Pete Maina has in his day handled thousands of big muskies. Ex-guide, lure inventor, TV personality, angler extraordinaire, Maina has worn many hats. Today, while he remains a zealous hunter of the big green fish, his real crusade is a message of placing fisheries first.

"No one is handling more muskies each and every day than we, the anglers," states Maina from his home in the muskie-rich region of Hayward, Wisconsin. "Not biologists, not lakeshore associations, tackle salesmen or legislators. Fishermen play such a huge role in actively determining the health of our muskie waters-in essence, we're the real managers of the fishery.

This is a tremendous little tip for use with any type of spinner lure, whether it's an in-line or overhead spinner style. It's exactly what I love in life: something very simple, comparatively easy and I really believe increases interest and reactive strikes. Simply put, most folks just reel their spinners straight in ... and often that works quite well with the combination of flash, vibration and a body to target.

Talk about a no-no it's like going muskie fishing without long-nose pliers and quality hook cutters, if you don't have 'em, don't go! Quality polarized glasses are an absolute must for any good muskie or pike fisher. And, it goes well beyond fishing efficiency, to eye protection. You only get one set of these eyeballs, and it's best to do everything you can to keep them healthy. It's amazing how folks will spend tons of money on boats, motors...on down to $30 + muskie lures, and then spend 10 bucks on sun glasses (often not even certain if theyre polarized). If protecting your eyes from harmful glare isn't reason enough, consider how many more fish you are likely to catch with quality polarization. Oakley polarized glasses (blue and amber lenses work well) http://oakley.com/category/465 , to me, offer the best in eye protection and polarization.

This subject is important for any species, but knowing how to properly use a net is especially important when it comes to big predators like muskie and northern pike. Done right, it's the most effective and safest (for angler and fish) way to land and release fish. The "safest" part is true- but based upon use of a quality, fish-friendly landing device, like the Frabill "Conservation Series" nets. (The nets mesh must have a quality coating and large enough holding area at the base.) Play any fish with moderate-to-heavy pressure, to tire it out and prepare it for leading into the net.

Edge fishing is common for all species of fish. Often, some of the better areas to target in a system that has them are distinct breaklines from shallow to deep water. These become natural travel and cover zones; more specifically, fish often congregate on more extreme areas of irregular breaklines (sharp points and inside turns). It is common for anglers to position their boats on the edge of these breaklines and cast in shallow to structures and across the edge.

There are big advantages to multiple anglers. After decades of guiding, generally a couple anglers at a time, every day, you'd think I'd like to spend a day or two just fishing alone. And I do, if it's relaxing bobber-watching for a higher density species, but if I'm even halfway serious about muskie-catching, I can't stand fishing alone - simply because it's utterly inefficient. When you are talking about a low density critter like a muskie, or trophy northern pike, some "time" needs to be put in for a lure to be truly tested. While weather, time of year, previous patterns and hunches may dictate what is more likely to work, every day is actually a test of you most efficiently finding out what the fish are in the mood for; not what you think they should be in the mood for. Never, ever, start a day with two or more anglers using the same presentation. It just doesn't make a lick of sense, especially when we're talking artificial lure use for esox species.

A BIG secret - that doesn't involve a "secret" lure; rather, increasing significantly, the capability of your favorite lures - to become secret weapons - as compared to other folks' lures of the exact same kind. And actually, it's a great off-season project for folks who chase muskie and pike where the water stays hard and/or have a closed season to fish for the species. What's the big secret? Simply use all your favorite lures in a clear water situation, lots...without any concern for trying to catch a fish - try everything possible until you learn everything that can be learned about what looks best - and the limits of the lure (i.e. depth, speed, etc.).

I've spent many seasons now as a muskie angler and guide (to the point where I'd rather not get specific). As a result, I've endured many a muskie story. Of course, the bulk of these are of "the one that got away" variety (specimens cited in the telling are of extreme proportions). I've watched many a muskie shake-off, not-get-hooked and even skillfully avoided as potential captors managed to whisk-away their offering before snapping jaws could close around them.