook and even largemouth bass.

quote mastertangler: "
I strongly second Arlos advocation of the Phantom gliders. Superior lure, I can't wait to try some of the smaller versions for redfish, snook and even largemouth bass. "

Largemouth love 'em. I would love to take one for a swim in a southern lake or SoCal reservoir sometime, I'm sure the giant ones would crush them.
The 4" or 6" would probably be really effective for snook, like a mirrorlure on steroids! Tarpon too!

WW,

It might not be what you're looking for, but I'd use two rods - one for the bw and one for the big stuff. I'm guessing your looking for one rod to do both - muskies and bwca but I don't think that'll work well and you'll probably end up with more than one combo before long anyway. At least I did :)

In my opinion/experience, you don't need anything more than a standard musky sized spinnerbait for pike in the bw. With single hooks, unhooking is much easier/safer and they are very versatile. They can be ran through/over weeds, shallow or deep, fast or slow. I've brought up the larger stuff before, and recently up to WCPP for muskies but never ended up using them. 10s and dawgs are great baits, but they take up a lot of tackle box space and when you're in a canoe, they will pull you everywhere and wear your arms down quick without the leverage you get standing.

And if you're set on blades, double 6s or 8s will catch almost every pike and possibly more than 10s would and be easier overall. I don't know if you like to eat pike, but if you do you won't catch smaller eater sized fish with the 10s that you would with the smaller baits. I mean maybe you miss out on one large fish that would be drawn in by a large bait but not a smaller one, but I've found plenty of large fish on smaller baits and its not like these baits are small either. I still get occasional funny looks from other canoes.

So with that philosophy, which one can take or leave, I leave the big musky rod/reel at home. Going to bw I've found a MH 7' maybe 7'6" ish rod with a cheaper abu to work more than well enough. I have and love the TI rods for muskies, but in a canoe its pretty hard to use anything that long.

Hope this helps,
Zelms

I don't think you need a musky rod for BW. There is only one lake I know has them, and in answer to the OP, yes. I did hook a musky on East Pike. It was all of three feet long, maybe bigger, had a fat back, fought like a bucking bronco. I got it boat side in my Prism, and when I reached for my net, I think I gave him just enough slack that he could turn his head and slice me off. Gone. Not a soul around. That was a lonely feeling. Crap!
I'm O for five on landing a hooked musky. Having light spinning gear is a major factor. No fish fights like a musky. I also am in the market for a musky rod and reel. Goal for next year is to get a few. I'm boat shopping too. Timely thread for me. C'mon spring!
I was thinking of going mid price Shimano and going from there. A long rod is essential for figure eights, but not in a canoe. 32/8 Suffix line.

The smaller (H30?) sized Diawa Saltist is a great reel. Around $150-180 it's a lot more affordable than most other muskie reels. I use them for trolling, casting, live bait (loud clicker). They are a faster speed which is good for picking up line while twitching baits.
I would recommend one to anyone for use as a muskie reel.

I prefer one piece rods, so not sure what to recommend, but the Tackle Industries stuff is all china made. Quality might vary. St Croix makes a good rod.

If you're throwing big baits or anywhere a muskie is present, stick with 80lb test powerbraid. If you go lower you will have snap offs eventually. On big muskie reels I put a bunch of heavy lb test mono on the spool first as backing.

Pike love jerkbaits and gliders. Hellhounds, Mantas, Suicks, Phantoms are all great lures. As mentioned above, spinnerbaits are great also.

quote jkahler: "Pike love jerkbaits and gliders. Hellhounds, Mantas, Suicks, Phantoms are all great lures. As mentioned above, spinnerbaits are great also."

I love throwing the muskie baits for pike........to do that in comfort where your not getting wore out means a reel capable of handling the extra weight and pull. The Revos that Arlo suggested are probably the best value while still being an excellent quality reel (or at least that is what I have surmised through my research).

Safety in using these large baits out of a canoe is a rather substantial concern. Gangs of 8/0 super sharp trebles can be a recipe for disaster even with "over the top" preparations. I went in with boga, Lindy glove and 9" needle nose pliers and still had some potentially close calls. No more........I will eliminate some trebles and/or replace some hooks with double hooks common with salt water lures or even use the double frog hooks that Owner/Gamakatsu produce. I like the concept of a double (wider gap/ larger hook) as the tail hook anyways particularly with crank baits of which I am fond of trolling. I will try eliminating all trebles and just using the double tail hook and report back. Not only would safety increase exponentially I could dig bottom a bit better with my main concern being wedging a bait into the rocks.