Ok, ill jump in here man. West Branch is one of the top five musky lakes in Ohio imo. It may actually be fact. If you do decide to take on this species, PLEASE, and i cannot stress it enough, make sure you learn how to properly handle the fish, and make sure that you are using the right equipment. Heres just one example, If your using a line that is too light, you will have to play the fish too long. By the time it gets to the boat, it will be so exhausted, that it will not survive, almost indefinitely. Or best case scenario it will snap you off and take the hook and line with it. Its a lose, lose, situation. Another thing, is have a big enough, and right kind of net. The best thing would be a musky cradle.
These fish are VERY fragile. More so than most fish (especially in summertime). Do not keep them out of water for any more time than it takes to have picture, and measurement. Have camera and ruler ready before bringing fish in the boat. If you think im being anal about all this, just talk to any guy that is even semi-serious about the sport. Also, Musky gear is expensive, theres no doubt about it. Everything is bigger, so it costs more. Although lots of times, you can find used musky gear in good condition here on OGF in the marketplace forum. Lots of guys get into this sport, then after one year, realize that they dont have the time or patience. Then they sell it here.

Now that all the negative talk is over, this is a very rewarding species to target. They are not easy to catch, but when a plan comes together, the payoff...oh man the payoff when after "1000" casts that fish comes up on your 10inch bait, one foot away from the boat, and then just unleashes on the thing! It'll make you jump up and pucker every time! Ive seen guys almost fall out of the boat! Its always at the most unexpected time like the first cast of the day at 530am! Or when youve been casting the same spot for 4 hours, and your not really paying attention. They know... I miss going to WB for ski's. Too busy with the walleye these days.

As far as "KILLING IT"... Your "killing it", if you catch 2 or more musky per day, i would say that qualifies. On another note, people nail the snot out of the specks on that lake, maybe thats more up your alley....? Do you like to keep your catch? Erie dearie, reef runner, jigs, sounds like walleye talk. Is this what your after? If so, WB is probably not the best place to go, but they are in there. Theres a reason you have only caught a couple in 2 years.

Ok there you go, now i can sleep sound tonight knowing that you have at least the very basic info for the musky. Good luck to you.

 

stop at marks bait and tackle, pick up a few boss shads, run one back 8' and the other 16' troll. sooner or later you should hook up with a musky.

 

I have a couple boss shad baits, one in firetiger and one clown...I have trolled them a few hours but no musky yet. Those lures really pull hard at 3.5-4 mph. I know eventually i will catch one. I am just used to a decent amount of action on lake erie.


Posted using Outdoor Hub Campfire

 

They call Musky "The fish of 10,000 casts" for a reason! If you want to catch numbers try LMB fishing. I do pretty well there and there are some big ones. You can catch nice smallies too by rocky areas.

 

If you think those boss shads are pulling hard, just wait til you get a fish on. Like i said, make sure you have the right gear to handle it.

 

I agree lot of people go there for the Musky and Cats but don't hear about those stacking up for big numbers like Bass would. My experiences there its always been timing and hit or miss for me for Bass. Tougher Bass lake. My buddy did it once for Bass there and we both did it once with the shad on topwater. It's not a big numbers lake though to me except maybe Crappie bite. Right now the jet skis and recreation boats have the waves going everywhere and looks pretty tough. Water still high.

 

I only like to fish for big fish with teeth... in the past month I've caught 12 Muskie, and 10 of those on Muskie Train MX6 lures... including multiple fish days and personal bests of 41" for me, and 47.5" for Lucius.

Here's a video of a 38.5" I caught yesterday on an MX6 Albino Firetiger.

[ame]http://youtu.be/xTdhqijGLb0[/ame]

But... I talked to someone at the docks who said West Branch is a sleeper for Walleye, and not many people know about it. That same morning, a guy was coming off the lake in the morning with a limit. So, it seems the Muskie will be eating good!

 

I have caught plenty of large fish...do musky fight much harder than steelhead pike and salmon? I have some okuma great lakes 8' 6" rods with diawa accudepth 27 line counters spooled with 30lb power pro...my rod holders are all aluminum, i am not really worried about my gear failing.


Posted using Outdoor Hub Campfire

 

I have caught plenty of large fish...do musky fight much harder than steelhead pike and salmon? I have some okuma great lakes 8' 6" rods with diawa accudepth 27 line counters spooled with 30lb power pro...my rod holders are all aluminum, i am not really worried about my gear failing.


Posted using Outdoor Hub Campfire

It sounds like you can get started with that gear. I use 60 lb. Power Pro - and that's probably as low as you should go, since Muskie in West Branch can get over 50" and more than that in pounds. I keep the drag set so a Muskie can take line, to a point... enough to keep pressure and reel it in, but enough for them to take line if they want it. I fish alone a lot, so I need time to slow the troll, grab the rod, get the boat headed in a good direction, and put it in neutral... without creating slack - then start cranking and grabbing the net. Solo is tough with a big brute like a Muskie on the line... it's also a huge rush!

