Musky Rods: What To Look For

With Muskies being one of the most popular fresh water fish that anglers are looking to catch, it should come as no surprise that we get a lot of musky fishermen writing us with questions. Among one of the more common questions that they ask us is what should they look for when shopping for musky rods. Today, we’ll answer this question by giving you some tips and advice from our seasoned musky fishing staff.

Musky Rods Features

When looking to purchase a new musky rod, there are several key features of the rod that you should be looking at. Those features are:

• Rod length
• Rod action
• Rod quality

Musky Rods Length

One of the first things that you should take into consideration when shopping for musky rods is rod length. Over the years, musky rods have gotten considerably longer in length. The most popular muskie rods today range from 7′ up to over 9′. It’s pretty much impossible for us to say exactly which length would be best for you. The proper musky rod selection depends on the individual. Here are some factors to take into consideration when you are trying to select the best rod length.

• Your height
• The type of baits you will be using
• Fishing style (trolling or casting)
• Your experience level

We advise new musky fishermen to start with a 7’6″ rod. This length is perhaps the most versatile and can be used to cast both lighter and heavier lures, and also troll if you choose to do so.

Perhaps the best thing you could do would be to arrange a day fishing trip with a musky guide who has a wide selection of rods to practice with. This way, you’ll get to experiment with not just different rods, but also reels and baits, as well. A day with an experienced muskie angler is a wise investment for anybody looking to get into musky fishing. We recommend checking out TigerMuskie.net to locate a musky guide service near you.

Musky Rods Action

Musky rods come in a variety of action types, ranging from light to heavy. The lighter the action, the more flex the rod will have. The heavier the rod action, the stiffer the rod will be. For newbie muskie anglers, we advise going with a Medium or Medium Heavy action rod. Choosing an action style in the middle of the spectrum will give you the most versatility to use your rod and enjoy your experience. Going too light may cause you to get in trouble when casting lures, or may cost you a lost fish if you do happen to hook a monster. On the flip side, the vast majority of muskie fishermen will never catch a musky over 30 pounds. So, going with a Heavy action rod is overkill for most.

Musky Rods Quality

The last thing that you need to consider is the quality of the rod in terms or craftsmanship and materials used in the construction of the rod. The last thing you want to have happen is to have your rod break while trying to land a monster musky. Sure, you could go the cheap route and buy a Chinese made rod from the nearest superstore, but you’re likely to regret your decision much sooner rather than later. Don’t do that to yourself.

Among the top brands that we recommend here at JM Marine are St. Croix, Okuma, Abu Garcia, Fenwick, and Shimano. Choosing a rod from any of these top manufacturers will give you the piece of mind that the chances of your equipment failing you are minimized.

Musky Rods Conclusion

We hope that you have found this mini-guide helpful with selecting a musky rod. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.