Muskie Fishing in Illinois

By Ted Peck

It may take another 10 years before any Illinois muskie water is mentioned in a dialogue among muskie anglers with the same reverence held for "Leech," "St. Clair" and "Lake of the Woods." But make no mistake, the buzz will happen here.

We already have 30-pound and bigger muskies swimming in several Illinois fisheries. State records for both pure muskies and tiger muskies were broken again in 2002, with the new pure muskie weighing 38 1/2 pounds and the tiger within a bluegill snack of passing the magic 30-pound mark.

With a longer growing season, a burgeoning forage base, a strong push for exceeding larger size limits, and continued excellence with the Illinois hatchery system, it's just a matter of time before the Prairie State consistently cranks out tales of whopping muskies from the Fox Chain-O-Lakes in the north to Kinkaid down in Saluki Country.

I've "moved" record-class fish twice in the past few years on a pair of private lakes in northern Illinois. One gernipped a Mann's Plus-15 Deep Pig crankbait intended for bass on Stephenson County's Lake Summerset. It came steaming past the boat without an inkling of being hooked until my fishing partner Brian Evans tried scooping the trophy with a landing net, which resulted in tangled hooks and shattered dreams.

About 10 years ago, Summerset produced a state-record tiger muskie for Dave Pann and yielded yet another state-record tiger to Chicago angler Rob McDermott last summer. McDermott's fish was 47 1/2 inches long, tipping the scales at 29.56 pounds.

The other big "toother" that haunts my thoughts shadowed a small bass that my daughter Emily was bringing back to the boat on Apple Canyon Lake in Jo Daviess County last summer, prompting a spontaneous Tourette's syndrome outburst at boatside before the muskie ghosted away. The cleats on my deep-V guide boat are 48 inches apart. There were several inches of muskie on either side of the cleats - and a back 6 inches wide. That's the gospel truth. And a primary reason at least one muskie rod is ready to go anytime the boat gets launched on Apple Canyon when I'm either guiding or fishing for fun.

This lake yielded seven muskies to clients and me in 2002, the most exciting fish coming on a Lindy Tiger Tube in the hands of young Darrin Marcure, my 15-year-old nephew. The fish was an honest 40-incher, caught and released about two hours after Darrin had bagged his first gobbler last April on the family farm. Sharing both events with this serious young man that day holds only one regret: I should have bought Darrin an Illinois lottery ticket.

Some of the very best muskie action in northern Illinois - an area of the state where real estate values can be astronomical - is on private waters. But there are several public lake systems that hold both size and numbers of Esox masquinongy, too. And with size restrictions in place ensuring that fighters will be freed until they reach essentially the dimensions of a Mark IV torpedo, you don't have to travel more than a couple of hours from any point in our state to dance with a critter big enough to make the taunt "Who's your Daddy?" an honest toss-up.

Although the "prime time" bite right now is limited pretty much to lowlight periods and a rapidly falling barometer ahead of an approaching thunderstorm, you are a weapon anytime your lure is in the water. Here's a look at lakes where you have the potential to move from "Joe Angler" to "The Legend" in a single pitch of a bucktail.


LAKE SHELBYVILLE
This sprawling central Illinois reservoir gets top marks for 2003 if for no other reason than giving up the new pure muskie record of 38 pounds, 8 ounces last year. Technically, this fish was taken in the spillway waters below the Shelbyville Dam in the Kaskaskia River. But Department of Natural Resources biologist Mike Mounce says the fish is undoubtedly an escapee from the other side of the dam.

Mattoon angler Matt Carmean landed this whopper in April while using a jig in pursuit of walleyes. At first Carmean said he was unsure if the big muskie surpassed the minimum requirement of 48 inches in effect on the lake and Kaskaskia River down to the Highway 128 bridge. But a quick check with a tape measure ensured that the fish was 2 3/4 inches beyond minimum keeper status - and holder of the new state record.

Shelbyville is third on the DNR's priority stocking list behind Spring Lake near Manito, which serves as the state's primary brood lake, and Kinkaid, the sole muskie gem of southern Illinois.

In years past Shelbyville had top stocking priority. It is now stocked at the rate of one-half muskie per acre because biologists feel there is a solid population of multiple year-classes of this top predator swimming in the lake.

