I wasn’t as quick to begin using fluorocarbon leaders as I was braided line. However, friends urged me to try the fluorocarbon leaders made by Stealth Tackle, and I have since made the switch to using them about 98 percent of the time.
One of the first big muskies I caught with a Stealth leader completely inhaled a twin-ten bucktail and only about four inches of the leader was visible outside its mouth. I remember thinking: “This ought to be a good test of the leader,” as the fluorocarbon was clearly in harm's way -- threaded right through the death trap that had probably been the last thing seen by thousands of preyfish. After releasing the musky I checked the leader and found it completely intact with no nicks or scratches. I’ve been sold ever since.
Most shocking was when I started using Stealth’s fluorocarbon leaders in stained water and found I started catching more muskies. This was completely unexpected ... I figured fluorocarbon’s near-invisibility would matter in clear water but I never expected the difference it made in dark water.
Now, a musky has no idea what a leader is. However, if it's looking at your lure and hasn't eaten it yet, it's probably not convinced it's edible. Putting a chunk of wire in front of it probably doesn't help. Put a fluorocarbon leader that's nearly invisible in front of it, and better things happen.
The only time I use wire leaders anymore is with walk-the-dog topwaters, like Jackpots and Weagles and such. Fluorocarbon tends to deaden the action of such lures ... not a problem, because Stealth makes a great stainless steel straight wire leader, which is perfect for this application.
Stealth leaders are tied, crimped and glued, so they aren’t going to fail, and are coupled with a 150-pound test stainless steel ball bearing swivel and Stay-Lok snap. I’ve worn out a bunch, but I’ve never seen one fail.
The Stealth leaders I use for most applications are made with 130-pound test fluorocarbon and measure 14 inches long.
— Steve Heiting
Mepps H210 Musky Spinner
Mepps' entry into the giant bucktail market is creating a storm all its own — from the heavy water movement of its twin No.10-sized blades to the big muskies it’s catching.
The H210 is the largest of Mepps’ bucktail line and was designed with trophy muskies and pike in mind. In fact, on my recommendation to prove how tough this bait is, Mepps pull-tested the H210 and found out it took over 180 pounds of force to destroy the bait, and it was the split ring that failed. Considering most of us use 80- or 100-pound test braided line, your H210 is the least of your worries when fighting a big fish.
The H210 features Mepps’ classic jointed design. This allows mix-and-match versatility, meaning all you need is a split ring pliers and you can change blades and tails with other H210s so you will never be without the “hot” color. The jointed design also allows the H210 to cast like a rocket for greater distance and accuracy, prevents the torque a hooked musky exerts on a hook (meaning fewer lost fish), and allows for a lifelike wiggle as the H210 is retrieved to the boat.
The H210 features quality components throughout. Heavy, dual, high- lift No. 10 Indiana blades move water to call big fish from a distance. The heavy-duty stainless steel shaft is made even more rigid by the solid brass body. Brass components assure perfect balance and operation. With 100% holographic Flashabou concealing two heavy-duty 7/0 VMC Conecut hooks, the H210 will attract and hook big muskies.
Fishing the H210
The H210 is designed for big muskies and pike, so to best fish this lure the smart angler chooses his equipment for the task. A medium-heavy- to heavy-action baitcasting rod measuring at least 8 feet long will provide the snap to cast the H210 accurately and to drive the hooks home. A quality reel featuring a low retrieve ratio (5.1:1 or less) will make retrieving the H210 easier. Spool the reel with braided Spectra line testing between 80- and 100-pound test, and use a single-wire or fluorocarbon leader with a ball bearing swivel and quality snap, and you’re all set.
The VMC Conecut hooks used on the H210 are the best quality hooks available, in my opinion. However, use a small file to sharpen the hooks until they’re “sticky” against the skin of your fingertips to increase your hook-up percentage.
It’s important to “synchronize” your cast with any bucktail. To do this, thumb your spool as the lure nears the water to create drag, which causes the H210 to lay out and hit the water in a horizontal fashion, ready to be retrieved. Engage your reel as soon as the H210 hits the water to get the blades spinning and begin the lure’s movement back toward the boat. A musky that’s holding where you just cast will often attack any bucktail as soon as it hits the water.
