I picked it up yesterday at the show in GR for $15.
It's 9" long, wooden, and the eyes are transparent and extend all they way through the lure so that if you look in one eye, you can see out the other, and they protrude quite a bit. The net effect is it gives it the "shiny-eyed" look that a walleye has…
It wasn't marked, nor was it in a package! It seems to be very well-made, with a nice thick clear-coat.
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"Slimeball" said:
[quote="hemichemi"]🙄Oh Ye, of little faith!
If thats a yes then that would be a good example of wrong tool for the job.
Hemi, if you need a musky rod (baitcasting), I will send you a 7.6 for free.
I have a musky rod! 😀
It's a SPINNING rod, though… 
Good grief! I CAN'T be the ONLY guy to ever use a spinning rig for muskies… 🙄
Yes, anglers use spinning rods for muskies in certian applications, mostly jigging reapers,tubes and lizards, you can even get by with bucktails and prop style surface lures but I wouldn't recommend it. As for a jerkbait on a spinning rod…..well, like I said wrong tool for the job. Kind of like driving a 16 penny nail in with a pair of channel locks.
If your serious about getting into muskie fishing you need to learn a baitcaster. Not trying to be a jerk, just trying to help.
My offer still stands if you want that rod.
Thanks J. I appreciate it. What would I do with it, though? I haven't got a reel for it…
But please; someone enlighten me, because I'm missing something here:
Why, with an equivalent rod, won't a spinning reel work with a heavy jerkbait? I have a very heavy spinning reel which holds over 200 yds of 20# mono or 100# superbraid, has a 4.9:1 ratio (37.2" per crank), 7 BBs and an all-metal frame and body.
What am I not understanding? [smilie=attention.gif]
Hemi – Most of it is that you'll work WAY too hard because of how you need to hold a spinning rod. They use spinning rods all the time in saltwater for BIG fish right? Sure.. BUT in saltwater applications we don't use baits that are much over 1/2oz.
Here's a few reasons why a baitcaster is the right tool:
– the line comes straight off a baitcaster (much less line wear)
– spinning reels aren't designed to handle heavy lures
– the way a spinning rod needs to be held will reduce the power and effiency of the angler
If backlashes and learning how to use a baitcaster are a concern let me assure you that it can be taught in only about 10 minutes. My six year old has been able to throw a baitcaster since he was 4. I've had many people out that learned how to use a baitcaster that day and fished the whole day without a backlash.
😀 A spinning rig:
has the center of gravity UNDER the point of support, making it more comfortable, and much more stable during high-drama moments;
doesn't have to be shifted from one hand for casting to the other for retrieving (unless you buy a left retrieve, which I would, but most people don't);
the reel has no moving parts when casting, making wear on the reel less than for a baitcaster, where the spool needs to spin (rapidly!) when casting;
How can line wear be greater? Rubbing on the first eyelet on the way out? On the spool lip? Surely those are inconsequentially small compared to the friction between line and tip eyelet when retrieving, since there's much higher tension on the line then, and this abrasion is the same for spin and baitcast.
I also don't understand what you mean by having less power and efficiency because of the way it's held. Can you expand on that?
Now, I'm willing to change my mind if my experience tells me I'm wrong, but so far I haven't heard any compelling arguments to disabuse me of my eanting to make the attempt. Most of what I hear sounds like recycled propaganda, because "that's the way it's ALWAYS been done". Has anyone else actually TRIED IT with proper spinning gear, not just with some bass /walleye rig?
I don't expect to have any trouble learning how to use a baitcaster, either. I'm pretty good with hand/eye coordination and usually pick up motor skills easily. But I've spent 40 years using spinning gear and (having already spent a small fortune buying only about 10% of what I'd like to to go muskie fishing), I'd rather not have to drop hundreds MORE on BC gear, and invoking the FURTHER wrath of SWIMBO. 
Hemi,
This is one of those things in life where you can try to convince yourself, but you will always be wrong… Me not trying to be a jerk either…
I used spinning gear the first few years I went seriously after pike. I bought about $500 worth of spinning gear for pike; Loomis and St. Croix rods, good reels, etc. Then, after spending time on the water I started recognizing weaknesses of spinning setups. For me, the biggest disadvantage was control… With a spinning setup, even well skilled and practiced, you will NEVER have control or casting accuracy like you will with a baitcasting setup. It isn’t even close.
I switched over to baitcasting equipment while still primarily targeting pike. What a difference… I went on a trip to Canada and casted shore lines and structure the whole trip. I had about 70 hours on the water that week learning and perfecting the baitcaster. I absolutely caught more fish because I could put the bait where the fish were tight to structure.
