Musky Figure 8 Mastery: The Definitive Guide to Boatside Strikes and Trophy Conversion
- Steven Paul
- 17 minutes ago
- 6 min read
Musky Figure 8
Boatside Strikes and Converting Follows into Trophy Muskies
Few aspects of musky fishing have talked about more than figure eights, yet few have been explained in any meaningful way. Most discussions stop at the familiar advice to “do a good figure eight,” which, while technically correct, is functionally useless. It is no different than ending an article on batting by telling a hitter to hit a home run. The instruction is sound, but the gap between understanding the words and executing the act is enormous. That gap is where most musky anglers lose fish.
While one could to attempt to catalog every possible figure eight scenario, that approach quickly becomes unwieldy and impractical. A more effective path is to focus on core fundamentals and a few common mistakes that consistently cost anglers fish at boatside. These fundamentals apply regardless of lure type, season, or water body, and they form the framework that allows an angler to adapt instinctively when a musky appears with or without warning.
As a full-time musky guide, teaching and correcting figure eight mechanics is simply part of daily life. After thousands of hours on the water, I have accepted a truth that surprises many anglers. No one executes a perfect figure eight on every cast. Not me. Not my clients. Not the guides and anglers most people consider legends. I have fished with some of the best in the sport, and none of them perform a flawless figure eight every time their lure reaches the rod tip.
What separates elite anglers is not constant perfection, but recovery. The best of the best musky anglers can turn what began as a lazy, distracted or poorly executed figure eight into something effective in a millisecond. This ability comes from fundamentals ingrained so deeply they operate without conscious thought.
The cast does not end when the lure reaches the rod tip. The cast ends when the lure leaves the water.
The figure eight is not an afterthought. It is the final and often most important phase of the retrieve.
This guide breaks down figure eight mechanics, common mistakes, advanced adjustments, and the behavioral triggers that cause muskies to strike at boatside.
What Is a Figure 8 in Musky Fishing
A figure eight is a continuous, controlled boatside maneuver performed at the end of every cast to convert following muskies into strikes. Instead of lifting the lure from the water, the angler transitions into large, smooth directional turns that keep the lure moving under tension and at depth.
Muskies frequently follow before committing. The directional change of a properly executed figure eight often triggers the final predatory response.
Why Muskies Strike at Boatside
Muskies are apex ambush predators. Many follows are not indecision. They are assessment.
Boatside provides several triggering factors:
Sudden directional change
Depth shift
Acceleration at close range
Final prey escape cue
Large muskies especially tend to commit late. The bigger the fish, the more likely it is to track before striking.
Boatside execution is where trophy conversion rates are determined.
The Core Fundamentals of a Perfect Figure 8
Rather than cataloging endless scenarios, mastery comes from controlling fundamentals that apply to all conditions, lure types, and seasons.
1. Approach to Boatside
Execution begins before the lure reaches the rod tip.
Eyes locked behind and below the lure
Rod lowering gradually to maintain depth
Body square to the gunnel
Boat hazards identified before starting the turn
Anticipation eliminates panic.
2. Depth Control: The Most Common Failure Point
The majority of lost muskies at boatside occur because the lure rises unintentionally.
Key rules:
Maintain retrieve depth into the first turn
Never allow a panic lift
Adjust depth deliberately, not reactively
A rising lure signals escape. Many fish disengage instantly when depth is lost.
Your first turn should already be at or below the depth that triggered the follow.
3. Turning Radius: Big Fish Need Space
Tight turns cost giant muskies.
A 50-inch fish cannot pivot sharply without losing position. The outside arc of your figure eight must be wide and smooth.
Turning radius fundamentals:
Outside turns as wide as possible
No sharp corners
No sudden direction reversals
Smooth, continuous motion
Turns can almost never be too wide. They are frequently too tight.
Long rods help, but proper body positioning matters more.
4. Body Positioning and Physical Setup
Many anglers sabotage their figure eight before it begins.
Common mistakes include standing a step back from the gunnel or angling toward the bow or stern. This restricts rod movement and reduces turning radius.
Correct positioning:
Shoulders parallel to the boat
Feet planted and balanced
Flat-footed stance
Full rod extension available
Boatside should never be a surprise. Position correctly on every cast.