Beginning musky fishermen are not always very adept at synchronizing their bucktail, and this often causes the bait to foul on the leader.While testing various H210 prototypes I intentionally did not synchronize the bait to see if the jointed design caused fouling problems, and I was amazed how few fouled casts actually occurred.
A smooth transition to the figure-8 maneuver is important with any lure, but especially so with the H210 because you may find that 50 percent of your strikes will occur at boatside. When the swivel on your leader is six to 12 inches from your rod tip, smoothly pull the H210 into a big sweep and begin moving it in the shape of an "8".
Conclusion
After fishing with production and prototype H210s for a number of years, I’ve found Mepps’ new bait is just as effective at catching muskies as other baits featuring twin-ten blades. However, the jointed body design allows this bait to cast, hook and hold fish better, and allows mix-and-match versatility that no other bait of this type does.This sets Mepps’ H210 apart from others in the market.
— Steve Heiting
St. Croix Rods’ 9-Foot Legend Tournament “Big Nasty”
In a word, unbelievable.
When people ask me what my favorite lure is, I’ve often disappointed them by saying it’s a bucktail. I think they expect me to have some super-secret favorite, or some highly-effective maneuver with a jerkbait that muskies can’t resist. Well, my reasoning is that if fish are biting bucktails today, they’re active and I’m going to have multiple catches ... so, I’d rather they bite on bucktails. Bucktails allow me to cover water quickly, pick off aggressive muskies, and come home with slime-covered forearms, a camera full of photos, and a big, stupid grin on my face.
Well, I can’t wait to get back on the water in 2011 and cast bucktails with my new Big Nasty rod from St. Croix. If you thought the Sling Blade is terrific (and I do), you’re going to love the Big Nasty.
The Big Nasty can pretty much handle anything you want to cast, from bucktails through crankbaits through soft plastics, through diver jerkbaits to topwaters. Most anglers will likely find it too long to efficiently handle glider jerkbaits. It could do well with livebait, too, but a rod of this design (and price) really isn’t necessary for that application.
The Big Nasty’s 9-foot length loads up incredibly well, making long casts a breeze. You won’t be the one doing the work to cast. And power ... omigosh, it’s almost not fair. Much like the 8-foot-6 Big Dawg in the Legend Tournament lineup, once the hook is set you’re in complete control of the muskies you’ll hook.
Big figure-8’s have been the thing with twin-ten bucktails and the Big Nasty is tremendous at this maneuver. Big and wide are the two primary components of an effective figure-8, and the Big Nasty will leave you and the muskies in awe.
If there is a downside to the Big Nasty, well, it’s the question of how to transport it. Even with my modifications to my Ranger 619’s rod box, it still can’t accommodate a Big Nasty because it’s too long. An 8-6 rod is all that will fit. And a Big Nasty won’t fit crossways in the 6 1/2-foot bed of my pickup truck. But that’s not the rod’s fault.
I have retractable rod straps installed in all four corners of my 619 each year, so I’ll just have to strap my Big Nasties down ... there’s no way I’m going fishing without them.
One of the first big muskies I caught with a Stealth leader completely inhaled a twin-ten bucktail and only about four inches of the leader was visible outside its mouth. I remember thinking: “This ought to be a good test of the leader,” as the fluorocarbon was clearly in harm's way -- threaded right through the death trap that had probably been the last thing seen by thousands of preyfish. After releasing the musky I checked the leader and found it completely intact with no nicks or scratches. I’ve been sold ever since.
The H210 is the largest of Mepps’ bucktail line and was designed with trophy muskies and pike in mind. In fact, on my recommendation to prove how tough this bait is, Mepps pull-tested the H210 and found out it took over 180 pounds of force to destroy the bait, and it was the split ring that failed. Considering most of us use 80- or 100-pound test braided line, your H210 is the least of your worries when fighting a big fish.
The VMC Conecut hooks used on the H210 are the best quality hooks available, in my opinion. However, use a small file to sharpen the hooks until they’re “sticky” against the skin of your fingertips to increase your hook-up percentage.