They can make long powerful runs - it's not the same kind of run you get from a Steelhead or Salmon, a little like a Pike but a lot stronger. They can shoot up into the air and give massive head shakes or make ferocious runs when brought to the boat / net. A lot of them are lost before they make it to the net... during the retrieve and at the boat. Others just give the lure a rip and they're gone.

 

Fun question about which fish fights harder. I've only caught steelhead and musky trolling. My opinion is that pound for pound the steelhead easily outfights a musky and is overall the most fun fish that I've caught. However, musky get gigantic and the strength of the big ones, plus the jumping and head shakes make them pretty awesome. The best part is that both of these incredible fish are available here. In both cases, make sure all of your tackle is sufficient for these beasts. We once had a (relatively) little 28" musky cut two lines, both 50lb braid after he was in the net. We've also had steelhead break swivels and 30 lb braid.


Sent from my iPhone using Ohub Campfire

 

I agree tackle wise, I got schooled with steelhead. My buddy tried to tell me what I needed and I didn't listen, lost 7 fish (sucked pretty bad) I was under gunned. I watched a muskie brake 12lb floro like 2lb just two weeks ago "head shake,head shake,gone"

 

Fight for fight I think a steelhead fights harder but usually I am using much different equipment for that fishing than I am musky. Musky fun usually starts at the boat/net and then all hell breaks loose. If you get a steelhead to that point, they're pretty much in the net. I always say hooking a steelhead, in the lake, is one thing...landing them is another. As E Leigh said...we are blessed to have them both here available for our enjoyment.

 

I only like to fish for big fish with teeth... in the past month I've caught 12 Muskie, and 10 of those on Muskie Train MX6 lures... including multiple fish days and personal bests of 41" for me, and 47.5" for Lucius.

Here's a video of a 38.5" I caught yesterday on an MX6 Albino Firetiger.

http://youtu.be/xTdhqijGLb0

But... I talked to someone at the docks who said West Branch is a sleeper for Walleye, and not many people know about it. That same morning, a guy was coming off the lake in the morning with a limit. So, it seems the Muskie will be eating good!

Before anyone gets the wrong idea 95% of Ohio muskies diet consists of gizzard shad. Sure they may grab the eye or bass you're reeling in on occasion but so will any other predator fish if they sense a free meal.

 

This is directed to rainbow or anyone else who can help.
Please PM me answers or just reply here if possible. Thank u all.

Ive gotten a few muskie at west branch but would like to know as much as possible because I'm still pretty new. I usually launch my boat down by the dam at the boat ramp off gilbert rd. First question is u said u have been doing real good on the train mx6 lures. What colors seem to be the best. And can u buy those anywhere local? Another question is I have a 15 HP 4 stroke motor on a 14 foot lund. I troll at the idle speed. Is this to slow. And I was getting a few muskie a few weeks ago but can't find them now. Are they deeper. How deep should I troll . I usually troll shoreline. Also if u know any other lures u do pretty good on please let me know. I hope I'm not bothering anyone with these questions but would really like to learn how to catch these fish better.

 

I'd highly recommend the book on this website http://www.ohiomuskiefishing.com/ What he recommends for early spring and summer have worked great for me. Haven't really fished the late spring for musky and it's not helpful at all for the fall. The information he gives is a great starting point if you're just getting into it.


Sent from my iPhone using Ohub Campfire

 

I had some big fun thru the years on WB when a 20+lb Muskie grabs a jig flipped in the bushes aimed for bass on 10 feet of line.

 

There is musky in west branch?

 

This is directed to rainbow or anyone else who can help.
Please PM me answers or just reply here if possible. Thank u all.

Ive gotten a few muskie at west branch but would like to know as much as possible because I'm still pretty new. I usually launch my boat down by the dam at the boat ramp off gilbert rd. First question is u said u have been doing real good on the train mx6 lures. What colors seem to be the best. And can u buy those anywhere local? Another question is I have a 15 HP 4 stroke motor on a 14 foot lund. I troll at the idle speed. Is this to slow. And I was getting a few muskie a few weeks ago but can't find them now. Are they deeper. How deep should I troll . I usually troll shoreline. Also if u know any other lures u do pretty good on please let me know. I hope I'm not bothering anyone with these questions but would really like to learn how to catch these fish better.

I'd be kicking up your speed some. If you have a GPS try in the 3 to 4.5 mph area. Muskies will shift with the rise and fall of the water levels along with the color of the water. Always changing but always close to the same. Not catching them like before? Stay in that general area and either move deeper or shallower.

Remember that you now have to deal with the pleasure boaters but that doesn't mean you can't catch fish...

Sent from my SM-G900V using Ohub Campfire mobile app