Locals say that muskies become almost comatose this time of year, suddenly coming to life after the first cold front of fall passes. How good does fishing get? Several years ago local guide Mary Satterfield helped her two clients boat 12 muskies in a single day!

When the bite is on, bucktails and Jake baits are very popular, with topwater lures like the Bucher Top Raider another big producer. Orange seems to be a key, especially in conjunction with either black or chartreuse.


LAKE SHABBONA
Folks who spend a lot of time fishing this scenic 318-acre lake in De Kalb County contend that this producer of the previous state-record pure muskie is our best fishery on an acre-per-acre basis.

In the summer of 2001, low water levels and die-off in the shad forage base made muskies hungry, with over 400 fish reported to concessionaire Denny Sands. Since this time the shad are back in good numbers, according to DNR biologist Alec Pulley, enabling the muskie population swimming in this structure-angler's dream to become considerably more selective in what they want to eat.

Make no mistake - the fish are here. A barrier net placed at the dam in 1997 has prevented fish from escaping the confines of the lake. This used to be a major problem. Before the barrier went up, Pulley said an average of over 40 fish would be retrieved from the shallow waters below the dam and returned to the lake each year. Now only a couple of fish escape in a typical year.

The shad are the most important key in getting hooked up here, according to Pulley. When cold water causes the shad metabolism to slow down in mid-September the fish here go on a real feeding rip that lasts until serious autumn weather arrives.

Statistics kept by Denny Sands reveal that a wide range of lures are effective here. The best bait to throw is the one you have the most faith in.

A 48-inch size limit is in place on Shabbona, with a 10-horsepower outboard limit enforced.


KINKAID LAKE
Guide Al Nutty will tell you that this incredibly beautiful lake just west of Murphysboro in southern Illinois is the best in our state, with 82 miles of scenic shoreline all holding the potential for you to hook into a solid 40-inch muskie - and a potential now existing to take fish in excess of the 48-inch limit.

It felt like a big-fish day when Nutty and I hit the water here before sunrise last September. We had two good fish boil right at the boat as the sun was just cresting the horizon, with the gut feeling it would be a day to remember. And it was. When Hanna Banana, my yellow Lab pup, chewed through Al's trolling motor cable, taking out the mother board, we were pretty well euchred for the day.

Kinkaid has a good forage base of both shad and suckers that grow muskies fat and fast. With plenty of woody cover, rocky dropoffs and many milfoil beds, the potential for hooking up is seldom more than a long cast away. Timing and lake aesthetics are the real draws here. The best time to hit the water is typically early December and again in March when chasing muskies elsewhere in the state might first require cutting a hole in the ice to launch the boat.

Contact: Kinkaid Lake guide service, (618) 985-4105; Apple Tree Motel, 1-800-626-4356.


LAKE SULE
Thousands of anglers pass by this borrow pit lake at the intersection of Interstate 88 and Interstate 39 each year without even realizing it exists. The DNR has been quietly stocking pure muskies here for 10 years now, with any excess muskie fingerlings from production at the Jake Wolf Hatchery facility finding their way into Sule.

A 36-inch size limit is in place on these pretty much structureless waters that have a maximum depth of about 14 feet. A good boat ramp maintained by the park district provides access.

DNR fisheries biologist Alec Pulley said trap-net surveys indicate "good numbers of fish above the 36-inch minimum." Creel surveys indicate very little pressure on these muskies that are growing fat on a hearty forage base of shad and crappies.

Contact: Flagg-Rochelle Park District, (815) 562-7813.


JOHNSON-SAUK TRAIL LAKE
This 58-acre state park lake located north of Annawan near Kewanee just off of Highway 78 in northwestern Illinois is another "sleeper" where big muskies hide in plain sight.

How big? Trap nets set by biologist Ken Clodfelter in the spring of 2002 only produced three muskies from the initial 1988 year-class, down from the typical nine to 11 seen in most surveys. But two fish were males weighing about 18 pounds. Their fat pig sister weighed in at a whopping 42 pounds, measuring 42.6 inches in length! This potentially record-breaking beast was found cruising near a fallen tree along the steep shoreline that is about half-wooded.

Sauk Trail is a wide lake with some natural structure and a few fish cribs over an otherwise unremarkable bottom. There is a boat launch, but boaters are limited to using electric trolling motors only.

