Michigan Muskie Alliance

What rod/reel combos are you using to throw the smaller baits during the early season? I've heard bass type tackle works but just any "bass" rod/reel?

My favorite rod for small baits is an old St. Croix blank that I had tied up. It's a Magnum Bass flipping stick 8 foot long. It is rated at 2.5 ounce lures. The reel is an old Phluger Trion low profile spooled with 40 pound Power Pro. The leaders are 45 pound 7 strand by Mason. With this rig I throw 205 cranes, Kitty Claws, little bagley shads, Mepps muskie killers and other small buck tails and 1 ounce spinner baits. I have been fishing this rig for 7 years. Mike

If you're talking Indiana pre-spawn and some of the small baits associated with that fishing (not saying only small baits work) then a flippin stick or a swim bait rod for bass fishing is perfect for the 1/2 to 1.5 oz baits. Okuma makes some sweet big bait rods that are perfect for small baits the GS-C-7111H is a 7'11" rod that rated for 1-6oz lures and they also have a GS-C-7111MH rated for 3/4-3oz. Either of these rods paired with a 250 size reel like the Okuma Akena and 60lb line will cover any of the smallish baits in the spring.

I have a 9' 3/4-4 oz rod that I throw all my smaller stuff with, Its an american tackle viper blank, made by lamiglas. If I were a fly I guy I'd call it a sweetheart for sure. I put a Curado 300 EJ on it last season and love it even more, but I can use if for pretty much anything, and even took it on the river with some rapala MR 11's this fall and slammed some kings they didn't know what hit em after all the other guys and their spinning tackle!

Mine is simple. It's the first rod/reel combo I purchased for Muskie fishing. Abu 6600 and 7 1/2 ft. Pete Maina rod. Simple and cheap.