Muskie On The Fly @ Fellows?

[Andrew324]

Okay, I did enough searching before asking this question. I've got all this big rod setup for chasing browns on the North Fork, but I only get to do that every once and a while. Anyone ever heard of someone targeting muskie specifically on the fly at Fellows? I guess you would need a boat? I guess most fly anglers don't have a boat or are prepared to handle a muskie? Thoughts?

[Feathers and Fins]

Never done it on Fellows but I have on Lake of the Woods and other Northern Lakes. Its not something new to target Musky with a fly-rod. 7 to 12wt rod, large flies and 12'' of 30 to 60lb wire leaders. I see no reason you couldnt target them on Fellows ( Im not familiar with the lake itself as far as rules for boating goes) I would say have fun with them they are a fun fish on a fly. And even on a flypole remember FIGURE 8!

[Wayne SW/MO]

I think the trout commander might have an interest in that?

[Andrew324]

Went to Fellows today and fished from the points and banks. Switched it up on a 7wt with both floating/sinking lines. Caught a few largemouth. No muskie. I think you would definitely want a boat.

[Jack Jones]

Hey Andrew, what flies were you fishing for both your floating and sinking lines? I'd love to get an idea of what works at Fellows. Also, type/length of leader?

[Andrew324]

Hey Andrew, what flies were you fishing for both your floating and sinking lines? I'd love to get an idea of what works at Fellows. Also, type/length of leader?

I was fishing minnow and bait fish patterns. Two in particular that my ex-girlfriend's mom bought me (subsequently I never use them, and figured I could care less if I loss them haha). They both had unweighted eyes, and sparkle hair, craft fur type stuff. I think any clouser in bright green would be good. These flies I was using yesterday were mostly olive and brown.

As far as leader setup, with the floating line I used a standard 9' 5x leader. When I had the sinking on I just used about two feet of 15lb monofilament as the leader. Very much the same setup I use on the North Fork of the White River for browns out of the driftboat. The sinking line is Scientific Anglers Streamer Express 250 grain 7wt. It has its advantages, one which I like better for Fellows, is you don't get a whole ton of back casting room, so its really just one false cast and BOOM you shoot that tungsten head as far as you can. Then I just erratically stripped in back in. Anytime I would snag, since I was using that 15lb, I was pulling logs off the bottom of the lake.

I would really like to get out onto a boat and explore Fellows. A co-worker of mine goes to Pomme and Stockton often, I might see if he would take me out on fellows in his boat. Yesterday was my first time, and I really wanna battle a big muskie on a fly rod!

[Wayne SW/MO]

How does that Streamer Express roll cast? Are you able to get it on the surface easily?

[Andrew324]

The streamer express line does not roll cast well, at least with the White River Classic I'm using it with. You have to get a few strips of the tungsten in before you can pick it up and throw it. Whenever the shooting head is in the air (its rather long, I think 30-40 feet) it flies. It definitely tests your casting ability. The Classic is a mediocre rod for the line I think. I would rather the rod have more backbone like a TFO Axiom. I agree with Jeremy Hunt that when your throwing these large setups, its better to have almost dang near a saltwater rig, a super strong stiff fly rod.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I fish a lot of weighted flies, clousers, etc. and the lines that roll cast fairly well work better for me. I have slow rods and fast rods, it seems that modifying the casting stroke is also important. I've been reluctant to invest in any of the new full sinks because the cost prohibits experimenting.

The Axiom is said to be a real cannon, but many people end up overlining it. One effect of overlining is to slow the rod down and I suspect that is the end porpose in many cases. It might not be the White River, it might be that you need a faster rod to match your casting style.

[Gavin]

Did a musky on the fly trip up in Ontario years ago...10wt rod...12" of wire tippet, then about 4' of 20-30lb fluoro tied to a sinking head and running line. Flies were big articulated patterns with a double hook and half a chicken on the back..other half of the chicken and some bucktail on the front with eyballs the size of a quarter. Total fly length was in the 12-14" range...Super heavy rig...about the only way to cast it was to keep about 20' of line out the tip. Let your backcast flop to help water load the rod and shoot the rest on your forward cast. Dont think that a 7wt will toss a fly big enough to interest a musky. You'll want a boat as well. Cheers.