About Us
The Musky Shop: Since 1989
Established: 1989
Location: Minocqua, Wisconsin
Specialty: Musky Fishing Gear, Custom Bucktail Supplies, & Live Bait
For more than three decades, The World's Largest Musky Shop has been outfitting anglers to pursue muskies from our home base in the heart of Wisconsin's Northwoods. Widely recognized as one of the world's largest specialty retailers dedicated exclusively to musky fishing, we offer thousands of lures, rods, reels, tackle boxes, and nets. We are also proud to be one of the few remaining outfitters to offer a dedicated, comprehensive print catalog to our customers.
Whether you are shopping online or visiting our Minocqua retail store, our goal is the same: to provide the gear, live bait, and practical knowledge you need to be successful on the water. We want to thank each and every one of you for your past, present, and future business—we wouldn't be here without our incredible customers.
How We Test Gear & Why You Can Trust Our Advice
Our recommendations come from people who actively fish for muskies, work with anglers every day, and handle the products we sell firsthand.
We don't simply sell the products we write about—we fish them. When we evaluate rods, reels, and lures, we consider real-world performance factors like durability, casting ergonomics, retrieve characteristics, and component quality rather than just relying on manufacturer specifications. Our evaluations incorporate actual on-the-water use across a variety of fisheries, from Northwoods lakes and rivers to southern reservoirs. Our goal is to provide practical, field-tested information to help you make the most informed tackle decisions possible.
Meet the Musky Shop Experts
Our staff includes anglers with decades of time on the water, professional tackle buyers, river specialists, and content creators.
Jim Stewart | Owner
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On-the-Water Experience: 32 years pursuing muskies, including over 23 years working directly with Musky Shop customers to help them select the right tackle for Wisconsin's Northwoods and central Minnesota fisheries.
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Home Waters: Oneida and Vilas Counties in Northern Wisconsin (Lake Tomahawk, the Minocqua Chain, Big St. Germain), and Lake Miltona in Central Minnesota.
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Personal Best: 54-inch Musky.
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Outside the Shop: Jim frequently speaks on how his Faith in Jesus Christ blends with business and fishing, and he volunteers on the Safety Team at Faith Church in Minocqua. Off the water, he is an avid gym-goer, an Indy Car and Oklahoma Sooners fan, and a firm believer that "Tacos are Life."
Tom Rudis | Buyer & Manager
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On-the-Water Experience: 36 years of musky fishing, including 35 years at the shop curating our extensive tackle inventory and advising anglers of all skill levels.
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Home Waters: Oneida, Vilas, and Lincoln Counties.
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Personal Best: 46-inch Musky.
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Special Focus: Tom uses his decades of retail and on-the-water experience to evaluate and select the best gear for our shelves. His true passion is growing the sport by introducing newcomers to musky fishing, frequently taking kids and first-time anglers out on the water.
Jay Esse | Manager, Buyer, & Social Media Director
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On-the-Water Experience: 37 years fishing for muskies and 28 years at the shop helping anglers dial in their presentations and gear setups.
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Home Waters: Vilas and Oneida Counties.
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Personal Best: ~48-inch Musky.
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Industry Experience: Jay is an active voice and content creator in the musky community. He co-hosts the Musky 360 Podcast, hosts the Northwoods Musky Report, and leads The Musky Shop's social media initiatives, bringing a creative edge from his background as a former musician.
Casey Strasburg | Assistant Manager & River Specialist
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On-the-Water Experience: 8 years of dedicated musky fishing and 5 years at the shop diagnosing customer needs and tracking local bites.
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Home Waters: The Minocqua chain, the Wisconsin and Tomahawk Rivers, and small lakes across Oneida, Vilas, and Price Counties.
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Personal Best: 48-inch Musky.
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Special Focus: Casey is our resident river musky expert. He specializes in breaking down moving water—pinpointing eddies, current seams, and slackwaters. He rigorously tests and utilizes small jerkbaits and paddle tail swimbaits tailored specifically for river applications. When not fishing, he is an avid duck hunter.
Jodie Paul | Office Manager, Technical Analyst & Content Writer
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On-the-Water Experience: 20+ years of musky fishing across the Wisconsin Northwoods, Canadian Shield, and East & Central Tennessee reservoirs. She has spent 6 years on staff, including 5 years researching and authoring the Musky Shop Blog.
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Home Waters: East & Central Tennessee.
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Personal Best: 45-inch Musky.
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Industry Experience: Jodie's work involves collaborating directly with lure builders, professional guides, and experienced anglers to evaluate tackle and seasonal patterns. She works closely with professional angler, guide, author, and lure designer Steven Paul to ensure our written content delivers technically accurate, field-tested advice.
Catalogs are available on request by calling 800-453-5224 or e-mail us at info@muskyshop.com
Enjoy our Musky Shop. Thank You.