94 LAKE AND STREAM GAME FISHING 



style. For a good stiff rod for the beginner make 

 it a steel one, and the No. 33 Bristol will fill the bill 

 for either casting or trolling for the musky. Of 

 course if you are a double-dyed expert you can use 

 your lighter rod and tackle, but unless one is an ex- 

 pert at handling the lighter tackle he had better stick 

 to the slightly heavier stuff and feel more sure of 

 the fish. A musky can sure make a fine outfit look 

 like a junk shop if it's handled by an inexperienced 

 fisherman. Troll in water about 8 to 12 feet deep, 

 off the edges of the weedbeds and over the under- 

 water weeds; also off the rock beds and points of 

 land as well as quiet coves and bays. Keep your 

 rod straight out behind the boat; if you hold it out 

 over the side you put a strain on it that is unneces- 

 sary and bad medicine for any rod. 



In casting for the musky keep the boat about 50 

 feet off the casting waters, moving the boat as noise- 

 lessly as possible and casting in towards the shore or 

 feeding grounds. An all white or white and red 

 head artificial minnow, or spoon and pork rind, frog 

 or minnow makes a good casting lure. From the 

 strike the fight is fast and gamy and you sure must 

 keep the slack out of the line or he'll do a flop out 

 of the water and corkscrew back on your line, which 

 means farewell to the musky. 