5. Speed and Cadence Control
The figure eight should reinforce the retrieve that triggered the follow.
If the fish followed a fast bucktail, maintain pace.If it followed aggressive ripping cadence, maintain energy.
Speed changes must be deliberate:
Accelerate to trigger
Slow intentionally
Never change pace from panic
Repeating a movement that is failing rarely works. Adjust immediately and purposefully.
6. Free Spool and Line Management
Many anglers lose fish by keeping the drag fully locked during boatside strikes.
A better approach is engaging free spool at the first corner and controlling line tension with thumb pressure. This allows the musky to strike without instantly loading the entire system.
Benefits of free spooling:
Reduced hook tear-out
Less stress on split rings and leaders
Controlled line release after impact
Improved net positioning
Line control at boatside often determines whether chaos follows the strike.
7. Fish Behavior Assessment
A proper figure eight is dynamic, not robotic.
Constantly observe:
Distance from lure
Head position
Body angle
Speed relative to bait
If a fish stalls, adjust speed.If it drops, adjust depth.If it struggles to turn, widen the arc.
Never repeat a failing movement twice.
The Figure 8 as an Extension of the Cast
One of the biggest mental errors anglers make is treating the figure eight as a separate event.
It is not.
The retrieve told a story. The figure eight continues it.
The action that triggered the follow is the foundation for the boatside conversion. Contradicting that action often results in hesitation.
If you do not understand what your lure is doing during the retrieve at different speeds and rod positions, you are already behind the learning curve.
Mastery comes from deliberate practice, not reaction under pressure.
Understanding Lure Mechanics at Short Line
Many lures behave differently at boatside than they do mid-retrieve.
Soft plastics often require additional line beyond the rod tip to create proper rise and fall. Glide baits demand specific rod input to achieve clean directional transitions on short distance.
Assuming similar baits behave the same is a costly mistake.
Experiment intentionally:
Practice figure eights without fish present
Test speed variations
Observe depth changes
Evaluate how much line is needed for proper action
This knowledge becomes instinct when a trophy appears.
Emotional Control: The Elite Separator
Adrenaline is unavoidable. Panic is optional.
The best musky anglers are not perfect. They are composed.
They recover instantly from small execution errors.They remain loose under pressure.They focus on mechanics, not outcome.
Excitement belongs after the fish is in the net.
During the figure eight, execution is the only objective.
Common Figure Eight Mistakes
Lifting the lure at boatside
Turns too tight for large fish
Panic acceleration
Standing out of position
Bringing lure too close to boat hardware
Forgetting to manage line tension
Repeating ineffective movements
Nearly all of these are controllable.
Advanced Figure 8 Strategy for Trophy Muskies
If your goal is consistent 50-inch fish, raise your baseline.
Expect a fish on every cast
Build wide turns automatically
Maintain depth into the first corner
Prepare for free spool every time
Stay mentally disciplined
Expectation changes preparation.Preparation changes outcomes.
Field Insight: Why Figure Eights Matter More Than Gear
Figure eight improvement does not require new rods, reels, or lures.
It requires:
Awareness
Repetition
Intentional practice
Emotional discipline
There are many ways to lose a musky. Boatside failures are among the most preventable.
When anglers control depth, turning radius, positioning, line management, and composure, conversion rates increase dramatically.
Over time, boatside stops being chaos.
It becomes opportunity.
And the net gets heavier.
In the Net: Summary Musky Fishing Techniques the Figure 8
The musky figure eight is a mandatory boatside maneuver performed at the end of every retrieve to convert follows into strikes. Success depends on maintaining lure depth, maximizing turning radius, reinforcing the retrieve speed that triggered the follow, preparing to free spool and manage line tension, and maintaining emotional composure. Tight turns, rising lures, poor positioning, and panic reactions are the most common causes of lost muskies. Elite anglers separate themselves not through perfection, but through disciplined fundamentals and instant recovery. Mastering the figure eight dramatically increases trophy musky conversion rates.
Steven Paul
Professional Musky Angler
Co-Owner, Musky 360
Lure Designer, Livingston Lures
