While musky sized minnow baits can be very effective in a simple straight retrieve presentation, I have found them to be exceptional when worked in a bump & rise, jerkbait-like fashion over thick weeds as well as shallow rocks or wood. In fact, these lures are actually called jerkbaits by bass anglers today. Very few bass anglers ever cast this lure style out and simply reel it in. Musky anglers often retrieve minnow baits in a similar jerkbait manner, but they (minnow baits) also work well as straight retrieve crankbait. Employing both techniques inside one retrieve can turn the tide on followers. This I often refer to as the “hybrid technique."
Buoyant model minnow baits work very effectively thru most forms of thick weed cover; particularly cabbage, with a jerkbait style retrieve. The trick here involves working the lure with “controlled slack” line. In other words, avoid pulling or jerking on the lure constantly with a taut line. While this might draw plenty of strikes on clean retrieves, it doesn’t really take advantage of the lure’s true potential to rise laterally and back itself out of trouble.
Essentially, the controlled slack trick goes something like this — after your initial pull downward with the bait, only retrieve a fraction of your line (with the reel) and allow a bit of slack to purposely form. Then, point your rod tip back towards the lure – with the slackened bow in the line – and snap the slack out of the line. Develop a rhythm of doing this again and again throughout the retrieve, but vary the pause length. In fact, don’t be afraid to let the lure float all the way to the surface occasionally before resuming a retrieve. Few musky anglers employ this slack line trick, but it can be super deadly on followers as well as cover tight fish.
Most notably, controlled slack accentuates the lateral side-to-side flash action on the lure. In fact, if you watch the bait, as you perform the CS (controlled slack) technique you will notice that you can literally turn your lure 90 degrees in one direction and then snap it almost 180 degrees in the opposite direction with the next jerk. Obviously, this takes a bit of practice to master but the fish triggering action that can be generated by this technique is incredible. A musky lurking nearby, will have a hard time resisting the sudden and drastic directional changes that are followed immediately by an almost irresistible rise.
This rise of the lure after the jerk can also be accentuated by allowing a bit of “controlled slack” to occur. In other words, instead of having a lure rise in line with your retrieve, a sharp snap of your rod tip on a bit of slack is apt to launch an ascension noticeably left or right of your line of retrieve. This again creates a distinct directional change apt to enhance strike triggering capability. Many of the biggest fish I’ve taken with this bait in the past two seasons have come in just his manner. An otherwise finicky follower was triggered into striking the bait due to this unpredictable directional change along with the odd off-center rising action.
The other notable advantage to a controlled slack jerking action is the lure’s improved ability to work slowly with hang-time near woody cover or overtop weed clumps. This is particularly effective in the cold weather period or after a cold front passes thru.
This same technique works equally well over shallow rocks and sunken brush piles, and can be taken a step further. I like to purposely ram the lip of the bait into a rock or brush to get their attention and stimulate their aggression. I’m not talking about over ripping the bait and getting it hung up or damaging the lure. Instead, I’m referring pulling downward on the rod tip until lure contact is felt with the obstruction. As soon as you feel that collision, immediately stop the pull (of your rod tip) and allow the bait to rise up. More often than not, the lure’s diving lip is all that is in contact with the obstruction. The hooks are dangling behind, completely free.
The key here is to freely allow the lure to rise with no turn of your reel handle. Instead, begin a series of very short rod tip jerks with subsequent pauses to allow a short rising action. Allow more and more slack to accumulate as you do this until you feel you must crank the handle to pick up a small amount of it. This advanced technique creates an incredible flashing, vibrating, side-to-side triggering action that is always near the cover and the potential location of the fish. If there’s a musky hiding inside a brush pile or alongside a big boulder, it will most likely pounce on it.
So there you have it. Minnow baits are fabulous musky lures and there are lots of ways to fish them. They are highly productive and versatile baits due their unique design with superior flash and strike triggering action. I’d highly recommend taking the time to master this lure. It’s bound to put lots of muskies in your boat particularly when other lures fail.