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Bait Sequencing and Lure Dominance
We were pumped for last Thursday’s Musky Insider PRO live Q&A with Steve Herbeck, and as always, he brought the gold.
One hot topic Josh and Herbie kicked around was strategy around bait sequencing while fishing spots.
Both Josh and Herbie like to run their baits in a fastest-to-slowest sequence for the most part. Faster, straight-retrieve baits like bucktails cover water quickly, convert in the figure-8, and have A+ hook-up percentages. The idea is to fish as fast as you can get away with while using a high hooking percentage bait. Slower, more erratic, lower-percentage hookers come later in the line-up.
There are exceptions though. Herbie pointed out that sometimes a guide trip is all about one person in the boat sticking the fish. When this is the case, that angler goes up front with whatever bait has been hot, no matter the speed or hook-up rate.
Josh also shared another wrinkle. “If there’s a bucktail color or size that’s been hot, I’ll move it into the two-hole and use it as a control. Then I can figure out what other colors and sizes will work, and eventually narrow down which one is most preferred or dominant.”
Every time there’s action in the two-hole, he switches the one-hole until that rod starts scoring too. Once multiple baits are producing, you can run head-to-head tests, swapping positions until the dominant one reveals itself.
Herbie agreed, noting that if a presentation consistently catches behind another, it’s usually a sign of dominance. He added that this isn’t just about bucktails. The same thinking can apply to your entire lineup.
The discussion branched into all kinds of juicy stuff: spot sequencing, cast angles, how wind and current affect fish positioning, and more.
Not ready to go all in? You can still grab individual classes here. But remember, all of them are included if you’re in PRO.
Not a PRO member yet?
We recently cleared the waitlist and reopened the doors. It won’t last forever.
Now’s your chance to join the crew, watch replays like this one, and get access to our limited drop of custom-colored Mag Dawgs, Pounders, and Magnum Shallow Swimmin’ Dawgs. Members are already boating big fish on them.
There are still a few left, but not for long. Learn more and lock in your spot here.
Man Overboard!
This week we’ve got belly flops, boat bails, and a few epic “did-that-just-happen?!” fish stories.
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#1 Corey Kitzmann
Corey kicks things off with a crisp 49-incher caught on a new Angling Revolution prototype.
A couple spots later, Big Mama comes knockin’. She smokes the proto right at the boat, power-dives underneath, and with Corey’s drag locked tight, shoots straight between his legs. Next thing you know, Corey’s doin’ a front flip into the drink.
He pops up, hands his bro the rod, climbs back aboard… and the fish is still hooked. Into the bag she goes — a fat 52. Talk about a comeback.
Pretty sure that fish just added “human rodeo” to her resume.
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#2 Bryan Rause
Bryan’s got the hero-hold routine dialed — quick, clean, and minimal time out of the water. But when it’s time for the release?
Let’s just say he decides to go all in. You know it’s true love when you follow her right into the drink. 😂
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Nobody gets wet here, but this vid proves the legendary rule: pee break = fish strike.
Usually, it’s your boat partner who scores on the “power play” while you’re taking care of business… but not this time.
John warms the water temps — then warms up the fish.
Bathroom breaks: the most underrated musky tactic in history. 😂
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#4 Aiden & Emmett Johnson
On their Canadian musky trip, Emmett channeled his inner Castaway and hopped off the boat to fish from a random rock (as you do). Seconds later, he’s screaming he’s hooked up — while Aiden’s got one eating at the boat.
Two fish on, one guy stranded on a rock, and a swim required to net his fish. Somehow, they bag ‘em both.
Pure chaos. Who needs a boat when you’ve got rocks, swim trunks, and blind optimism?
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Speaking of optimism… these two carried that same energy into the MN High School Muskie Championship. 👇
These two stuck to shallow structure, chuckin’ blades and topwater both during pre-fishing and game day. After losing one at the previous spot, they regrouped and stuck a stout 46.75” muskie to lock up the win.
She came flyin’ off current-swept structure and absolutely crushed Aiden’s Musky Frenzy 8/9 Stagger — right in the third turn of the 8. 👀
This year’s championship brought in 14 qualifying teams who tallied 3 muskies and 9 pike — a pretty spicy mix for the leaderboard. Weather wasn’t brutal, but it threw just enough curveballs to keep things interesting. 🔥
Tournament director Dave Schueck shared a first for the event in a tougher category:
“We needed to disqualify 2 of the muskies that were caught. This was a hard decision but the rules exist to help make these decisions fairly. Both teams handled the decision with grace.”
The biggest muskie of the tourney — a 49-incher — got DQ’d after it wasn’t fully registered in the app before the closing time. It was caught on a walleye-colored Bulldawg.
The other was a 45.25-incher caught in the weeds after an extended battle. Sadly, it wasn’t a successful release, despite the team’s best efforts. They fought to revive that fish for two hours, stayed on the phone with Dave multiple times for advice, and showed some rock-solid ethics in a tough situation.
Wild day. 👏 Huge congrats to the champs and to all the teams that battled their way into the event. Can’t wait to see who shows up next year. 👀
Mashup time!
#1 – Raft Rodeo
Boatside eats? Cute. Try a raft-side eat where the fish is basically in your lap. Connor Norgrove was bobbin’ around in a nine-foot inflatable when a 49 ¼” torpedo came unhinged on a TNA Angry Dragon — right at his toes. The clip’s pure pandemonium and we’re here for it.
#2 – French Fries with Fins
Insider PRO instructor + fisheries biologist Kamden Glade shared this vid of musky frylings getting chauffeured to their summer growth spa—a rearing pond—where they’ll pack on inches before becoming someone’s future trophy.
#3 – Balam Big Boys
Calling all swimbait junkies: Ezoko’s stocked with the legendary Madness Balam 245 & 300. Four joints, silicone tail, and a swim so pretty it should be illegal. Slow roll, twitch, or walk it—these things look sweet! 👀
#4 – Eddie, Immortalized
Artist Brandon DeNormandie went full beast mode with a mixed-media tribute to the one and only Eddie the Musky—textured layers, inky blasts, bold strokes. It’s raw, it’s gnarly, and it’s got Eddie’s “come at me” vibe locked in.
QUICK HITTERS:
– FISHING FOR RIVER MUSKIES IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN!! Unique River Musky Lure (video) w/ Angling Anarchy
– All NIGHT Musky Fishing On The Chippewa Flowage!! (video) w/ Todays Angler
– The Musky That Started It All - EP1 The Figure 8 Chronicles (video) w/ Musky Fool Fly Fishing Co.
– MY BEST BUCKTAIL BITE EVER - MUSKY FISHING (video) w/ Smith’s Fishing Outdoors
– A Day in the Life of a Non-Typical MUSKY GUIDE…July 18/25 (video) w/ 54 or bust
Levi Puetz sent a Lee Lures Chopper screaming across Central Minnesota waters, and this 51-inch queen came in hot like she owned the place — smashed it, thrashed it, and posed like royalty for the camera. 👑
Lake Nipissing just keeps cranking out tanks — case in point: Scott Scarpelli’s 51 ¾-inch tank that lunched a Monster Tube. Pure Canadian muscle! 💪
Dan Konopacky didn’t waste any time on his LOTW trip with brother Dave. First fish of the run was a 52.5” bruiser that set the tone right away. 🔥
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