Musky Shop Blog

To say the 6th Annual Musky Shop Bash was a success would be an absolute understatement—it was hands-down one for the books!

We had the privilege of welcoming over 1,000 customers and their families through our doors. When you plan a trip to the Northwoods, you have endless choices for where to take your family, spend your weekend, and direct your business. The fact that so many of you chose to spend your valuable time with us is something we will never take for granted. Seeing familiar faces, meeting new ones, and sharing our collective passion for musky fishing with the absolute best community on the water made every single second of preparation worth it.

Free Raffles, Great Food, and Future Anglers

From the moment we opened, the energy on the floor was electric. We loved getting to greet so many of you personally, share a brat together, and even welcome plenty of your four-legged, furry friends who tagged along for the trip!

One of the absolute best parts of the day was seeing the next generation of anglers walking around the shop. Watching kids' eyes light up as they picked out lures, talked fishing with the pros, and grabbed their free raffle tickets reminds us that the future of musky fishing is in great hands. Seeing families pass down the tradition was worth every bit of work that went into hosting this event.

Stories That Keep Us Motivated

Events like this remind us exactly why we do what we do. Throughout the day, we heard incredible stories from so many of you—including folks who drove four hours one-way just to spend a few minutes shopping in person with us at the Bash! Hearing that level of dedication is deeply humbling. It’s our customers who keep us motivated year after year to push the envelope, improve the shop, and always deliver a warm, personable experience every time you step through our doors or reach out to us.

A Personal Thank You to Our Vendors

We also want to extend a massive, personal thank you to all of our incredible vendors who came out to support the event. You brought the expertise, the top-tier gear, and the genuine enthusiasm that truly elevated the entire Bash. We couldn't ask for better partners in this industry, and we are deeply grateful for your time, dedication, and commitment to making this day special for our community.  And for those vendors who couldn't make it, of course you're invited next year to greet the excited faces of the community who love supporting your products.  The Musky Shop Bash is about building personal relationships with our customers and helping them navigate their own journey in our shared favorite sport.

Missed Out This Year?

To everyone who couldn't make it in person this time around: you missed one heck of an experience! But don't worry—the energy from this year's crowd will keep us fueled and planning right up until the next one.  Our 7th Musky Shop Bash will bring the same excitement with of course many new products to choose from next year.

Grateful for Our Musky Shop Family

At the end of the day, an event like this is only as special as the people who show up for it. Whether you traveled from down the road or from states away, brought your kids and pups, picked up a few new lures, or just stopped by to talk fishing, thank you for supporting the Musky Shop and our vendors.

We are truly blessed to have the support of such a loyal, passionate community. We already can't wait to see you all again next year!

Until then, tight lines, and thank you for supporting small business!

— The Musky Shop Team

Pennsylvania has quietly become one of the East’s premier destinations for trophy river muskies.

As the official state fish and the undisputed apex predator of the Northwoods, the musky draws thousands of anglers to the state's lakes and rivers each year, fueling a multi-million dollar outdoor recreation economy.

he Northwoods has seen more stable weather this past week in the Minocqua, Oneida, and Vilas County areas.

What makes them suspend, and when and why?

Boot Lake is one of those true Northwoods sleepers.

We hope you’ve been getting out on the water despite the wild weather swings lately.

Selecting the right blade for this critical seasonal transition requires a mix of precision engineering and specific on-the-water context.

The secret weapon for this early part of summer? Downsized rubber.

We hope all of you are finding time to go fishing and are catching some nice fish, especially muskies!

We hope everyone is off to a great start to the 2026 fishing season!

Muskies are highly intelligent apex predators, and this constant pressure has conditioned them.

While the 1940s are often romanticized as the "Golden Age" of world records, historians and seasoned anglers recognize the 1980s as the most pivotal decade in the sport's history.

Rest Lake sits right in the heart of the Manitowish Waters Chain, offering a scenic getaway with excellent boating and angling opportunities.

At Musky Shop Guide Service, we’re passionate about creating memorable days on the water for every kind of angler

That's why dive-and-rise jerkbaits are money.

efore you hit the water, take one afternoon to prep every lure in your tackle box.

Working the Menace like a tube, with quick upward pops of the rod, creates a highly erratic action

Early season muskie fishing in May and June—typically post-spawn—presents unique challenges and opportunities on heavily fished waters.

Muskellunge, those elusive giants of freshwater lakes and rivers, have long fascinated anglers and naturalists alike with their impressive dental arsenal.

The Critter can be straight retrieved, worked like a mini tube, or jigged vertically

As the muskie season opener approaches, every dedicated angler knows the difference between a great day on the water and a frustrating one often comes down to having the right tools. Quick, safe hook removal, accurate measurements, sharp hooks, and on-the-spot repairs keep the focus on fishing—not fumbling with gear. Musky Shop, the world's largest retailer of musky tackle, stocks some of the best tools trusted by pros and guides alike.

Here’s a roundup of must-have tools to get your boat ready, emphasizing fish safety, efficiency, and durability for those trophy muskies.

Stocking up on these tools means you're prioritizing quick releases, fish health, and your own efficiency—key for sustainable muskie fishing. Head over to Musky Shop to grab them before the opener. Our tools section has everything, often bundled or paired with related gear.

he answer often boils down to invisible atmospheric shifts that make muskies go neutral or lockjaw.

Musky Shop Northwoods Fishing Report: Early February 2026