You do not need a 8’ rod and 10” baits, you only put yourself at a disadvantage.

My brother-in-laws family has owned a Muskie fishing camp on lake of the woods for 70 years, they encourage people to bring regular ass bass rods with 15 pound line with regular bass lures and they catch more fish than any other lodge on the lake.

So many people think that you need huge Muskie’s and 8’ rods for Muskie which is a MASSIVE lie and truly just a waste of money.

Muskies only eat roughly once a week, so throwing huge lures only worsens your chance to catch one, if you cast and retrieve your lure past a trophy Muskie that’s already had a full meal it won’t bite… if you cast and retrieve a 4-5” diver or a regular sized spinner bait you have an unlimited Better chance to catch that same fish if it might just want a simple snack over a big meal.

think small not huge, it’s always the fish of 10000 casts, but if you use more manageable baits you have a much higher chance to catch the fish of 5000 casts.