Experienced muskie anglers know that big baits catch big fish, so they commonly use lures measuring nearly a foot long. You'll need sturdy tackle to fish baits this size and to drive the hooks into the fishes' bony mouth.
Muskies are notorious followers, often chasing the bait up to the boat and then turning away at the last instant. But you can often make them strike by leaving a couple feet of line out, putting your rod tip in the water and making "figure eights" with your bait.
To preserve quality fishing, most muskie anglers practice catch - and - release. Always carry jaw spreaders and heavy longnose pliers. If possible, remove the hooks while the fish is still in the water.
When muskies are in dense weeds, try a spinnerbait. Retrieve it over a weedy flat, keeping it just above the weed tops. Or hold your rod tip high and reel fast enough that the blades slightly "bulge" the surface.
Large in - line spinners called "bucktails" are a favorite of many veteran muskie anglers. They are a good choice for fishing along weed edges or over weed tops, but they have open hooks so they do not work well in dense weeds.
Topwater lures, such as stickbaits and propbaits, are deadly for night fishing, especially in warm weather. The more noise and splash the lure produces, the better. Subsurface lures are a better choice when the water is cool.