November 29, 2012
By Matt Straw
The new Jensen Jigs Muskie Enthraller, tied on a head specially molded around a stout 5/0 Lazer-Trokar hook. If a muskie breathes on this thing, it's hooked.
But the jig will probably do all the breathing. A wide bunny strip overtied with a dense layer of rubber legs ensures lots of movement and a dense profile in a lure that can be worked slow and kept off bottom.
Paul asked what suggestions I might have. What do I know? I'm just a word bender. But I'm thinking about swim-drop-snapping this thing along weedlines — so I suggested a weedguard version. And maybe a little red or chartreuse for contrast. And a white one. And a white-blue one. And...
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Actually, if I had to choose just one pattern for muskies, I'd take the one Paul sent me. I catch more big toothies on all-black lures of this type than all the other colors combined. A splash of red often seems to help, but all black is one of those universal patterns. Something like this, with legs and fur swirling, all in black, all part of a seething silhouette — like a freshly-poured mug of Guiness — it can be whatever the brain of a muskie wants it to be. It's a can of black worms.
Why, Paul? We're ice fishing, now, and you're making me crazy. Where was this Enthraller three weeks ago, when river muskies were following and boiling without taking and I couldn't find the answer. (I think Paul does some of his best work when he can't get out fishing any more. Which is a pretty familiar dynamic in this industry. So I'm kidding — not complaining. Genius is genius.)
