THE BUCHER BURN!

If you watched my TV show this past weekend, you no doubt saw Spence Petros and me wuppin’ up on the muskies with a high speed, run & gun spinner technique we nicknamed “The Bucher Burn”. A somewhat dead day of fishing suddenly turned on in the late afternoon with some very hot musky action. Some of it was due probably to an overall movement of muskies, but some of it was also due to our retrieve technique. Here’s the scoop.

The main lure involved in this technique is, of course, my own big in-line tinsel spinner – The Buchertail Mag Tinsel. This lure features a big 9 to 10 inch flashy profile and sports two giant # 10 fluted blades. It’s a bear to throw and a bear to crank. That’s why you need the right tackle and technique. The tackle: 80 # test Stren Sonic Braid (green), a St. Croix Legend Tournament Musky LTM80MXF, and this terrific new baitcasting reel Abu Garcia Revo Toro Winch 60, and you are set to “burn”.

Summer muskies really turn on to a super fast retrieve speed with these lures. The entire concept rests on maintaining a high riding, close-to-the-surface presentation with a strong visual (eye on the spinner) at all times. This takes some physical effort as well as concentration. It also requires specialized tackle including a low- geared baitcaster and long rod. A synchronized reel engagement that is timed precisely with the splash entry of the lure is the first trick. This is followed by an immediate “burn” (retrieving extra fast) while lifting the rod tip upwards simultaneously. The combination makes a big spinner bulge water right away and run ultra shallow.

About ten cranks into the retrieve, lower the rod tip to a point where there is no rod tension on the line at all. I call this “zero rod drag”. Zero rod drag eliminates much of the wrist, hand, and arm fatigue associated with retrieving this lure for hours on end.   Master this technique and you will last a lot longer.

Back off on the speed a bit more at mid retrieve and initiate periodic quick-bursts of the reel. This keeps a following fish guessing and triggers them to strike. In fact, jumping the speed with these quick-bursts seems to trigger a lot of mid-retrieve strikes that might not otherwise occur.

The grand finale is a very aggressive figure 8 that involves a final speed burst to the boat continuing into that first figure 8 turn. The first turn (of the figure 8) should be as wide as possible. In fact, it should actually be a large outward circle. As soon as the turn is complete, the lure should be pulled up a bit shallower out in front of you so you can spot the follower (musky). If the fish is still following, back off on the speed abruptly allowing the bait to actually fall back into the fish’s face. Quite often, the strike occurs right at this moment. If not, repeat the process with a vigorous hard pull into the next turn of the figure 8. This seems to excite a big musky the more you do it.

BURNING HOT SPOT!

Muskies inhabit a wide range of areas depending upon the type of water you are fishing. One of the best patterns I’ve locked onto the past few years is “rocks, wind & waves”. I’m basically referring to rock studded points and islands (with points) that had some wind and wave action pounding into them. Shallow submerged rock reefs are also good; particularly the ones with a hazard buoy on them. This is a staple pattern on the lakes I fish during the summertime. However, steady winds and wave action are key. Any time a wind blows for a few days from the same direction, it really set muskies up on predictable rocky spots.

Most of these rocky areas are easy to recognize and decipher at first glance. Flat rock surfaces might hold a fish or two but are not nearly as consistent as broken rock areas. If the spot has projections and pronounce points with broken rock, it is even better. Add wind blowing into this spot with nice wave action and it will probably hold a musky. Once you’ve caught a fish or two of a spot, keep it in memory. It is likely to produce time after time when the conditions are right.

Once in a while a pattern is so good that it simply has to be written about, talked about, and dialed-in for future reference. This whole aspect of burning “big blades” over shallow, wind-swept rocky areas in during the heat of midsummer is sizzling hot right now. If you haven’t tried “big blades” for summer muskies, you might want to consider it on our next trip. It’s hot. Burning hot!