” Muskies don’t miss
topwater lures
by mistake ,” he says. “It’s never an accident. So, if you’re seeing fish, or having them boil on your bait, it’s because you’re doing something they don’t want you to do. Usually it’s the speed of your retrieve.
How do you catch muskie on topwater?
Hesitate after the lure splashes down and then start reeling slowly so the lure tracks just beneath the surface. About halfway through your retrieve, raise your rod tip and start reeling faster to bring the lure to the surface. A muskie will often hit just as the blades begin to the break the surface of the water.
What lures do you use for musky?
- Mepps Magnum Musky Killer Bucktail.
- Musky Mania Jake Crankbait.
- Whopper Plopper.
- Suick Thriller.
- Drifter Tackle Jointed Believer.
- Musky Mayhem Double Cowgirl.
- LIVETARGET Field Mouse.
What
color lure
is best for musky?
The most popular choices were natural, stealthy colors that match the hatch of the muskies’ forage in most waters. Black, white (or silver), and gold are all colors of fish that are on the musky’s menu, including: suckers.
Does pike hit topwater?
With that event in mind, he set about laying the foundation for a reliable topwater plan for river-run pike. “From mid-June into the weeds start to die off in September, pike feed on top when hordes of dragonflies start cruising just above the surface ,” he says.
Can you catch muskie from shore?
While you can use most baits from the shore or from a boat, some baits will serve you better for bank-busting muskies than others.
Are muskies hard to catch?
Because of this, they’re prized game fish throughout their range. Muskie are also famously hard to hook , hence the nickname “fish of a thousand casts.” They’re difficult to trick and impossible to predict. Even so, there are a few go-to tactics for both species.
Why do muskies surface?
Musky like to be well acquainted with their surroundings and are surfacing to get a “better look around.” Muskellunge have also been seem “basking” and occasionally “porpoising” with their backs out of the water.
What speed do you troll for muskie?
The optimal trolling speed for muskies is around 3 to 4 mph usually. Now there will always be examples and times where they want it real slow, and really fast; but this is the norm. Considering this trip it was in the 55-65 degree range, we trolled around the 3 mph range and that worked out well.
What water temp is best for musky fishing?
Biologists classify muskies as “cool-water” fish. They are most comfortable at water temperatures between 63 and 67 degrees In that temperature range, and in even colder water, there’s enough oxygen in the water that a muskie can exert itself without lasting effects.
Can you catch muskie at night?
The musky is a predatory fish that hunts and feeds both during day- and nighttime. What is this? It is, therefore, possible to catch them in the dark and, especially during the warmer months of the year, nighttime fishing can actually yield better results than fishing during the day.
What colors do pike see best?
The ability of slower retrieve along with a softer underwater tone gives you the injured fish action northern pike prey upon. Best pike lure colors: Red/Black or White (sunny days), Chartreuse/Blue (cloudy days).
Does pike jump out of water?
Why do northern pike jump out of the water? Northern pike will jump out of the water to avoid being eaten by larger pike, to aggressively attack prey at the surface, and most commonly, in effort to throw an angler’s bait after being hooked.
How do you target a musky?
Try
heavy action rods
from seven to nine feet long Pair a muskie rod with a large bait-casting reel, preferably in a fast gear ratio, to allow “catching up” to fast-moving fish. Heavy action rods have the backbone to not only fight such a large fish, but also to cast the jumbo-sized lures used to target muskies.
Where do muskies live in lakes?
Muskellunge thrive in lakes that range widely in depths and have large aquatic plant beds such as bulrushes, pickerelweed, water lilies, and arrowleaf. Muskellunge live in both medium and large lakes that have deep pools and areas of slow-moving water The larger lakes tend to hold large muskies.
What do muskie fish eat?
Muskellunge feed primarily on fish, insects, ducklings, frogs, muskrats, and mice There have even been reports of large muskellunge attacking small dogs and even humans, although most of these reports are greatly exaggerated.
Are muskie good eating?
People who love eating muskies will tell you that muskie tastes quite similar to bass. Others believe it tastes more like pike. Either way, muskie is more of a bland fish with not as much flavor as other fish species, like salmon or tuna Much of the taste of the fish depends on how you cook it.