There are limited amenities at the park, as a concession stand/boat livery here is in the process of renovation. A 36-inch size limit is in place for muskies, with the DNR supplementing the initial 1988 stocking with advanced fingerlings about 11 inches long for the past three years at the rate of one per surface acre.


LAKE GEORGE
This 167-acre lake not far down the road from Johnson-Sauk Trail Lake southwest of Rock Island lies in the middle of a county park.

George is a deep lake, with a steeply sloping shoreline and a number of dropoffs that attract cruising muskies. A 36-inch size limit is in place, with boats limited to using electric trolling motors.

According to the DNR, muskies here grow fat on a hardy diet of gizzard shad. A 40-incher is a big fish in these waters, with the dominant year-class of muskies averaging 31 to 36 inches.

Short-line trolling close to the steep shoreline is a good way to trigger fish here, especially once weather cools in the fall.

Contact: Loud Thunder County Park office, (309) 795-1040.


LAKE CARLTON
Lake Carlton was one of the very first lakes to be stocked with muskies, back in the days before the Jake Wolf Hatchery came on line. A small rearing pond located next to the lake produced many of the muskies stocked in northern Illinois lakes back when the DNR's muskie program was in its infancy.

Back then the accepted stocking guideline for muskies was one per surface acre. But there were several years when Al Pulley and the late, great biologist Mike Sule - for which Lake Sule is named - lost count and would stock these 77 acres at perhaps twice the accepted rate, which is in line with the two-fish-per-surface-acre practice seen as the standard today.

The biggest specimen of these early surveys was sampled at 32 pounds several years ago. If any "old" fish are still swimming in this 10-horsepower limit lake they are certainly beauties.

A recent spring trap-net survey turned up 29 muskies. The biggest was 46 inches, with one fat female weighing over 25 pounds, and six of the fish sampled between 40 and 44 inches long.

According to DNR biologist Ken Clodfelter, the minimum size on Carlton, which has "one of the best populations of legal muskies per surface acre in the state," is 36 inches

Lake Carlton is located in Morrison-Rockwood State Park near Morrison in the northwest part of our state. It's a beautiful park, with boat rentals available and great camping amenities for the family.

Contact: Morrison-Rockwood State Park, (815) 795-1040.


LAKE McMASTER
This 141-acre strip mine/watershed impoundment lake's muskie population is flourishing, with a size limit of 42 inches now in place. Located in the Snake Den Hollow Fish & Wildlife Area complex 15 miles northeast of Galesburg, McMaster is one of the Prairie State's clearest lakes, which often makes for tough fishing.

DNR biologist Ken Russell says the secchi disk used to rate lake clarity can be seen 25 feet down in these waters that fish over 30 pounds call home.

There are two stands of undisturbed timber in the lake in which the forage base of bass and bluegills takes refuge - no doubt with the muskies in close proximity. But big predators are no dummies. If you can see them, they can see you, making nighttime the right time to get hooked up on this 10-horsepower-limit lake. This is a great time to try a Hawg Wobbler, Tallywacker or similar noisy surface lure after the sun sets over western Illinois.

Contact: Snake Den Hollow FWA, (309) 879-2607.


EVERGREEN LAKE
This 1,000-acre county park lake located just north of Bloomington off of I-39 is my favorite Illinois muskie lake - in spite of the $22 fee it costs non-county residents to launch their boats.

Part of the appeal lies in seven muskies over 30 inches coming to the boat in a single afternoon in the spring of 2002, the biggest of which was 37 inches - far from the 48-inch minimum in place here.

Biologists are quietly excited about Evergreen's potential, with almost the entire population of fish swimming here in excess of 30 inches. As yet, there are no real whoppers living in Evergreen. It's a numbers lake, with muskies hanging close to the lake's burgeoning crappie population. Fluorescent colors work best in these stained waters. A 10-horsepower limit is in effect.

Contact: Comlara County Park, (309) 726-2022.


MILL CREEK LAKE
This is the year muskies swimming in this Clark County Park District lake east of Marshall will grow past the 42-inch minimum in place. Biologist Mike Mounce says Mill Creek is "like a 700-acre Kinkaid - beautiful shoreline and lots of milfoil in the water."

