“Dennis Braun Catches Muskie, Northern Pike, Crappie, Walleyes and Bass on Mepps and Mister Twister”

Part 1: A Muskie-Stocking Program That’s Working

Editor’s Note: Dennis Braun of Vermilion, Ohio, fishes for everything that swims. That’s why he uses Mepps and Mister Twister products because Mepps spinners and Mister Twister soft plastics will catch just about every fish that swims. “I haven’t had a chance to try them on whales and minnows, but I’m convinced that if they could see Mepps spinners and Mister Twister soft plastics and could get them in their mouths, they’d eat them.” He fishes quite a bit on Leesville Lake (near New Philadelphia), Clear Fork Reservoir (near Mansfield), Rocky Fork Lake (in Hillsboro) and Pymatuning (in Andover) with Mepps spinners and Mister Twister soft plastics.

Question: How are you finding muskies, and how are you catching them?

Braun: I’m fishing over submerged weeds and on the weedline edges in many of the lakes around my home.

Question: What are you using to catch muskies?

Braun: I use Mepps Giant Killers, Musky Killers and Musky Marabous.

Question: How are you rigging?

Braun: I use PowerPro line, which is a 12-pound diameter line, but it’s actually 50-pound-test breaking strength. Although I use all the Mepps Musky baits, the Musky Killer is my favorite. I like the silver blade, black bucktail Musky Killer, and I fish it a little bit slower than other people do. I want to tick the top of the weeds when I’m swimming it over the weeds or let the bait tick the sides of the weeds when I’m swimming it down weed edges.

As the weeds drop-off, I slow down the Musky Killer and let it continue to swim, but I’m trying to swim it down the weed edges. If I don’t get a bite with this tactic, I’ll switch to the Mepps Giant Killer, because I can fish it down deeper and still fish it slowly. Regardless of which lure I’m using, I end every cast with a figure 8.

Question: What size muskie are you catching?

Braun: At Leesville, the muskies will run from 33 to 47 inches. I’ve been fishing this lake for about 35 years, and I believe my odds of catching a muskie every time I go are extremely good there.

Question: Why does Leesville produce so many muskies?

Braun: The lake is really well stocked by the state, and most of the fishermen are practicing catch and release. The muskies that are stocked will be from 8 to 14 inches, so they have a good chance of survival. When you’re not taking fish out of the lake, those fish have a chance to grow to the older-age classes and the bigger sizes.

Question: What’s the secret to catching more muskies?

Braun: I believe I retrieve the Mepps spinners much more slowly than other people do. Many times the muskies aren’t as aggressive as most people think they are. So I want to give the fish plenty of time to see the bait, follow the bait and eat the bait. I want to make the Mepps spinner appear to be an easy meal that doesn’t require much energy or effort to catch and eat.

Question: Why did you decide to use the Mepps Musky lures?

Braun: I know that spinners are effective lures for catching muskies, and I also know that Mepps makes some of the best spinners on the market, so I choose to fish with the best.

Question: Do you guide for muskies?

Braun: No, not really. I used to guide, but now I prefer to take friends and acquaintances out for the fun of muskie fishing.

Question: What was the biggest muskie you’ve ever caught?

Braun: The biggest muskie I ever caught came from Leesville Lake near New Philadelphia and was 50-inches long. I’ve seen bigger muskies in this lake, and my wife lost one this year that was bigger than the 50 incher I caught.

Question: If Leesville is the best muskie lake you fish, what’s the second best?

Braun: Probably Clear Fork Reservoir, near Mansfield. A lot of muskies live in that lake, maybe more than you’ll find in Leesville, however, the muskies in Clear Fork don’t seem to be as big as the muskies in Leesville. This lake has a lot of structure in it. It has a few islands, several creek channels, some good humps and rocks that often hold muskies and several building foundations. A spring runs into the lakes, and down by the dam, you’ll find some productive channels and drop-offs for muskies.

Question: Do you muskie fish at night?

Braun: Yes, I usually start night fishing during the last half of June. Whenever the water temperature hits 78 degrees that’s when I start night fishing. We have very productive night fishing in this part of Ohio. The best night I ever had I caught seven muskies, and the biggest that night was 48 inches. But this past year was not as good as it’s been in previous years.

Question: What bait are you using when you fish at night?

Braun: I really like the Mister Twister Top Prop. I cast it a lot, and I troll often at night. I like the black Top Prop with the gray stripes on it. We can fish at night, usually until the end of August and sometimes even into September.