What’s the best all-around musky rod for today’s fishing? Muskie fishing has become far more sophisticated in recent years. The equipment that we use is a lot like bass fishing – rods, reels, line, and lures are all designed for specific applications.
The Best All-Around Musky Rod
What St. Croix has done with a lot of their musky rod lines is created rods that are technique specific. We have rods that designed to throw big plastics. Rods that are perfect for bucktails. They have a Downsizer series designed for throwing little jerkbaits or smaller spinners.
When we hit the water, we’re not going out with one rod and one reel to throw all the lures we have in the boat. We actually are carrying half a dozen musky rods per person, just so that we have the right rod, reel, line, and leader for each specific application. That makes the baits perform better, and it will ultimately will help you catch more fish when you’ve got everything matched up just right. Muskie fishing isn’t just throwing big baits on any piece of equipment. It’s just like bass or walleye fishing. It’s very technical and if you get the right rod, reel, line, and leader, the baits perform much better and you catch more fish.
If someone asks me: “Great, you’ve got six different rods and reels out on the out on the deck. I’m just getting into muskie fishing and I’m not going to go buy 6 combos. What should I get?”
Everybody has their own personal preference, but I really like a 9′ medium-heavy power fast action rod. Why do I like this rod? The length is great for throwing baits a long distance and fighting fish. It’s also great for figure 8‘s and boatside maneuvers. I also like that medium-heavy power for throwing a lighter bait.
Personally, I prefer to throw smaller stuff when I can, and with that medium-heavy power fast action rod, I’m able to throw those small #8 bucktails really well. I’m able to throw smaller jerkbaits, smaller twitch bait, and smaller crankbaits. This rod will also work well as a trolling rod, so if I’m looking at buying just one rod and reel, I’m in favor of the medium-heavy versus the heavy or the extra-heavy because I feel it gives you a little bit more versatility in the different lures that you can throw.
Granted, this isn’t a great rod for throwing one-pound baits, but at the same time, it’s a much better musky rod for throwing small bucktails than our extra-heavy rod would be. A medium-heavy power fast action 9 foot rod truly is my pick.