Muskie Reels

Andy Schwartz, Stevens Point, Wisconsin: "I've got a question regarding muskie reels. I'm thinking about buying a new one and I'd like to purchase a lower-profile model than the traditional big round style. This reel would be used exclusively for casting, so a flippin' switch would come in handy. The problem is that very few of the round style baitcasters have this feature. I figure that most muskie anglers use the bigger reels because of the extra line capacity, but if I'm using 50-lb. Power Pro, I think I could get enough line on a smaller reel. Will the drag on the low-profile reels stand up to muskies, or am I going to have to settle for another round reel? P.S. Love your show!"

I don't know many, if any, reels that still have the flippin' feature you mention. I don't know what good it would do for casting.

A low-profile reel is an excellent choice for use with smaller lures like the jigs I often cast (up to 1.5 ounces or so) and the smaller bucktails like the Bluefox Musky Buck. The bigger round reels are for heavier lure options, so you'll probably end up like me having both options on hand. I use 50- or 65-pound Spiderwire Stealth on the low profiles.

Muskies aren't all that tough. By saltwater standards they hardly fight at all. Still, around cover you need to put pressure on them. But you can do that even with the low-profile option in most situations. I usually couple the low-profile with a modestly heavy casting rod like a bass flippin' stick.

Good fishing to you,

Catching Pond Bass

Mark Williams, Round Rock, Texas: "I have several of your videos on bass fishing, although I'm having a tough time getting bass to bite. I'm fishing a pond that has a lot of pressure on it. It's adjacent to a neighborhood that has a lot of people who throw everything under the sun in it. It has a lot of vegetation mainly on the edges and is only 5-7 feet deep at the most. In the mornings the bass are hitting topwater forage like crazy, everything but what I throw. I've used spinnerbaits, crankbaits, jigs, Texas-rigged worms, and everything else and still get no response. I've only caught 2 bass in over a dozen 1-2 hour trips.

"I try to follow the videos and go with current, contours, and structure, but besides the shallow weeds there are no overhanging trees or underwater structures to be found. Oh where could they be and what are they biting? I'm about to use explosives! I appreciate your time."

When dealing with high fishing pressure like you have at that pond, there are several possible remedies.

• First, as you have noticed, the bass are feeding early in the morning. Get out there at first light.
• As for lures, try small, clear walking baits such as the Zara Puppy, which is 1/4-ounce and 3 inches long. The fish can't really identify the lure and will eat it, while ignoring others.
• Another trick is using those kinked prerigged worms. Berkley just came out with a good one. Others include the Little Action Mac and The Worm. They look odd, but will catch bass that are relatively shallow when it seems nothing else will. Just wind them slowly, either unweighted or with a small split shot ahead of the worm. If grass is too thick, use the ones with weedguards.

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