Most muskie enthusiasts fill their reel with monofilament or braided dacron line of 20 to 40 pound-test. Color does not seem to be important. The line must be fitted with a solid steel leader with a sure-lock clasp. A steel leader is essential because both muskie and tiger muskie have razor sharp teeth and many sharp bones around their mouth and jaws that can cut or fray the line while fighting. There are many different models and colors available in most tackle shops and mail order houses that specialize in fishing equipment.
Lure color is important, but no color is effective all the time.
It is very important for an angler to know what the fish are consuming for forage and then use a lure color that resembles that prey. Crank-baits are astonishingly easy for a novice muskie fisherman to learn proper presentation. They are equally effective for fishing by either trolling or casting. The method used in trolling is simply to locate the lure about 100 feet behind the boat at a speed of about 7 or 8 miles per hour, which will place the lure at about its maximum depth. Using a depth finder while trolling has definite advantages for locating submerged weed lines and then trolling just along the outside edge.