What Makes a Good Musky Fishing Buddy?

...from the perspective of a dedicated musky angler.

Musky anglers see themselves as a different breed of angler.  The general traits that one would want in a fishing buddy also apply when fishing with these folks, but there are even a more strict set of rules, a musky code, if you will.  The following musky anglers shared their view of a what makes a good musky fishing partner.  These mostly apply to musky fishing, but I feel that many of them also apply to other forms of fishing.

Rick Novak, an excellent very experienced musky angler from Minnesota, shared some of his thoughts recently on a fishing forum, about what he looks for in a musky fishing partner:

Rick Novak is committed to work long and hard, willing to put the time in well past dark if need be, and expects his fishing partner to be up to the task as well.

"They love to fish and make a commitment to fish, they are willing to work long and hard if need be for results, they aren't afraid of the dark and being out after sunset if need be."

Rick also respects fishing partners that bring the proper tools for the job such as good musky tackle and the proper clothes for the particular time of the year that he's fishing to deal with the elements.  He also prefers anglers that bring good fishing knowledge to the boat, to be a thinker and help to solve the musky fishing puzzle.  This is especially important when musky fishing since they are so tough to catch.

"I hate complainers and second guessers.  At times things are going to be very tough, and at those times you need to try to keep a positive attitude and think or work through the situation," Rick says.  Help solve the puzzle, don't just complain about a lack of results.  Have a "willingness to communicate and share thoughts when it comes to strategizing.  I like someone who is always thinking and pulling on past experience to try to make today a better day."

He respects the ability for a musky fishing partner to be an independent thinker, but the willingness to accept change if its working.  "Often times my boat partner and I will start with two different search lures.  One may be a bucktail and one a fast moving glide bait, crank bait or faster moving plastic, and we will stay that way until the fish tell us what they want," he says.  When the fish show a pattern, "at that point we both need to make the change to what is working despite our own personal preferences."

Rick adds, "Fishing time, especially for musky, is fishing time.  There will be plenty of time to cocktail when the boat is put away."  When fishing big baits for big fish, "keep it safe leave the booze in the cabin.  I love a cocktail with the best of them, but when in search of big fish, with big teeth, on big water, being of sound mind and body is a must."

Good fishing partners "understand the importance of being net man and have good net skills, or are willing to be coached.  There is a lot of pressure on the net man and it's not a job to be taken lightly."  You could be netting the fish of a lifetime for your friend...don't blow it.  Experienced anglers can teach you, or there's plenty of information on YouTube and the internet out there, but it's up to you to do your homework.

Hard core and talented musky angler, Ed Lewandoski, feels that on a tough musky fishing day, "some guys give up and lose the desire somewhere in the middle of the day when nothing is happening."  He goes on to add, "you HAVE to believe the fish are out there and you just have to do something to trigger that bite. It could come the first cast or the last cast."

Ed Lewandoski with a personal best musky after much hard work, putting in the time and effort, as a boating partner fishing with Rick Novak in Minnesota.  Obviously, Ed met Rick's criteria as this was his second trip invitation.  Please note that Ed is six and a half feet tall, and seems like eight feet tall in person.  That's a big fish right there!

"I especially think that if a trip is arranged it should be spelled out and understood how late you will be fishing, that you are aware of the weather, etc. Once all that is clear, you tough it out and you don't get bored and hint around that maybe you should hit the road. If the boat owner invited you to fish all day, that's what you should plan to do," he says.

Ed agrees with Rick that there's nothing worse than the angler that complains about how bad the conditions are.  "Each angler should be pumped and keep each other in the game. If you can't be excited and want to fish all day, then maybe you should be fishing with someone else, somewhere else."

"Each angler should be pumped and keep each other in the game."  Ed and Jeremy Tyson of Pennsylvania do just that, keeping each other sharp for that magic feeding window that might result in the fish of a lifetime.

Mike Coley, owner and guide of New River Musky Guide Service in Virginia writes, "I have but one musky partner."  His musky partner doesn't like the cold, rain or long hours.  His partner hung the landing net up on an oarlock on his drift boat, and as a result, lost what possibly would have been his third musky over fifty inches long at the boat.  His musky partner has caught musky on days when he working his butt off and couldn't even get a follow.  Yet he says, "Still would not trade my musky partner for the best musky fisherman out there.  Yeah, my wife."

In the living room the other night, I showed that post to my wife, and she said, "Awwww.  I'd go fishing with you honey!"  I nearly fell out of my chair!  I've fished with her twice in the last 22 years!  I will take her up on that.

Die hard musky maniac Jeremy Tyson of Pennsylvania agrees with everyone, and adds that it's all about attitude when it comes to musky fishing.  "Sometimes its hard to fish with guys that just don't have confidence.  I'll give new guys a pass on this a few times, but if you're expecting easy fishing.....you're fishing for the wrong fish."  Trust me, he knows his stuff.  This guy can sense a musky's presence better than any depthfinder, even those new fangled side finding sonars!

Learn to be a good net man because you can help someone catch the fish of a lifetime.  Ed recently successfully netted Jeremy's personal best musky.  Musky fishing is not easy, but the rewards are worth the effort to the die hard musky angler.

I'll reiterate what I wrote on my last fishing buddy post, master musky hunter and Fishing Guide Bob Franko, on a recent fishing trip, said that he has one rule when fishing out of his boat, especially when tossing jumbo musky lures, "Don't hook me!"  Watch your back cast at all times.  Nobody want's to fear the person that they are fishing with!

When it comes to musky fishing, being a good boating fishing partner is very important, but the above criteria will give you a much better chance of being invited on trips with experienced musky anglers for a second time.  Keep these in mind when spending time on the water with some of these musky fanatics!

Also, let's try something different.  Feel free to participate.  Please use the comment function if you have anything related to this topic to add.  Thank you in advance!
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Mike Coley guides on the New River in Virginia.  Click here for more information on booking a trip with Mike, here is his website:  New River Musky Guide Service

Bob Franko guides on the North and West Branches of the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania.  If you're interested in booking a trip, his website is Blackjack Guide Service.