Finding your muskie rig

When muskie fever takes hold, any boat that gets you out there is the one. My first boat was a budget-friendly mashup with the boat, motor, and trailer all coming from different sources. The 16-foot, no-frills tinner was featureless. Casting meant balancing on one of the three bench seats and trolling meant one hand was always working the tiller. It had no rod holders, flat floors, storage compartments, or other goodies.

But that was no problem. It got me where I needed to go, and saw plenty of muskies come aboard.

My next boat, a well-equipped 18-foot tiller with a 90-hp motor, felt like a gigantic leap forward. It had casting decks, pedestal seats, a trolling motor, rod holders, storage compartments, and room. All of this added up to increased range and fishability. I spent many great years fishing in the big tiller before upgrading to my current boat, a 20-foot plus Lund with a console and a 200-hp motor.

Dream big

When it comes to muskie fishing, everything is oversized and the ideal muskie boat reflects this. Big nets, long rods, and huge tackle boxes all take up space. Add two or three anglers, extra gear, coolers etc. and floor space and storage compartments fill up fast. Boats in the 18- to 22-foot range provide the space needed to haul gear and people.

Even big boats can feel small when rigged for muskie. Two anglers are ideal, with one in the bow and one in the stern. This leaves lots of space for casting and figure-8s. With three anglers, casting space is tighter but manageable. Four isn’t fun, even in a 20-foot boat.

Console? Tiller?

Tiller, single-side console, double console, centre console or full windshield are all viable options.

There’s no perfect boat for all scenarios, each has pros and cons.

Over my years of guiding, I’ve fished in every imaginable style and size of boat. Ultimately, my choice of a full windshield boat comes down to the fact that I fish from ice out until ice in and make big runs on a big lake. The windshield provides comfort, especially late in the season when the weather turns cold. The downside to a full windshield is simply that it takes up space.

In a dream world I’d run a 20-foot tiller in the summer, and a 20-foot plus full windshield boat in the fall. The best of both worlds — wide open, unobstructed space in the tiller and the comforts of a big windshield boat.

Realistic compromises that work for a lot of muskie anglers are single side-console and double-console rigs. These layouts take up less space than a full windshield, while still offering some protection from the elements. Also, tiller life isn’t for everyone and boats with steering wheels are a big pro for many anglers.

Not to be forgotten in the console boat category are bass boats. I’ve fished many days for muskie in bass boats and there are some distinct advantages. First is how close you are to the water, allowing for very easy figure-8s. The wide-open layout and maximum deck space are ideal for casting.

Rig it out

A fully functioning muskie boat wouldn’t be complete without electronics. Budget dictates size and number of units. I run one 12-inch unit at the helm and a 10-inch unit at the rear casting deck, where I fish from.

A bow mount trolling motor is a must. Hands-free control while casting to structure will result in more fish in the boat. Scale the voltage and thrust of the motor to the size of your boat. Onboard chargers make easy work of battery charging and maintenance.

Adding a kicker motor keeps hours off the main motor when trolling.

Even the smallest budgets and boats can get you on the water chasing muskie.

Ultimately, get the biggest boat you can with a layout that suits your style. Odds are your first muskie boat won’t be your last.