Bud Weiser Loc: Missouri

Hi guys I’m a musky fool and love to chase them with a fly rod. I tie my own flys. Anybody else here fly fish for the musky

flyguy Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!

Mornin', Bud, welcome to the Forum. I have caught a lot of fish on the fly rod, but I have never caught a muskie on any type of rod. And, I'm too old to start a bucket list.

MuskyJohn Loc: Benton Harbor, MI

Hey Bud! I am a Musky fanatic, which might be an understatement. I have caught lots of Muskies. Never on a fly.
But I can tell you this. A friend of mine that also fishes the Chippewa Flowage in Wisconsin, catches muskies there when no one else can get any action. He fly fishes for them exclusively. He caught the largest fish the week we were there last year in September. My son caught a 26" and a 37" musky.
The fly fisherman, Stefan, caught a 45" musky. And the muskies were not very active that week at all.
It is brilliant to fly fish for them. It is a subtle presentation that seems to always work well. It is generally a slower presentation. So, on a very large lake, you really have to pick your spots wisely.
I actually bought a cabin up there in January to fish up there more often and to be able to keep my gear up there.
It has gotten ridiculous toting several large tackle boxes up there every time I go.
Good Luck. Please share some photos of your catches.
I would love to see them.

Bud Weiser Loc: Missouri

Here’s my PB. 49” from Minnesota. I’ve caught 2 others in the 30” class in Canada. It’s a lot of wear and tear on the arm and shoulders to throw those big flys but I’m learning how to tie lighter flys that will still move some water. At 74 I’m a little late to the game but life’s short. Run hard! I’m hoping to get to lake Kincaid Illinois this week while water temp is tolerable for the fish then back to Minnesota. My son and daughter-in-law live in Stillwater on the St Croix River. I’ll be chasing smallmouth and Musky there. Thanks for the reply

MuskyJohn Loc: Benton Harbor, MI

Wow!!!! That's a crowd pleaser! Well done! Absolutely a great catch! Fly fishing for muskies is, for sure, a tactic not that often used and it should be. And the bonus as you said about musky fishing is that we always get good smallmouth action while waiting for the muskies to wake up. There are some that tie flies for them and add a little extra weight to the fly to allow for spincasting them. That's for folks that are not good with the fly rod. But the rise and fall technique seems to work very well. And not related at all, but I bought some really strange lures from an older gentleman that had an outdoor booth at the Apple Fest in Charlevoix Michigan. He makes the lure out of literally wine bottle corks. But the are painted and they really don't look like corks. The lures are with an imagination similar to a floating bucktail with spinners on them. The one I was using had a chatter bait style lip on the front. Regardless, when fishing with my son, I throw very weird stuff with the idea to try out the new stuff and to hopefully have him catch more of the muskies. I just want him to have a good time and catch as much as he can. I was throwing the cork lure over a weed bed. I had a very good sized smallmouth jump from the water to grab the lure before it hit the water. I'm not affiliated with the man who makes the lures. And I think it is just a one retired guy operation. I think they are called Corker Bait Works, if anyone wants to see what they look like or to try one. Sorry for the long story. But I love it when fish do that. Weird lures though. I haven't caught a musky on that lure yet. I am not sure how it will handle the teeth. But we will find out.
Thank you for sharing the photo.
Take care.

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

A hearty "hats off" compliment to you on that giant muskie taken on a fly! If my visual perception is on track...I notice an Old Town kayak in the backdrop, which adds another level of the thrill in that you may be casting from a seated position in a paddle craft. The sum total of making the process of catching a muskie via the flyrod a good challenge! Thanks for posting and good luck as you enjoy your new cabin!

I've caught a few northern pike on the fly...but no muskie as of yet! Definitely a great way to catch them if they are within a reasonable range!

By the way...terrific photo!

HenryG Loc: Falmouth Cape Cod Massachusetts

Welcome to the Stage Bud my favorite beverage is named after you what a coincidence!! Must be pretty wild catching musky on the flyrod. 🇺🇸🎣😎👍

HenryG Loc: Falmouth Cape Cod Massachusetts

Never to old Fly! 🇺🇸🎣😂👍

HenryG Loc: Falmouth Cape Cod Massachusetts

Ya buddy!!!!!👍👍

Bud Weiser Loc: Missouri

My real name is Bill-……. my daughter in law changed it on face book due to her and my son are in law enforcement with the gov. Shame it has to be that way. That said I’m a retired beer brewer from AB. Hence. 🤣

FixorFish Loc: SW Oregon

Now THAT'S a picture-worthy fish ! And on a fly rod ?.... even better.

My PB for salmon on a fly rod is 23+lb, which I thought was probably gonna snap my 8wt before I could land/net it, wading on the upper Rogue, actually targeting steelhead.... so I gotta ask.... what weight rod/line/leader do you use for THAT behemoth ?
That rod in your jaws doesn't look like it's much more than maybe a 10wt, at best.
Thanks in advance for indulging in my curiosity.