Initially, my brother in law was making fun of me while he was catching, and I was digging out back lashes. But once I figured out how to use the tool, he watched me catch fish. He tried to argue that I was just lucky, but the simple fact was that I was more accurate. The next year up to Canada, guess who was learning how to use a bait caster…
In addition to control, as Will and Slimeball said, you will find that your ability to work a bait properly will dramatically improve. You will also significantly decrease fatigue. As a result, It will also increase your fish catch rate….
I now have 12 baitcasting setups for pike and muskie. Why 12? Each one is different from the other in terms of length, stiffness, power, etc. As Slimball said, rods are tools. A medium weight 9 footer can cast a bucktail 3/4 of a mile. Now try to throw an 8" Hughes River Shaker, or a Dunwright Dancer with that rod and it might even snap… On the other hand, a 6'6 to 7'6 Heavy jerkbait rod will throw those heavier baits nicely, allow you to work the bait and get good side to side action. If you try throwing a 1.5 ounce bucktail with a jerkbait rod, you will not get nearly the distance…
You will go through a learning curve, and it is largely a “feel” thing. I have probably bought and sold 12 other rods that I thought were THE right rod for the job, only to find others that I liked the feel of better.
Those nice spinning rods I bought 10 years ago have not been used once since I learned how to use a bait caster.
Another point of reference… Other than a specialized jigging presentation, how many times have you seen guys on Muskie TV/Videos using spinning gear? There really is a reason for this.
No need to change hands if you learn how to cast correctly. With multiplying reels it isn't too important but the rule is that you should learn to reel with your dominant hand. This is super important with single action reels but as mentioned not too important with a multiplier.
The power of a baitcasting rod comes from the fact that you aren't holding/stabilizing the rod primarily with your wrist. Casting is also much easier because of the longer rod butt.
The looping way the line comes off a spinning reel is where the line wear comes from. Instead of sliding through all the guides in a straight line the loops make contact with all the guides. This also greatly reduces casting distance with heavier lines.
Have I tried it with the proper gear? Yes, I had one rigged a long time ago that I used a couple times for people that didn't know how to use a baitcaster. It was much easier for them to learn the baitcaster and be able to cast with the power and ease that comes with a baitcaster. If you have to use twice the energy to cast and holding the rod isn't as easy on your wrist when working muskie lures it quickly became obvious that even the proper spinning rod wasn't intended for casting and retrieving muskie lures.
Most of what I hear sounds like recycled propaganda, because "that's the way it's ALWAYS been done".
Really? Sorta like…
But I've spent 40 years using spinning gear
It isn't a question of if it will work at all or because it has always been done with a spinning rig. The baitcaster is designed for applications like muskie fishing. The spinning reels is designed to cast light lures that might be more difficult with a baitcaster.
"Will Schultz" said:
No need to change hands if you learn how to cast correctly. With multiplying reels it isn't too important but the rule is that you should learn to reel with your dominant hand.
This I disagree with…
I am right handed, and use left handed reels for these reasons:
First, this is what came and feels natural to me. When i used spinning reels, I always had the handle on the left side. When I picked up a baitcaster, I felt the handle should be on the left… Why change???
It is more efficient… I cast with my right hand on the reel and my left on the butt, and bring the rod over my right shoulder. My hand is on the reel from the start to the finish of the cast. In the mean time, I am moving my left hand to the handle.
Dexterity and power… With the rod and reel in my right (dominant0 hand, I can more effectively work a bait, and generate a powerful hook set. All my left hand has to do is crank a handle… No dexterity or power needed for that, and what you do need is easy to learn.
The "Right" way is what works for you, but my way is more efficient… [smilie=biggrin.gif]
Well, then you can all look forward to the day when you can say, "I told you so". 😀
Until then, I'm stuck with my woefully lame and inadequate spinning rig, since it's all I've got. Try not to laugh at me too much if you see me out there.
Hemi,
your absolutely right, you should use your spinning gear. Good luck man. [smilie=deadhorse.gif] [smilie=bangtard.gif] [smilie=brickwall.gif] [smilie=shakehead.gif]
J.: I'm sorry to be such a disappointment to you. I shall endeavor to be less so in the future. [smilie=tongue.gif]
Chemi –
Now I REALLY know you are an engineer — The question I have for everybody is how in the heck can you possibly work a jerkbait with a spinning rig ??? I dont think that it is even remotely possible. I also think we should set a date for the "ITYS" party for Chemi, lets see opening weekend is the 26th…I suppose we could work it in at the Intermediate outing 🙄
Spinning rig ==> [smilie=gayfight.gif] <== Musky bait
Chemi – [smilie=brickwall.gif]
Us – [smilie=grandpa.gif]
Chemi later on- [smilie=giveup.gif]
Us later on – [smilie=gayteehee.gif]
In the end – [smilie=cheers2.gif]
My – [smilie=2c.gif]
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