Four year-classes of muskies now present in these waters are finally getting the once overabundant shad and bluegill populations in check. Although this lake is quite clear and deep, the muskies that dwell therein are hungry now.

Contact: Park District Headquarters, (217) 889-3601.


LAKE MARIE
By far the best muskie lake in the heavily pressured Fox Chain-O-Lakes in northeastern Illinois, Marie contains fertile waters that have the potential for producing the next state record. DNR surveys indicate fish in excess of the 48-inch minimum in place on The Chain are swimming here.

Bolstered by stockings of Leech Lake-strain advanced fingerlings over the past several years - with at least seven solid year-classes of fish already in place - Marie and maybe Channel are your best bets for hooking up with a muskie in The Chain this summer.

Trolling is your best bet. Try dragging a Depth Raider or maybe one of Musky Maina Tackle's Ernie lures.

Contact: Chain-O-Lakes State Park, (815) 675-2319.

Portage County Muskie Lakes

Lake Name Access Acres Class Category
Biron Flowage Ramp 2126 B 3
Dubay Lake Ramp 6700 B 2
Wisconsin R
FL whhiting Road 57 B 3
Wisconsin R
FL C2-Stevens Pt Ramp 220 B 3
Wisconsin R
FL C3-Stevens Pt Ramp 2093 B 3

Michigan's Muskie Fishing

By Mike Gnatkowski

Muskies are not "abundant" in any lake. Esox masquinongy are top-of-the-line predators, and they need space and forage to grow. Seasonal abundances of baitfish can cause a number of muskies to congregate in a relatively small area. Find one of these honeyholes and you might be able to catch more muskies in a single outing than you'll catch in a lifetime. But normally, muskies are few and far between. That's part of the challenge of fishing for them.

Two periods seem to produce a peak in muskie fishing. One is in late spring just after the muskies have spawned. The big fish are hungry then. Water temperatures are still relatively cool and muskies are usually aggressive and on the prowl then. Another peak time is in the fall. Cooler temperatures and the promise of leaner times spur muskies into a late-season feeding binge that muskie fanatics live for.

You'll find muskies in everything from natural lakes and impoundments to large rivers and expansive Great Lakes bays. Many bodies of water where muskies reside aren't capable of producing numbers of trophy muskies, because they lack the amount of soft-rayed forage needed to grow big muskies. But what they lack in size, many muskie waters make up for in numbers. It's a tough choice between the slim chance of catching one trophy fish or landing one's first muskie or several respectable muskies in a single trip. Most anglers will argue that bigger is better.

When it comes right down to it, a muskie is a muskie wherever you find them, and there are plenty of places in which to find them in Michigan. Following is a list of famous and not-so-famous muskie waters that you'll want to sample this year if you're a muskie addict.

SKEGEMOG LAKE
Kalkaska County's Skegemog Lake is the premier muskie lake in northwest Michigan, according to Central Lake Michigan Management Unit fisheries biologist Mark Tonello.

"The only real muskie lake in our district is Skegemog," said Tonello. "It's not overrun with fish, but it has a pretty respectable population."

Tonello pointed out that muskies can be found throughout the Elk River Chain, which includes Torch, Elk, Intermediate, Bellaire, Clam and several smaller lakes. Some of the biggest muskies in the chain are taken from Elk and Clam lakes.

Most anglers and biologists are under the impression that the muskies in the chain are Great Lakes-strain muskies. The muskies move freely throughout the system, but Skegemog offers the best habitat and the muskies seem to gravitate to the shallow, weedy confines of the 2,561-acre lake, especially in spring and early summer. Best locations on Skegemog are around the edges of a deep hole just out from the entrance to Elk Lake and in a 15-foot dip just out from the public access site on the lake's south shore.

Later in the summer, muskies retreat to the cooler, deeper sanctuaries of Elk and Torch lakes. Here the muskies suspend beneath schools of herring, whitefish and trout.

Tonello indicated that the muskies in the Elk River Chain are self-sustaining, but there are numerous other locations in the northern Lower Peninsula that have major potential for establishing muskie fisheries. Tonello said that the drowned river-mouth lakes found on the west side of our state are prime candidates, as are several other large inland lakes. Many already have a history of being viable muskie waters.

