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Muskie (Musky)
Baitfish and
Fall Trolling For Walleye and Muskie
"You marking any bait?" is a popular question many anglers ask when
talking about trolling for walleye or muskie. Finding baitfish schools
being attacked by predators is an important angling skill for autumn
trolling. I spoke with two well-known guides, a walleye expert and a
muskie specialist, about fishing large pods of baitfish as a piece of
fish-holding structure. What follows are some of their observations on
the importance of baitfish and tips on autumn trolling strategies
Opening Day
Muskie: You Can Troll, Too!
Trolling isn't just a fall technique for muskie. During the entire season,
no matter what month it is, some spots are laid out for casting, some for
trolling and some for both. Early in the summer, all species have a lot of
options. Food production is ramping up to seasonal highs. Surface temps
are leveling out, and weeds are gaining their green, healthy momentum.
Are Dirty
Little Muskies Really That Different?
I've got a lot less experience on dirty water for muskies than I do clear
water, but for the small amount of time I put in on dirty lakes compared
to clear, my success rate is pretty good. If I dedicated equal time to
each, I think I'd have just as many fish in the net from both by the end
of the season. Maybe there's a lesson in there somewhere. All the magazine
rhetoric and worn-out clichés aside, is there really that huge of a
difference finding and catching fish in dirty water versus clear? If you
break it down piece by piece, I really don't think there is. A few
fundamental changes aside for each piece, muskies are muskies no matter
where you fish them
Fall Muskie
Casting
Picture of a Muskie being Released. Fall is a transition period and
as autumn leaves change colours, many anglers switch almost exclusively to
trolling for muskies from late September to ice-up. Yet the fall still
holds plenty of casting opportunities and it's the season for trophy fish.
Casting in fall conditions is tough going; the trick is using effective
baits for the cold water conditions. Here's an overview of some top fall
casting baits with some tips from three Ontario, muskie anglers
Muskies on Top
In the angling world the mighty muskie reigns supreme, conjuring up images
of razor-sharp teeth, truly immense size and extraordinary power.
For the avid anglers who are part of the muskie fraternity, fishing for
these giants has become an obsessive trait that has literally turned into
a way of life
Muskies &
Reefs: Find A Place To Cast This Summer.
I grew up calling them 'shoals' but everyone's got their own name for this
kind underwater structure: humps, bumps, bars and of course, reefs.
They're classic muskie spots and they're as unique as the lakes they're
found in. No two are built exactly the same, but good ones just seem to be
good ones no matter where you fish. There are also reefs that just never
produce, sometimes within a few cast lengths of ones that consistently do.
Tough-Conditions Summer Muskies In Clear Water
Even when conditions are perfect, clear water can be tough water to fish.
It can be mentally and physically crippling when you’re fishing muskies on
clear water and skies or winds are unfavourable. Darker, more fertile
lakes and rivers are more forgiving than clear ones, and populations are
almost always higher. ‘Plan B’ is to simply pull off the water and try one
once clear water begins wearing you down. Sticking to your guns, making
adjustments and battling through it make that big, clear-water release all
that much sweeter. There are things you can do beat tough bites.
Pike & Muskie:
Try Open Water
Seasonal changes to lakes and rivers aren't normally consistent from one
year to the next. Yes, lakes will freeze and thaw, and they'll also warm
and cool. All of this is 100% guaranteed. In the fall, regardless of what
the localized weather patterns have been, pike and muskies can be caught
well off of the bottom, away from structure or using open water in any
combination. Every type of water has factors that contribute to open water
fishing. Some of them are available food, available structure and depth,
structure types and even fishing/boating pressure. Every lake is
different. But in early to mid-fall especially, suspended and open water
fish have proven very reliable for me. (They're out there in the summer,
too). In rough or nasty fall conditions, the open water bite can be a
great option.
Tools and
Traits for Properly Releasing Muskie
Muskie fishing is one of the fastest growing areas in sport fishing today.
Ask any long-time muskie angler if fishing pressure is increasing, or look
at the growth of muskie lure manufacturers, and you'll be convinced that
muskie fishing is on the rise. With more anglers pursuing these predators
every year, the need for proper releasing techniques is crucial to ensure
the survival of post-release fish and sustain the sport fishery.
Timely Tips to Make Your Musky Hunt a
Success
As the trees drop their leaves and the days
grow colder, in-the-know musky anglers begin to congregate on their
favourite waters to reap the rewards that the fall time offers - BIG
plentiful muskies! Fall is the best time to hook into that fish of a
lifetime, and by being prepared and having the right tools, your time on
the water can be more productive and unforgettable.
Muskie
fishing Throughout the seasons!
Musky are a fierce and cunning predator, yet are not as hard to catch as
most people think. The start of June signals the beginning of 'ski season
in most parts of Ontario, and offers a tremendous shot at connecting with
numbers of fish and quality fish too.
Turn Your
Musky 'Follows' Into 'Takers'
Musky fishing can be a funny game. An angler can spend many hours beating
the water to a froth, only to have a musky finally appear, lazily trailing
the bait then slowly disappearing out of sight. Musky follows are a common
occurrence when chasing this majestic beast, however, there are a few
tricks that can be utilized to turn those curious fish into solid takers.
Try these tips when out on your next hunt and get ready to land your fair
share of braggin' size 'skies.
Deep
Trolling for Musky
Trolling for musky is a productive tactic
throughout the season, but it is in the fall when this method lives up to
its reputation: big musky! As water bodies cool and fish put on the feed
bag, trolling deep-diving crankbaits is an excellent technique for
increasing your chances of landing a trophy. Understanding fall musky
behavior, using a strategy to target deep fish, and having proper
equipment are three critical components to fall fishing success
Playing the
"Size" Game With Musky
Musky fishing is literally a game of
size. Searching for the lifetime fish that stretches beyond the fifty-inch
mark on the tape, or a 'ski that bottoms out the scale at thirty-pounds
are targets we all strive for when out on the water. Lets face it - size
does matter to a musky angler. But how about the size of the baits you
throw at these fish in the hope of luring them in? There is a time and
place for big baits and small in musky fishing, and learning the in's and
out's will help you in attaining that fish of a lifetime.
Spinnerbaits for Muskie
One of the questions that I am often asked by
clients, and at shows, is "What pike or muskie bait is the overall most
effective bait for all seasons?" There is no hesitation in my answer; it
is without any doubt, the spinnerbait.
Feed a
Muskie a Spoon!
I started experimenting with spoons for muskies
in 1993, after having witnessed their effectiveness for big chinook salmon
on several occasions. I asked my many of peers in both U.S. and Canada
about using spoons for muskies, and each time pretty much got the same
response… "Oh, they're great for pike, but muskies won't touch 'em." I
found that a little hard to understand.
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