What’s the biggest muskie ever caught?
For muskies, the world records for length and weight are held by two different fish. The maximum documented length is 72.04 inches (183 cm) , and the heaviest documented weight is 70.10 pounds (31.8 kg), according to FishBase. Holm notes that world-record fish are not always caught by sportsmen.
Where do muskie go in the summer?
In many cases, muskies will be close to the same areas you were catching them in the spring and early summer, just in deeper water This could be the ledges along a point, rocky areas, drop offs near the weed line or deep weed lines. Another place to fish is in open water, where muskies may be suspended.
Do pike like spinnerbaits?
Best Spinnerbait: Booyah Pikee Spinnerbait Spinnerbaits are a popular choice when fishing in the heavy vegetation pike tend to favor.
Do pike eat frogs?
Northern Pike are at the top of the food chain in most lakes and they just about eat anything. Walleyes, Chubs, Perch, Bass, Shiners, Frogs, Snakes, Birds, Bugs and other Pike are all on there menu.
What’s the best time of day to catch pike?
Time of day As another rule of thumb, the best times for pike are usually around sunrise and sunset However, since in spring the weather isn’t as harsh yet and water temperatures allow pike to hunt for longer – you can successfully catch pike throughout the day.
What is the best time to fish for muskie?
Like many predatory fish, muskie are most active at dawn and dusk , and these times typically provide the most action, especially on warm, sunny days. Cool, overcast days are usually best for muskie fishing.
Why are muskie harder to catch than pike?
Pike only have a maximum of 6 pores on their lower jaw, but most commonly only 4 to 5. Muskies will have at least 7 pores on each side This will demand a closer look at your catch and can often take a little while, which is why it is important to handle the fish the right way, both for its and for your own sake.
Where is the best muskie fishing?
The three best big-water producers of giant muskies are
green bay
, Lake St. Clair, and the Ottawa River/St. Lawrence River systems Anglers have a legitimate shot at a 50- to 56-inch muskie nearly any day of the season there and it’s possible a record fish swims in at least two of these fisheries.
Where do musky hang out?
muskies spawn
at around 55 degrees so ideal spawning sites are located in shallow, flat, marshy areas usually lees than 3 feet in depth Protection from wind and colder main lake water temperatures make isolated bays, islands and small creek inlets all good spawning sites.
What is the hardest fish to reel in?
- Sailfish. Sailfish are a gorgeous fish which are typically found in tropical and subtropical waters that are deeper than 9 metres
- Giant Trevally. The Giant Trevally, or GT as it is also called, is one tough fish
- Swordfish
- Yellowfin Tuna
- Atlantic Salmon
- Dorado
- Wahoo
- Barracuda.
Do you need a steel leader for muskie?
When fishing with jerkbaits or dive and rise baits for musky, using a heavy and stiff single-strand stainless steel wire leader is always recommended For one thing, stiff single-strand wire material won’t tangle as much when casting out your lure or when retrieving it underwater.
Do muskies like current?
He expects to find muskies in current-breaking areas close to the bank, though not all of them “Some muskies will stay in the main channel and hug bottom around large current breaks, boulders, rip rap and humps, and stay tucked tight to island tips,” he says.
Do muskies stay in same area?
But muskies don’t have a single home range, but at least three, one for spawning, one for summer, and another for winter In general, these seasonal home ranges are located in different parts of the lake.
Where do musky spawn in rivers?
Muskie spawning occurs as water temperatures hit the mid- to upper-50-degree range. They are broadcast spawners, laying their eggs in shallow, soft-bottomed areas, generally bays (especially those with inlet flow), some shoreline areas and upstream (off-current shallows) in rivers.
Are muskie bottom feeders?
Muskies – Formally known as the fish of 10,000 casts; for good reason. These elusive fish are often at the top of the food chain in their respective body of water.
How many casts does it take to catch a muskie?
Muskellunge, also known as muskie or the fish of 10,000 casts is the largest pike in North America. They are notoriously difficult to catch, but often reach over 20 pounds and occasionally grow longer than 50 inches.
Citations
https://www.muskytackleonline.com/topwater