There are several major hurdles to creating these fisheries, though. Fisheries managers need to find a source for Great Lakes-strain muskies for stocking. Recent netting surveys on Lake St. Clair look promising. Biologists must also convince anglers that muskie populations won't wipe out more desirable species, like walleyes and panfish. Tonello points to the fact that both Minnesota and Wisconsin have viable muskie programs, and fishing for other species continues to thrive.

"Muskies do not eat walleyes," said Tonello. "They love white suckers."

The biggest problem with increasing muskie production is personnel and hatchery limitations.

"There's the potential to do a lot more, but we're limited," declared Tonello.

Michigan's hatcheries are more geared toward producing "coldwater" species, and not walleyes, pike and muskies.

"The Wolf Lake facility produces a small number of muskies each year, but the success rate is poor and doesn't produce nearly enough to plant all of the bodies of water that have muskie potential," claimed Tonello.

Biologists and fisheries managers have been pushing for years to get a "coolwater" hatchery facility.

For more information on muskies in the Elk River system, contact the Central Lake Michigan Management Unit at (231) 775-9727. For information on lodging and other amenities near Skegemog Lake, contact the Elk Rapids Chamber of Commerce at (231) 264-8202 or on the Web at www.elkrapidschamber.org.

BLACK LAKE
Northern Michigan's Black, Burt and Mullet lakes have several things in common. All are sizable lakes that are fed by first-class trout streams. All three have excellent fishing for a variety of species, and all of them have a respectable population of big muskies in them.

"We basically take a hands-off approach with regard to muskies in Black, Burt and Mullet lakes," said Gaylord fisheries biologist Tim Cwalinski. "We know that there is a population of muskies in those lakes and they are sustained mostly by natural reproduction. There's enough peripheral habitat for spawning to sustain the fishery."

Most people would agree that there is a small but stable population of some very large muskies in the lakes, especially Burt and Black. Fifty-inch-plus fish are taken every year.

At 10,130 acres, Black Lake is the smallest of the three lakes but is the most consistent producer of muskies. Look for muskies on the north end, especially during late fall. The majority of the muskies, though, are caught in the lower reaches of the Black and Cheboygan rivers in late spring. Trolling with giant crankbaits, casting big bucktails or soaking oversized suckers all take the occasional leviathan that will top 50 inches and 30 pounds.

Anglers can access Black Lake via Black Lake State Forest Campground on the northeast side of the lake or via Onaway State Park. For information on guides and fishing activity, contact the Black Lake Hotel at (231) 625-2625. Information on amenities and lodging in the area is available by contacting the Onaway Chamber of Commerce at (231) 733-2874.

LAKE ST. CLAIR
Lake St. Clair continues to be Michigan's premier muskie destination. There are probably more Great Lakes muskies per acre in 250,000-acre Lake St. Clair than in any other lake in the world.

"Lake St. Clair muskie numbers are at a very high level," said Mike Thomas of the Great Lakes Fisheries Research Station at Mt. Clemens. "The fishing has been consistent for the last 8 to 10 years. It's difficult monitoring muskie abundance, though. Most of the information we get is from catch rates provided by anglers."

While anglers are thrilled with the abundance of muskies in the lake, biologists fear that high densities of muskies can lead to the spread of disease. Lake St. Clair muskies may also hold the key to Michigan's muskie future.

"We got some eggs and milt this past spring by accident," said Thomas. "Most of it went to Wisconsin for a study they are doing to see if the Great Lakes-strain of muskies is a viable source for future plants."

Thomas said there is support to establish a comprehensive muskie management plan in Michigan. One of the questions is "Do we really need it?" said Thomas. Thomas said there are variables such as hatchery limitations, finding a consistent source of fish that are genetically different, and getting a handle on the bacterial disease that is showing up in Lake St. Clair muskies. Only then can Michigan jump in with both feet in establishing a bona fide muskie program.

In the meantime, Lake St. Clair continues to produce a fantastic muskie fishery.

"There are muskies in U.S. waters all year long," said Thomas, "but generally the muskies move to Canadian waters during the summer and early fall."

Thomas pointed out that Canadian waters make up two-thirds of the lake. Some contend that there are two distinct populations of muskies in the lake. One spawns in the shallow confines of Anchor Bay. The other population spawns in Canadian waters. The Anchor Bay fish are available through June, but clear water, floating vegetation and boating traffic on the U.S. side of the lake make catching them difficult.

