jerkbaits in every area I have caught a musky, heard of a musky caught (I'm still fishing a spot Al Sweet caught a 50 inch fish I heard a story about many years ago), seen another musky fisherman fish or just plain think there should be one there. On my best week of fishing I caught three muskies in one day. I spend, at times, the whole week fishing just for muskies and come home happy even when I have not caught or raised a single fish. Remember some guides consider a successful day just to have a follow-up to the boat. The above "caught" means I or someone with me actually landed a fish. We have had over 14 landed around the islands between our island and Broad Island - within sight of our island. And of course there is the entire Port Rawson with its many bays and access to water over 70 feet deep. Try figure 8 trolling pattern around the islands all the way to the back of Wa-Wa-Nosh. From the front bay (chocolate drop) all the ways to the backside tip of the Island. Some of the areas I have done well are now out of water, but this too will change. Two have come casting off the dock in the Pa Club marina. Another, like I said, was in 50 feet, middle of a blue bird day. One of the 50's we boated came out of 8 feet or less right in the middle of an acre or so weed bed. Muskies can be caught in as little as a foot of water, particularly in the fall. I have caught Musky from San Souci to Woods Bay. They do this by eating as much as possible and laying in the sun to speed up their metabolism. They are known to gorge themselves up through Jan. Fall all the way into January, Musky really put on the feed bag. Slow in spring (3 to 5 mph) into early June. Timing of the year and water temperature are major factors. My favorite is overcast and light rainy days. This can be early morning, late evening including well after dark, (and yes I have been trolling at 2 am). I have been experimenting with several styles, colors and sizes of Cowgirls (#5 blades to #10s) that I designed and had made for me. Top lures in no specific order: Suick (10 inch), Bull Dawg (6 & 9 inch), Burt's Husky Jerk (8 inch), Mepps #5 spinners, Crocodile Spoons (5s), a number of soft plastics (large) and of course, the Super Spook (3 hook). Still most things off the shelf work just as well. I have been known to troll a lot of baits that were designed for casting. I do a lot of customization, experimentation and designing some of my own. Minnows don't reflect light on cloudy days. For the most part, dark lures on dark days, bright lures on bright days. Lures:Ī variety of crankbaits, double blade spinners and top water, about anything from 4 inches up to some 15 inches. Have also caught a few prop wash trolling, but they were both small, although we had an old-timer at the lodge for years that swore by it and he landed some dandies. Either count the times your spooler goes back and forth or with the line out, take a magic marker and put about a 6 inch stripe on the line. You can take two reels and match the length let out to the one without a line counter. This is pretty accurate as I have a line counter I use on one of my other rods. I am still experimenting with some bottom bouncers not recommending them yet, still tinkering with the design. I have sometimes used slide weights up to 4 ounces. This is faster than you think and may require weights. I have a low speed after-market speedometer that helps others use GPS systems. They only exception to that is after a cold front where I like to slow troll but snap jerk the bait. Try to troll as fast as you can, generally ranging up to 7 mph. Most of the Muskellunge I have caught have been trolling, probably 70 percent. Use a good ball bearing with a good clasp, 6 to 12 inches long. If you use a swivel or a leader, this is not the place to be cheap. Varying gear speeds ranging from 3.8 to 1, up to 7 to 1 depending on the lure and the presentation you want. To avoid nicks, check that line and cut 5 to 10 feet off daily and retie. cue stick with 50 pound black Musky line. 'They are going to feed' might sum it up best. For all the articles you read about best times, moon phases, etc, these fish didn't get this big eating once a month or once a week. I still remember these words he said to me: "Luck", he said "is where preparation and opportunity comes together". People were telling him how lucky we were. I was once guiding an older gentleman and we had done fairly well. "Chance favors the prepared mind" - Louis Pasteur Some Tips on Fishing for Muskies Tim Belcher:
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