My name is Capt. Tim Hanske and I LOVE muskies. Wherever I am, somehow, I will think about muskies. Is that thunder? The muskies would be snapping right now! Or my favorite text I have received this year was “the full moon for July is coming up, let’s plan on trolling. After I put my kids to sleep works best for me, you in?” If you experience this type of inner and outer dialogue, you my friend, are addicted to muskies. You put in hours of hard work for minutes of slimy high-fives and making new memories with your fellow addicts. Each one of us has our own version of what is the best way to get muskies to bite...this is mine.
Captain Hanske with a great muskie
As a professional fishing guide, I look for baits that catch fish in all conditions. Many times, I only have my clients for 6 or 8 hrs, and I want to be throwing baits that I have confidence in. Let's talk about a Bigtooth Tackle Company muskie bait that has quickly become one of those confidence baits.
The Bigtooth Tackle KLACK Weedless and the KLACK Open Water baits have become a “top three” bait for me during the summer and fall months. I like to think of the Bigtooth KLACK baits as the reaction bite lure of the muskie industry. We all have seen the undeniable results that Rapala Jigging Raps have done for the walleye world, and the KLACK bait has done the same for me and my muskie customers. Simply put, the KLACK bait makes fish attack, even if they are in a negative mood.
Fishing with the KLACK Weedless bait
The classic way, and honestly one of the most exciting ways to fish the KLACK Weedless is casting into reed beds. This bite typically will start from July and run all the way through September. I like reed beds that are in 2-8 feet of water, have nice hard bottom, and have some sporadic cabbage growth. Start before the actual reed bed and casting the edges, outsides, and insides before beginning the siege into the reeds.
Captain Hanske with a client and their muskie
Now, the KLACK bait is a weedless surface bait that makes muskies go insane, I have seen them chase it 50 feet until the bait exits the reeds and then they smash it. However, to keep it weedless and fish properly, it takes the right gear. A longer rod such as a the Svartzonker Black Series “All Duty” paired with an Abu Garcia Revo Toro Beast with help you bomb the KLACK and fish it efficiently through the reeds.
I tell my clients to cast the KLACK bait like they are trying to get it stuck in the reeds. Just before the Bigtooth KLACK hits that water, start reeling the bait with your rod tip high. With practice, you will need to find a good cadence to reel, but typically these baits require a medium to fast retrieve. As the boat gets closer to you, lower your rod tip and eventually drop it under water and finish with a figure eight. Do a figure-8...I will say it one more time, do a figure-8!!
Tim Hanske with a catch-and-released muskie
I have seen it way too many times where someone will not do a figure-8, because they do not see a fish directly behind your bait...then they get a massive boat side strike and must change their shorts after saying “OH MAN, I didn’t even see that fish!” as it swims away. Muskies are like bigfoot, they will only show themselves when they want you to see them.
When fishing the reeds, make sure to cover the inside turns, outside turns, gaps, and points. These are the “spots on the spot” and most of your bites will come from these areas. I like to make sure we slow down and cover these areas with multiple casts from different angles before moving on. Sometimes the 8th cast in almost the same spot will get the bite, so make sure as you are moving on you are saying “if he in there, he ain't happy!”
Get KLACK'IN
A muskie released to be caught another day.
Do yourself a favor and get KLACK’IN! This bite is fun, exciting and most importantly an effective way to put muskies in the net. Like I said earlier, the Bigtooth KLACK will trigger fish to bite in cold fronts, blue sky, and almost any time in between. I honestly love fishing these baits because they catch fish, and the bites are some much fun to watch...oh yeah, did I mention they catch fish?
Thanks for reading!
Capt. Tim Hanske