From the mouth of the Clinton River south is usually a hotspot. Speed-trolling to cover water with Believers, Terminators and other giant lures behind planer boards and rods spotted near the prop wash draw ferocious strikes. The idea is to cover water, change plugs and clean weeds.

For muskie tackle, baits, fishing reports and lake maps, contact Lakeside Fishing Shop at (586) 777-7003 or check them out on the Web at www.lakesidefishingshop.com. To book a charter for Lake St. Clair muskies, contact Capt. Don Miller at Miller's Sport Fishing at (734) 429-9551 or on the Web at www.millers-sportfishing.com.

BUDD & SANFORD LAKES
"The two best muskies lakes in our district are Sanford and Budd lakes," said Southern Lake Huron Management Unit fisheries biologist Jim Baker. "We've planted muskies in the Tittabawassee River system for years, but Sanford is the only place where they really took off."

Baker said that each impoundment is planted every four or five years.

"It may not seem like much, but that enough to establish a fishery," claimed Baker. "These fish are fall fingerlings that average 10 inches and they are very 'street smart.' Survival is good."

These plants are supplemented with fingerlings raised in marshes adjacent to Smallwood and Sanford lakes. The fish grow quickly on a healthy diet of suckers and panfish.

Hotspots for muskies are anywhere creeks enter the lake and along the old river channel. Muskies take up residence along the sloping dropoffs there and in remnant stumps to ambush prey. Trolling with big crankbaits and plugs produces the best results.

"Budd Lake has been a steady muskie producer for years," claimed Baker.

The 175-acre Clare County lake has a sizable population of lake chubs and suckers that make for perfect muskie fodder. Regular plants help to sustain muskie populations in the lake.

Because of the lake's size, finding muskies in Budd Lake isn't difficult; catching them sometimes is. The best tactic is to cover water by trolling at a fairly good clip while pulling big Bombers, Rapalas and Believers in frog, shad and perch finishes. Fish come from both the north and south ends in 10 to 25 feet of water. A ban on spearing helps protect valuable muskies.

For more information on muskies in Sanford and Budd lakes, contact the Saginaw Bay Management Unit of the DNR at (989) 684-9141.

THORNAPPLE & HUDSON LAKES
"Thornapple and Hudson lakes are unique in that they're brood-stock lakes," said Southern Lake Michigan Management Unit fisheries biologist Jay Wesley. That means that they are protected with special regulations that prohibit spearing, no ice-fishing is allowed, there are minimum size limits, and they get plants every year. It's no wonder the muskie fishing is so good.

Thornapple Lake, at 409 acres, is located in Barry County near Hastings. It is formed by the Thornapple River and offers ideal muskie habitat. The northern muskies there grow fat on a diet of suckers, crappies and small carp. Hotspots for muskies are on the east end of the lake where the Thornapple River enters, off High Bank Creek and Howard's Point, and on the west end off the public boat ramp at Charleton Park. Muskie fanatics troll giant crankbaits, throw Suicks and other jerkbaits or soak jumbo suckers under a beach-ball-sized bobber. All methods take their share of Thornapple muskies.

Lenawee County's 500-acre Lake Hudson is another brood-stock lake that produces big muskies.

"A new state-record muskie that weighed 49 pounds (and 12 ounces, caught by John Gemi) and was 51 inches was caught from Lake Hudson in 2000," said fisheries biologist Jay Wesley. "The word is out about the big fish in the lake."

Fishing pressure has increased dramatically since the monster was caught, prompting the DNR to place a special 50-inch size limit on muskies from Hudson.

Lake Hudson is an impoundment of Bear Creek, a tributary of the Raisin River. It tends to be on the turbid side because of the lake's clay bottom. The hard pan prevents extensive weed growth, and locating the scattered weeds adjacent to deep water is a key to finding muskies in Lake Hudson. Most anglers cast giant spinnerbaits, plugs and bucktails.

For more information on Thornapple Lake muskies, contact the Southern Lake Michigan Management Unit at (616) 685-6851. The Lake Erie Management Unit of the DNR (734-953-0241) manages Lake Hudson.

