January 04, 2026

PMTT Deets - Expo Peek - Schaeffer Mods

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Expo Season Is Almost Here

Strangely enough, this is one of the busiest times of year in the musky world (especially for bait makers) even though most of the Musky Belt is locked up.

Show season is right around the corner, and everyone is scrambling to get ready. New gear is about to be unveiled, including bucktails, hard baits, soft baits, leaders, and storage systems. It's basically Christmas, round two, for musky heads.

Here’s a quick look at what’s coming up:

🔹 Chicago Muskie Expo (Jan 16–18)
🔹 Ohio Musky Show (Jan 23–25)
🔹 New York Musky Expo (Jan 31–Feb 1)
🔹 Milwaukee Muskie Expo (Feb 13–15)
🔹 Minnesota Muskie Expo (Feb 27–Mar 1)
🔹 Muskie Max Expo, PA (Feb 28–Mar 1)
🔹 Wisconsin Musky Expo (Mar 20–22)
🔹 Muskie Odyssey (March 29)

For those of you who haven’t locked in your 2026 budget yet… now would be a good time to do that. 💰

The Chicago Show is less than two weeks away and should be a fun one to kick things off.

We’ll have a booth this year, so make sure to stop by and say hello. You’ll find us right next door to the Angling Revolution booth, where they’ll be rolling out their new Squiddy Tubes along with several other new products.

There might be a giveaway at our booth to make it worth your while.😉

And keep an eye out for next week’s issue. We’ll be rolling out our annual new product showcase, highlighting custom colors, new gear, and show-only finds you’ll start seeing from manufacturers and retailers as expo season gets rolling. 👀

Schaeffer Mods and Tips

For a lot of us, there’s still a solid 4–5 month wait before we’re back chasing muskies. But one way to scratch that musky itch is by tinkering and gettin’ prepped for next season with some simple lure mods.

During a recent Musky Insider PRO Q&A, Wisconsin guide Bryan Schaeffer shared a couple slick tube mods that are easy to do and flat out effective.

Tube Mod #1

Single Trailer Hook + Big Mogambo Tail for Shallow Water

Bryan says this setup for shallow tubes cuts down on snagging weeds, adds extra vibration, and really shines when you’re rippin’ tubes over weed tops.

Tube Mod #2

Double Twister Tail on the Stinger Hook

“The tails add extra kick but they don’t slow it down too much. The tube darts around really nice, and the tails help prevent it from twisting and rolling.”

The Headlamp That Changed Bryan’s Night Fishing

Bryan also dropped a hot tip on a headlamp he’s been running that, in his words, has “completely changed night fishing” for him… the PEAX Backcountry Duo Headlamp.

Using red light to avoid spooking following fish isn’t new. What stood out to Bryan was just how bright the red light is on this thing.

“It has by far the brightest red light setting I’ve ever seen on a headlamp. You can choose between three different red brightness levels, plus white.

You can see big blades coming in with the red light from way out. It’s easy to spot follows or check for weeds on your bait. Battery life has been solid, and it’s rechargeable.

The red light is so bright you can actually net fish and do everything you need to without switching to white. Even the middle red setting is plenty bright and that’s usually what I run.”

Bryan also shared some slick mods for dive-and-rise baits and sucker rigs, along with some A+ seasonal insights and timing tips.

If you’re a PRO member and missed it live, the full recording is waiting for you in the member portal.

Not a PRO member yet? You can hop on the waitlist here.

2025 PMTT Schedule Dropped

The Professional Musky Tournament Trail (PMTT) dropped their 2025 schedule in a Facebook post this week. 👇

Obviously, the big news and biggest surprise was the Championship location. 👀

The PMTT announced that the 2026 season-ending Recon Boats World Championship will be held at the Northwest Angle of Lake of the Woods on September 17–19, 2026.

PMTT Tournament Director Tim Widlacki summed up the decision like this:

“This location embodies everything the PMTT stands for: challenge, camaraderie, and conservation. It’s a place where legends are made.”

Often referred to as the Crown Jewel of musky country, the Northwest Angle is one of the most storied fisheries in the sport. Big water, endless structure, and legitimate trophy potential make it a bucket-list destination for many musky anglers.

A couple anglers hoping to punch their ticket back to that championship are Musky Insider PRO instructors Ty Sennett and Gregg Thomas, both coming off title-winning seasons in 2025.

