When it comes to selection, Musky Shop has just about everything your heart desires, but sometimes it’s hard to narrow the scope of wants versus needs. If this is a problem that regularly arises for you, you’re definitely in good company. Musky anglers have the kitchen sink available to them with just a click, so getting the right bait for the right lake isn’t always an easy task. So take some help from the experts in narrowing down our selection to help you make more headway when looking to catch your next trophy.

Start with Size Class: Matching Bait to Musky and Pike Sizes

A great place to start is size class. Depending on the availability of muskies on your lake, the size class of your average musky should narrow down your scope. Smaller, more aggressive muskies or pike would be easily tempted by midsize baits in the 6-8 inch size class. Many anglers would call this “down-sized,” but it’s technically in the middle of the road for muskies and certainly pike. Keeping a “best all-around” attitude can really help narrow your scope. If you want a shot at numbers, offer them a bite that makes sense. If the lake you frequent is full of monsters, definitely size up for fall bite windows if a trophy is on the table.

Consider Lure Performance: Active vs. Fast-Paced Musky Fishing Styles

By the same token as size class, let's talk performance. If you are a strong proponent of working out on the water, by all means, shoot straight for walk-the-dogs and sinking glide baits. These will keep you attentive and dialed in, but if you are looking for a quicker pace, look to lures that take less patience. Try cranks, swimbaits, and tail prop lures. This grouping of lures can reach all parts of your waterway just as well and is great at preventing angler fatigue if you have a lot of water to cover. Make sure you are focusing on the best baits for the season, keeping that eye on the prize.

Master Color Selection: Tailoring Lures to Water Conditions and Seasons

Once you narrow down your size class and performance, then look to color to tie up the last loose end. If you are a weekend angler, summer angler, or vacation angler, it makes sense to stock your tackle box with lures that hit the mark for those days or months. If you go on vacation every November, take note of your water, weather, and forage for that window. Increase your opportunity by focusing on tools that work. Carpet layers don’t invest in tile saws if you catch my drift, so take a page out of that book and spend your money on things that work.

If you are fishing cloudy November days on a stained lake, choose darker silhouettes (blacks, purples, pinks) that will grab a predator's attention. When fishing the height of summer on a clear, bright lake, go with lighter colors (naturals or whites). Having this mentality will not only save you money and time, but will help keep you focused on what’s going to work. There’s nothing wrong with a smattering of fun colors and patterns to mix things up when the fish are low, but if you keep handy the right tools at the right times, your luck will change dramatically, out of the muskies' favor and into yours. Turning the fish of 10,000 casts into the fish of 10.