ST. MARYS RIVER, TAHQUEMENON AND MORE
There are more muskie waters in the eastern U.P. than you think.

"Everyone tends to think about the St. Marys River system and the Tahquamenon River system when you talk about muskies in this neck of the woods, but we actually have quite a few muskie waters in our district," claimed fisheries biologist Jim Waybrant. "Probably the best chance of catching a muskie is on the Tahquamenon River. It probably won't be a keeper, but the chances of catching a muskie are good."

Waybrant said that the river contains both Great Lakes and northern muskies. Most will be in the 30- to 40-inch range. The best area is from McPhee's Landing to the falls, some 30 miles of remote, picturesque water. Casting with brightly colored jerkbaits, spinnerbaits and bucktails in the tannic-stained water works best. A key area is off the Sage and Hendrie rivers.

At the other end of the spectrum is the St. Marys River system, which includes Munuscong Bay, Raber Bay, Neebish Island, Lake Nicolet, Lake George and Potagannissing Bay. In the vast, expansive and immense St. Marys River much of the water is ideal muskie habitat and the fish can be widely scattered.

"Key to finding muskies on the St. Marys is finding baitfish," said muskie guide Bert Rimer. "The fish move with the baitfish. Generally, that's in the shallower, warmer water."

Trolling is the only option when you're searching wide expanses for muskies. Rimer uses long rods, outriggers and speed-trolling to cover water. Lure color changes daily. Best times are during late May and early June, and in the fall.

To try your luck at landing a St. Marys River muskie, contact Bert Rimer at (906) 647-2024 or on the Web at www.muskyguideresort.com. For information on lodging and accommodations, contact the Sault Convention & Visitors Bureau at (906) 632-3301 or on the Web at www.saultstemarie.com.

Waybrant indicated that the St. Marys and Tahquamenon aren't the only muskie waters in the eastern U.P. He suggested trying 4,230-acre Brevoort Lake and South Manistique Lake in Mackinac County, and Kingston Lake in Alger County. Both Grassy and McKeever lakes in western Schoolcraft County have good populations of muskies. Another lake to consider is 130-acre Cusino Lake. Waybrant said Cusino's muskies are slow-growing, but the lake contains legal fish.

For more information on muskie lakes in the eastern U.P., contact the DNR's Newberry office at (906) 293-5131.

WESTERN U.P.
Muskies have quite a following in the western U.P. Because the western U.P. is so close to Wisconsin, where the muskie is king, there are a lot of non-resident anglers plying the waters in the region in search of trophy fish. Others are Michigan anglers who are just muskie addicts. Both will find plenty of locations in which to ply their trade.

"I would have to rate Lac La Belle as one of the U.P.'s better muskie lakes," said Vern Nurenburg, fisheries biologist at the Baraga District field office.

Lac La Belle's muskie population has been on a slow upward trend and the lake's rocky shoals and scattered weedbeds combined with an abundant sucker population make for an ideal muskie environment. The 1,146-acre lake is located in northeast Keweenaw County. Try near the town of Lac La Belle and near the narrows on the east end of the lake.

The Bond Falls Flowage is another muskie water Nurenburg recommended. Nurenburg said that Bonds Falls has a population of naturally reproducing northern muskies. Located east of Paulding, the flowage is formed by the Middle Branch of the Ontonagon River. The lake features stumps, weedlines and islands that provide perfect muskie lairs, plus plenty of rough fish for forage.

For information on these and other western U.P. muskie waters, contact the DNR's Baraga field office at (906) 353-6651. Information on lodging and accommodations is available by contacting the Upper Peninsula Travel & Recreation Association at 1-800-562-7134 or on the Web at www.uptravel.com.

