Tips For More Muskies On Fly Fishing Gear

Fishing for muskies takes a special kind of person.

- Cory Campbell

If it was easy, everyone would be doing it and the sport would lose its appeal. As soon as you pick up a fly rod, you make something that’s already hard even harder. As a musky fly angler or someone who is a little “fly-curious,” having the proper technique is just as important as keeping your sanity.

Casting

Too often I have watched a musky fly angler make excessive false casts. Instead of it being a fish of 10,000 casts, they ultimately turn it into a fish of 20,000 or maybe even 30,000. This isn’t trout fishing — you aren’t throwing size 18 dry flies. Every false cast takes its toll physically and is just wasted time.

Practice your casts and make every one count. You should be able to clear your line, give one false cast, and shoot your line with either a double-haul or water-haul. With either haul, make sure you let your rod do the work by letting it fully load for maximum distance.

Casting heavy, full-sink lines and big flies, over time, will cause the ferrules to loosen up which ultimately leads to broken rods. Get into the habit of checking the ferrules every couple of casts or start taping them to keep them from pulling apart. Better yet, buy a one-piece rod.

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