“Patricia Strutz – Ms. Muskie – with Mepps”

Part 5: Why I Fish for Northern Pike

Editor’s Note: Patricia Strutz of Eagle River, Wisconsin, muskie fishing guide and operator of “A Blond and Her Boat” guide service, is passionate about teaching women, children and first-time muskie fishermen to enjoy the sport she loves. Strutz has caught and boated 50-inch muskie and can compete with the some of the best muskie fishermen in the nation. This week, Strutz explains how she fishes for muskie and how she teaches her clients to fish for muskie.

Question: Patricia, why did you start fishing for northern pike?

Strutz: For many years, I thought pike were foo-foo fish. But my attitude toward pike drastically changed when I started guiding. Pike will bite even after a cold front and pike are great fish on which to practice muskie fishing. When my customers catch pike, I can learn how well they fish and whether or not they can set their hooks. Too, I can watch how they play a fish. The No. 5 Mepps Aglia will catch both pike and muskie.

To increase your odds for catching pike, use a No. 3 Aglia. If you don’t see or catch a muskie, switch to white-colored blade and skirt or a chartreuse blade and skirt. Pike prefer red, white or chartreuse-colored lures. If we’re having a hard day, I’ll have a customer tie-on a No. 3 Aglia in either red-and-white or chartreuse. Those pike often will save a fishing trip.

A slow, boring trip can become fast and exciting when you target pike. When a customer witnesses another customer fishing with a No. 3 Aglia catching pike, he or she often will want to change lures to catch pike, too. These customers occasionally will catch largemouths and smallmouth bass on these Aglias also. We have nice-sized bass up here in Wisconsin that are trip savers. I also use the Mepps Syclops when fishing for pike. I like the No. 2 or the No. 3 Syclops in chartreuse for pike. The Syclops is easy to cast and reel-in slowly and steadily to catch numbers of pike. Too, with the Syclops, we can hook-up a high percentage of pike.

Question: Why did you start using the Mepps spinners for muskies and pike?

Strutz: When I started muskie fishing years ago, Mepps spinners were popular. There are several new, big muskie lures out on the market today that will catch fish, but they’re difficult for newcomers to cast all day. So, I introduce my new clients to the mainstay lures of the muskie world – the Mepps’ spinners and the Mepps Musky Marabou. They can keep these lures in the water all day. I try to tailor my tackle for the type of fisherman with me. Mepps’ lures will produce muskies and pike for a seasoned veteran or a person on their first-ever muskie-fishing trip.

Question: Patricia, this is your 8th season guiding to muskies. Why do you keep doing it?

Strutz: I like reaching people who may not be willing to hire a guide or learn muskie fishing otherwise. I like the fact that women want to fish with me because they feel intimidated by male guides. I like teaching people to fish and catch muskies.

Question: Why do you encourage women to muskie fish?

Strutz: Muskie fishing’s a great sport for a parent and a child to enjoy together. There are a number of single moms and dads who want their children to fish, but they themselves don’t know how to fish. With the Mepps No. 5 Aglia, I’m confident that beginners not only will catch muskies, but they’ll also catch pike, walleye and bass.

To fish with Patricia Strutz, visit www.ablondandherboat.com.