Ty enters the year as the reigning PMTT Champion, while Gregg will be looking to defend his Top Gun title. Both know exactly what it takes to survive the grind of a PMTT season and should be right in the mix again.

As expected, the comments section lit up like a Christmas tree. Reactions to the schedule were mixed. Would you expect anything less from a bunch of musky keyboard warriors on Facebook?

Here are a few comments that seemed to capture the overall vibe:

“No matter where they hold these events guys are going to cry about it.

'Too far east.’

‘Too far west.’

‘Fish are small.’

‘Too low of density.’

‘I have criminal offenses.’

The PMTT can’t please us all. If you are out, you are out. Don’t cry about it.”

The follow-up comment was absolute gold:

“Must be your first day on FB.” 😂

Some expressed concerns about water temps in Iowa during August, which is understandable.

The pushback from some on Lake of the Woods, however, was a bit surprising, considering it’s widely regarded as one of the best musky fisheries in the world and a dream destination for many anglers. That said, there were plenty of anglers who were clearly excited about the choice as well.

The first two events on the schedule won’t shock anyone. If you look back over the last 25 years of the PMTT, stops at Cave Run and the Eagle River Chain show up again and again, often at the same time of year.

Veteran teams don’t seem to mind the familiarity and tradition, which can be an advantage for anglers who have been fishing the circuit for years. At the same time, it can be a deterrent for newer teams who are more selective about where they burn vacation time unless it’s big fish water during a prime window.

That said, the back half of the schedule should still offer some quality fish.

The last time the PMTT visited the Okoboji and Spirit Lake system, fish up to 48.5 inches were registered, with multiple 50-inchers caught during practice. That included this one from Matt Raley:

And there’s little doubt Lake of the Woods will finish things off with some big ones. All in all, it should be an interesting year. No matter where you fall on the schedule debate, this one will definitely be talked about.

This Week's Mashup:

Mashup time!

#1 – Some ultra-clear water for ya! This time it’s a release shot from Tie 1 On Fishing, and the POV? Ridiculously cool.

#2 – This design from Musky Fool Fly Fishing Co. reminds us all about the dangers of musky fishing. 😂

“People tell you it's bad for you, that it's taking a toll, that you should quit while you still can. But the truth is - you never will.”

#3 – If gliders are your jam, the redesigned Savage Gear Shine Glide Pro just landed at Ezoko. It comes in 14 colors and 4 sizes and the new design allows for longer casts and a wider glide that triggers fish.

#4 – Before and after time! Bear’s Wild Creations Feather Art & Décor puts in the tedious hours so the final piece can look like this. Tiny details everywhere, huge payoff. 👀

QUICK HITTERS:

– TWO MUSKIES IN THE FOG (video) w/ Smith’s Fishing Outdoors

– The most INSANE Bite Window I've Ever Seen, MUSKY Fishing In CANADA (video) w/ Matt Vavroch Fishing

– Inside Year One at Crow Rock Lodge | Wins, Challenges & BIG Muskies! (video) w/ Musky Mastery

– 2025 MUSKIE BRAWL THE ULTIMATE BATTLE (video) w/ The Grateful Anglers

– 10 Day November Musky Challenge - WE HOOKED A MONSTER!! - Day 1-2 (video) w/ Todays Angler

– Musky Fly Tying With Signature Tyer Joe Goodspeed | the Musky Commander (video) w/ Fulling Mill Fly Fishing

This Week's Monster Muskies:

Last issue we did a "Pink Day" takeover and asked readers to dig through their camera rolls and match their photos to the 2025 Pink Days on our Facebook post. You sent in your pink day ‘skies, and they did not disappoint.

If you’re an Insider PRO member you can hop on the member portal to access 2026 Pink Days so you plan your “sick days” accordingly. 😉 If you’re not a member yet, you can hop on the waitlist right here.

Alright, let's share a few pics!

Grinding all week for one bite? Worth it. This 54” St. Lawrence giant ate on a gnarly current seam where it all came together for John Bigham.

When the bite finally came, Zach Swarts scored this Lake Erie giant on a holographic perch crankbait.

When the lake’s seen it all, you stay up later. Brent Garbett burned the midnight oil for this blonde bruiser.

“Right where they should be.” Tyler Lancaster shares his buddy Jesse Hutchinson’s porked-out Eagle Lake tank that posted up on the edge of deep water.

Wanna be featured in Musky Insider? Send in your recent trophy musky photos by replying to this email. You might just see your pic in next week's newsletter. 🤙

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