We’ve all heard of the classic Figure-8 technique for getting a musky or pike to commit to eating the fly right at the boat. But do you really know how to do it? In this video, Kip Vieth of Wildwood Float Trips explains why and how to tempt the fish right in front of you. You might be surprised by how long he continues to keep the fly in the water.
Kip Vieth owns Wildwood Float Trips, in Monticello, Minnesota. Check out his excellent “10 Tips for Catching a Musky on a Fly.”
Kip is the man! I can’t wait to work with him at the Muskie School this October.
Am I correct in that the rod tip is in the water for the figure 8? Looked like it.
Yes Eric, the rod tip is in the water. We use very short leaders. Stay tuned, we’ll be putting together a short video on rigging for muskies.
Didn’t realize that Lake Harriet was in Monticello
Throwing my .02 cents into this……
I actually recommend clients utilize more of an “oval” and come around the front or rear of the boat to increase the area the fly covers. Changing depths during this can trigger a strike many times. I like to push the fly deep when entering a turn and raise the fly towards the surface when exiting the turn.
As for why an “oval” rather than the traditional “8”, it is my opinion (and I have observed it many times) that the larger fish (50″ plus) have a difficult time with the tight turns associated with the figure 8. After one or two turns, those larger fish have to swing wide, losing sight of the fly, to make the turn. They then lose interest, since the lose sight. The larger, more open turns of the “oval”, allow those larger fish to make the turns more easily, while keeping the fly in their sight.
Give it a try!