How to Execute the Figure-8 Boatside for Musky

The figure-8 is a wide, continuous "L" or oval-shaped sweep of the rod tip at boatside, performed the instant your lure reaches the surface, designed to keep the bait moving in a tight, erratic pattern that triggers a following musky to strike within a few feet of the boat. Speed, a wide turning radius, and an unbroken cadence matter more than any specific lure choice. Executed correctly, it converts a follow into a bite far more often than simply lifting the bait straight up for another cast.

Why the Figure-8 Works

Musky follow far more often than they strike, and a large percentage of those follows end the moment the lure stops moving in a straight line. A fish tracking a bait boatside is already committed to the chase. The figure-8 exploits that commitment by giving the fish a target that changes direction sharply and repeatedly, mimicking a baitfish trying to escape at the last second. That sudden change in angle triggers the reactive strike response that a straight retrieve cannot.

Reading Conditions

Figure-8s produce best in clear to moderately stained water where the angler can actually see the fish and react to its position. In heavy stain or after dark, you will not see the follow, so the figure-8 becomes more of a rote habit performed on every cast rather than a reactive maneuver. Cold front conditions and high, bright sun tend to produce more short, hesitant follows that require a tighter, slower figure-8 near the surface. Stable weather and low light often bring aggressive, fast followers that respond better to a wider, faster pattern with more depth change built in.

Water Temperature and Fish Behavior

In water above 65 degrees, musky often follow at speed and commit quickly, so a fast figure-8 with sharp turns tends to trigger the fastest reaction. Below 55 degrees, fish follow more slowly and need a slower, tighter figure-8 that stays in their strike zone longer without outrunning their metabolism. Adjusting the speed of your figure-8 to match the speed of the follow is more important than sticking to a single cadence all season.

Gear Setup

A 7.5 to 9 foot heavy or extra heavy rod with a soft enough tip to load during the turn, paired with a long handle you can tuck under your forearm, gives you the leverage and range of motion the figure-8 demands. Braided line in the 80 to 130 pound range provides the low stretch needed to feel the strike and set the hook instantly at close range. Wire or heavy fluorocarbon leader is non-negotiable given how close the fish is to the rod tip during the maneuver.

Lure selection matters less than technique, but baits that hold their action at slow speed and change direction cleanly are easier to work through a figure-8. Glide baits excel here because their side-to-side kick continues even on a tight turn. Jerkbaits and jointed swimbaits also perform well, since their segmented or suspending design keeps them looking alive through direction changes rather than washing out or diving unnaturally.

Technique: Step by Step

As the lure approaches the boat, drop your rod tip to the water and submerge the first foot or two of the rod. This keeps the bait deep enough to turn without breaking the surface.
Begin a wide "L" shaped sweep, pushing the rod tip out to one side, then pulling it back and around into a loop, rather than a small, tight circle right at the rod tip.
Keep the bait moving continuously. Any pause, even half a second, gives a following fish a reason to lose interest or turn away.
Widen the pattern as you go. A figure-8 that stays within two feet of the boat looks unnatural. Push the loops out three to five feet on each side so the bait has room to actually turn like a fleeing baitfish.
Watch the fish, not the lure, whenever visibility allows. Musky often strike on the turn itself, right as the bait changes direction, so anticipating that moment helps you stay ready rather than surprised.
Continue for at least three to five full loops before lifting the bait out. Many strikes come on the third or fourth pass, well after the first loop, especially from fish that followed reluctantly.

Depth Variation

Do not keep the figure-8 at a single depth. Dropping the rod tip lower on alternating loops pulls the bait down a foot or two, then letting it rise back near the surface on the next pass adds a vertical dimension that flat, one-plane figure-8s lack. This up and down movement often triggers fish that are shadowing the bait from below and have not yet decided to commit.

Cadence and Speed Control

Speed should match the fish's mood, not a fixed rulebook. A fast, aggressive follower usually wants a fast figure-8 with sharp, wide turns that keep pace with its speed. A slow, hesitant follower that hangs back from the bait needs a slower pattern with a tighter turning radius, since outrunning that fish will end the follow instantly. If you lose sight of the fish partway through, default to a moderate, steady pace rather than speeding up or slowing down erratically, since sudden unexplained changes can spook a cautious fish.

Common Mistakes

Starting the figure-8 too late. Begin the maneuver the instant the lure reaches the boat, not after a pause to check the fish's position. That pause is often exactly when a following musky turns away.
Turning too tight. A small circle right under the rod tip does not give the lure room to turn naturally and often causes it to spin or foul on the line instead of swimming.
Standing too far from the water. High freeboard on some boats forces anglers to keep the rod tip out of the water, which flattens the lure's action. Bend at the knees or use a lower casting platform when possible.
Stopping too soon. Many anglers quit after one or two loops. Musky frequently commit on the third, fourth, or even later pass, particularly in cold water or bright sun.
Setting the hook too early. When a strike happens boatside, wait until you feel solid weight before sweeping the hookset. Musky often nip or push the bait before fully inhaling it, and setting on the first bump pulls the lure away from a fish that has not yet closed its mouth.

Netting a Boatside Strike

Have your net partner ready before you ever start the figure-8, not after the fish strikes. A musky hooked at boatside is close, energetic, and prone to sudden runs under the boat or around the motor. Keep the rod tip low and to the side to guide the fish away from the outboard, and let your net person approach from behind and below the fish's head rather than chasing it head-on.

All fishing guides

For more technique breakdowns on presentations that pair well with boatside figure-8 work, browse the full library of all fishing guides covering casting, retrieves, and seasonal patterns across every species Glenmore serves.

Common questions

How long should a figure-8 last?

Run the pattern for at least three to five complete loops, roughly ten to fifteen seconds, before lifting the lure for another cast. Many musky strike on later passes rather than the first loop, especially fish that followed cautiously or from a distance.

What lures work best for a figure-8?

Baits that maintain action at slow speed and turn cleanly without diving or rolling are ideal. Glide baits and jointed swimbaits hold their kick through direction changes, and many jerkbaits designed for musky work well since they suspend and turn predictably rather than sinking out of the strike zone.

Do I need to see the fish to figure-8 effectively?

No. Perform a figure-8 on every single cast regardless of visibility, since musky frequently follow undetected in stained water or low light. Treating the figure-8 as a mandatory final step of every retrieve, rather than a reaction to a spotted fish, converts far more of those unseen follows into strikes over a season of fishing.