Muskie Fishing
Ontario Muskie Fishing
The Next
Bite
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  Depth
Control
by Pete Maina
Depth control is a big issue in muskie fishing;
any fishing really. As a general rule over
structure—it’s usually most effective to keep
lures as close to structures as possible. When
fishing deeper ranges with suspended fish,
running lures as close-to (preferably a little
above) the suspension level of target fish or
forage – is most effective. The easier-to-get
and more enticing the presentation, the higher
the odds for success; part of the science then,
is choosing lures that run in the proper depth
zone for the situation. One thing many folks
don’t realize, is that twitching crank (and many
jerk) baits is more than just a triggering
mechanism. With nearly all cranks, this is a way
to have significant control of depth as well.
Each lure is different, and practice and
experimentation are needed to find how lures
react, but varying degrees of twitching with
cranks will keep lures higher when desired. Even
with very deep diving cranks, with differing
levels of severity to twitches, it is possible
to keep the lure running a couple feet below the
surface until an edge is reached - and then the
lure can be driven down; the same is true of
midrange cranks as well, including many
different lip styles of Sebile’s Koolie & Acast
Minnows. Try this with all of your favorite
cranks and jerks. Generally, you’ll find a
particular twitch or pull (length-of and
severity) – that will make the lure kick hard to
the side, actually rolling out and “up”. Also,
certain pulls and rips can make baits go
noticeably deeper as well. Retrieves matter; and
knowing everything your baits can do makes them
more versatile. Also, with more buoyant lures,
simple pauses can not only trigger, but also
control depth, as they float towards the
surface.
 
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