How to Modify Musky Lures for Better Success on the Water
Musky anglers are a dedicated and restless bunch, constantly experimenting and tweaking their lures to gain an edge over these elusive, toothy predators. When fishing for muskies, small differences like adjusting the running depth by a few feet can determine whether you have a triumphant day on the water or a disappointing trudge back up the boat ramp. In musky fishing, even the slightest modification can make all the difference.
While there are various ways to modify musky lures—such as drilling holes for new weighting, adjusting crankbait lips, many of these require tools and extra time. But when you're out on the water and need to adapt to shifting weather or water conditions quickly, making on-the-fly adjustments can be challenging. Don’t worry though—I've dialed in a few quick and effective solutions that will help you modify your musky lures on the spot and fine-tuning your presentations with ease.
Rubber Core Sinkers: A Game-Changer for Musky Lure Modifications
Rubber core sinkers are incredibly versatile and perfect for tweaking your musky lures on the water. Featuring a hollow core and a slit along their side, these sinkers are perfect for a wide range of applications. One of my favorite techniques is placing a rubber core sinker on the wire shaft above the head of a safety-pin spinnerbait. This instantly increases the spinnerbait’s running depth while maintaining the speed required to trigger musky strikes.
To attach a rubber core sinker, use pliers to lightly compress the sinker around the wire. It doesn’t require much force and can be easily reopened when you need to remove it. Rubber core sinkers are also highly effective when used in the same manner on inline spinners and bucktails.
I also implement rubber core sinkers in my musky trolling strategy, as they are invaluable for adjusting the running depths of trolling lures. Available in various weights, ranging from a fraction of an ounce to 2 ounces, they can influence the running depth any musky trolling lure. I usually place the rubber core sinker on or above the leader to preserve the natural action of the trolling lure, making it the optimal option for trolling.
Tennis Racket Tape for Musky Lure Adjustments
Adhesive-backed lead strips, like tennis racket tape, are incredibly handy for modifying buoyancy and running depth in casting crankbaits. A small piece of lead tape can make a lure suspend or slow its rise, making it deadly for muskies.
I often use lead tape on lures like Slammer Minnows and Crane Baits to reduce their rate of rise when paused. This technique is especially effective on bright, sunny days or when I notice muskies missing their mark in moving water.
Typically, I place the lead strips on the nose of the lure so it rises in a tail-up position, but experimenting with different placements can yield great results. For example, adding weight to the midsection of a crankbait can make it rise in a flat, uniform way, ideal for fishing over rocks and sand flats. Alternatively, weighting the tail of a crankbait will create a head-up rise, mimicking a dying minnow ascending in the water.
Bell Sinkers: Perfect for Adjusting Running Depths and Adding Sound
Bell sinkers—especially the ones with a quick-clip feature—are an excellent tool for adjusting the running depths of dive-and-rise lures, swimbaits, and large rubber jerkbaits. This is particularly useful in waters with high structural diversity, where target zones may shift over small ranges.
The quick-on-and-off clips on bell sinkers make adjustments simple and fast.
Swimbaits benefit greatly from bell sinkers placed on the front hook hanger to modify their running depth. But don’t overlook how bell sinkers can also change the rate of fall during pauses. A quick fall followed by a sharp upward rip often triggers intense strikes from muskies as the swimbait exits and re-enters their visual range.
The Livingston Lures Titan already comes with a versatile weight system, but adding a small bell sinker to the front hook hanger creates an intense “bang” or “knocking” sound every time the lure is ripped downward. As the bell sinker swings freely on the hook hanger, it pounds against the lure’s body, producing a sound that travels extremely far underwater. This is especially useful in heavy rain, when additional sound helps muskies hone in on your lure.
Master Your Musky Lures with These Simple Modifications
There are countless ways to tweak, tune, and modify musky lures to improve your success rate on the water. The three methods outlined above—rubber core sinkers, lead tape, and bell sinkers are super simple starting place and are highly effective. Whether you're adjusting running depths, modifying fall rates, or adding sound to attract, these simple tweaks will help you get the most out of your musky lures when you need an extra edge.