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darker colors and single blades at this time although

double blades have worked almost as well. I find most
of my early season strikes come near or at the surface
far off the boat. You can experiment with reel speed
and depth but most of your action will come at a faster,
steadier retrieve. I also prefer "Custom" Bucktails from
Hook Look Musky Lures and Musky Rods. One reason
is, in my opinion, the lures are better built, use better
components and are often cheaper than store bought

lures. The other reason is is that a custom lure maker
will often work with you in size and in the design of a
lure which you just don't find with larger lure companies.

The most successful top water lure I have thrown in the spring, is
without a doubt, the Poes Jackpot Series. The Jackpot comes in two

sizes. The "Giant" which measures six and a half inches and the
"Havana" which comes in at eight. I often will use the "Havana"
Jackpot in the fall as it offers a big target on the surface but will opt
for the "Giant" Jackpot in the spring simply due to its smaller size.
This top water gem is very "castable" making it easy to cover a lot of
water and not spook fish in shallow. Using the "Walk the Dog" technique, often found using top water
Bass lures, makes the Jackpot an easy to use and effective top water lure choice.

Suicks and Phantoms work great for Musky that are cruising the outside weed lines in search of prey. I
use the seven-inch Suick "Thriller" as my go-to lure for shallow to deep weed line areas. The proven
action of the "Thriller" has boated me a lot of fish over the years. If you bend the metal tail on the
"Thriller" just a little bit, you change the action of the lure which might help with those unsuccessful
"Hook-ups" you might encounter. Another one of my favorite lures is the "Phantom". The "standard"

six-inch Phantom is easy to work and comes in many patterns and colors. I use the "walleye" pattern all
year round as it has attracted and caught many large fish in both the spring and fall. Use it as a glide
bait, slow troll or slow retrieve, or let it fall as a countdown bait for deeper fish.

The reason for downsizing your lures in the spring is simple, match the size of what Muskies eat. There
is no need to even bring your large sized lures with as the chances of catching a fish are greatly reduced
if you are not matching what they are feeding on. Bring your favorite, smaller sized lures on your next
outing and with a little skill and a lot of luck you might just land that early season "Trophy" you've been
dreaming about in the off season.

Sources: www.phantomlures.com, Hook Look Lures and

Musky Rods, www.suick.com, www.yakimabaits.com

Captain Brian Koshenina is a professional fishing guide, USCG
Captain, tournament fisherman, outdoor writer, speaker,
mentor, volunteer, and Pro Staff member for some of the
most recognized companies in the fishing industry -
www.muskiesandmore.com.