654 | Hunting Musky with a Fly with Rick Kustich — New York, Great Lakes

Wet Fly Swing Fly Fishing Podcast

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/654

Presented By: Visit Helena, MT, Togiak River Lodge, Yellowstone Teton Territory, Waters West

You may have heard of today's guest from the books and content he's written about spey and steelhead fishing. But did you know that he also has an amazing book on another hard-to-master species? Today, we'll walk through the biggest tips from this book so that you might have a better shot at a giant musky this season.

Rick Kustich, author of Hunting Musky with a Fly, is here to share his top tips on landing that elusive musky. You'll learn how to tease a strike, where most fish occur, and the three key tips to keep the big one on the line. Ready to profile a predator musky style?

Show Notes with Rick Kustich on Hunting Musky with a Fly

01:31 - It's been over a year since we had Rick on the podcast, where we talked about spey fishing and steelhead. Rick had a pretty good year with lots of good steelhead and musky fishing. But he did shake things up with a trip to Patagonia in South America to target sea-run brown trout.

Hunting Musky with a Fly

04:35 - Today, we will discuss Rick's book Hunting Musky with a Fly. It's a great resource for anyone interested in musky fishing.

You can contact Rick through his website or Instagram for a signed, personalized copy of the book. The book can also be found at various fly shops, bookstores, and, of course, on Amazon.

07:06 - Rick pitched the idea of the book around 2013, but it was turned down because musky fly fishing wasn't popular yet. By 2017, with more people getting into musky fishing, Rick's book Hunting Musky with a Fly was finally released.

Why Muskies Are So Hard to Catch

09:06 - Muskies are one of the hardest freshwater fish to catch consistently. They don't need to feed often and have specific feeding windows during the day.

12:19 - Rick explains that understanding Muskies as apex predators is key. They’re picky eaters, so anglers need to trigger them into striking. He suggests using the figure-eight technique, even when you don't see a fish following your fly.

18:05 - Rick also mentions that while figure eight is his go-to, you must also read the fish's behavior. For example, a slow, teasing retrieve can be as effective if the fish seems interested but isn't taking the bait immediately. Water clarity plays a big role too.

22:12—New York offers a diverse muskie fishery with different strains, including the Great Lakes strain found in the Niagara River. Muskies are native to this area and have various strains in various locations.

While their original range was in the Northeast and Midwest, they’ve been stocked in many other places, including Nebraska and the western states. Tiger muskies, a hybrid between pike and musky, are also found out west.

Keeping Your Head in the Game

25:57 - Stay focused during those long days when you might not catch any fish. It can be tough, especially if you're new and questioning everything. But experience teaches you that each cast brings you closer to a catch.

Stay engaged, and keep your energy up. Even when it’s slow, every cast counts, and being ready could lead to the catch of a lifetime.

How to Find the Best Spots for Muskies

28:45 - Muskies usually stick close to food sources, so look for areas with plenty of bait. In big waters like the Niagara River, focus on edges and structures like weed beds and drop-offs.

Look for log jams, overhanging brush, and slower water spots for smaller rivers. Muskies often hang out in these areas to save energy and ambush prey.

Casting for Muskies

41:52 - For big, open water, like deep rivers, you must make long casts to keep your fly down longer. Rick uses a two-handed rod, around 9.5 feet long, with a heavy line for distance and depth.

Use the bottom hand to pull and the top hand to guide for speed. After retrieving the fly, sweep the rod to get some line out, then use one or two false casts to get it back in the water. A shorter rod and quick casts help reduce wear on your body and improve efficiency.

51:00 - Rick explains that most fish hit within the first few strips of the fly. For casting, Rick uses a heavy, short-headed line, about 22 to 23 feet long, which helps get the fly deep quickly.

55:12 - Rick says using a back-and-forth retrieve with your fly and making it look vulnerable can trigger strikes. He stresses the importance of strip setting to get a good hook set because muskies have tough mouths.

Show Notes: https://wetflyswing.com/654