Top Tiger Muskie Destinations

If you're into Tiger Muskies, here are the top places in North America:

by Jeff Kutcha
Colorado
• Cherry Creek Reservoir
• Gross Reservoir North Dakota
• New John’s Lake
• Sweetbriar Dam
Idaho
• Hauser Lake Pennsylvania
• East Branch Clarion River Lake
Maryland
• Potomac River Utah
• Pineview Reservoir
Massachusetts
• Pontoosuc Reservoir Washington
• Newman Lake
Nebraska
• Oliver Reservoir Wisconsin
• Lac Vieux Desert (naturally occurring)
New York
• Mohawk River
• Canadarago Lake

Polk County Muskie Lakes

Lake Name Access Acres Class Category
Apple River Flowage Ramp 639 B 3
Bear Trap Lake Ramp 241 C 3
Big Blake Lake (Beautiful) Ramp 302 C 3
Big Round Lake Ramp 1015 C 3
Black Brook Flowage Ramp 98 C 3
Bone Lake T35N R16W S06 Ramp 1781 A2 3
Bridget Lake (Mud) Water 95 C 3
Deer Lake T34N R17W S29 Ramp 807 A2 3
Indianhead Flowage Ramp 776 C 2
Wapogasset Lake Ramp 1186 C 3
White Ash Lake Ramp 153 C 3

Peirce County Muskie Lakes

Lake Name Access Acres Class Category
St Croix Lake Ramp 4668 C 3

Oneida County Muskie Lakes

The mother lode of all counties for muskie lakes. :)

Lake Name Access Acres Class Category
Alva Lake Road 201 B 0
Bass Lake T37N R09E S30 Water 124 A1 0
Bearskin Lake Ramp 400 A2 2
Big Carr Lake Ramp 213 B 1
Big Fork Lake Water 690 A2 2
Big Lake Ramp 865 A2 2
Big Stone Lake Ramp 548 A2 2
Birch Lake Comm 180 B 0
Bolger Lake Ramp 119 B 0
Boom Lake Ramp 437 A1 0
Booth Lake Ramp 207 A2 2
Bridge Lake* Water 411 C 3
Buckskin Lake Ramp 634 B 2
Burrows Lake Ramp 156 B 0
Carrol Lake Ramp 352 A2 2
Chain Lake Ramp 219 A2 2
Clear Lake (T36N R09E S10) Comm 36 C 0
Clear Lake T39N R04E S02(Near) Walk-in 212 B 1
Clear Lake T39N R07E S16 Ramp 846 A1 1
Clearwater Lake None 351 C 0
Columbus Lake Water 670 B 0
Creek Lake Water 172 A1 2
Crescent Lake T36N R08E S21-10 Ramp 626 A2 2
Crooked Lake None 176 C 0
Cunard Lake Ramp 43 B 2
Crystal (Mud) Lake Road 124 C 2
Dam Lake Water 744 A2 2
Deer Lake T38N R11E S10 Water 177 A2 2
Diamond Lake Road 124 A2 2
Dog Lake T38N R11E S15 Water 216 A2 2
Echo Lake Water 107 A2 2
Emma Lake Ramp 223 B 2
Fifth Lake Water 240 A2 2
Fish Lake Water 70 C 2
Fourmile Lake Water 218 A2 2
Fourth Lake Water 258 A2 2
Franklin Lake Road 161 C 0
George Lake Ramp 435 A2 2
Gilmore Lake Ramp 301 A2 2
Goodyear Lake Ramp 59 B 0
Hancock Lake Ramp 259 A2 2
Hanson Lake None 36
Hasbrook Lake Ramp 302 A1 2
Hill Lake None 30
Horsehead Lake, East Ramp 184 A1 1
Horsehead Lake, West Ramp 145 A2 2
Indian Lake T38N R09E S01 Ramp 397 A2 2
Island Lake T39N R11E S29 Water 295 A2 2
Johnson Lake* T40N R06E S34 Ramp 78
Julia Lake Ramp 238 B 2
Julia Lake* T38N R12E S06 Ramp 392 A2 2
Kathan Lake Comm 189 B 2
Katherine Lake Ramp 590 B 1
Kaubashine Lake, Lower Road 187 A2 2
Kaubashine Lake, Upper Walk-in 190 B 1
Kawaguesaga L.(Kewasokogan) Water 670 A2 2
Laurel Lake (Medicine) Ramp 232 A2 2
Little Bearskin Lake Ramp 164 B 2
Little Carr Lake Walk-in 52 B 1
Little Fork Lake Water 354 A2 2
Little Tomahawk Lake Water 160 A2 2
Lone Stone Lake 172
Long Lake T37N R07E S10 Ramp 113 C 0
Long Lake T39N R10E S32 None 56
Long Lake T39N R11E S08 Water 620 A2 2
Lost Lake Comm 155 B 0
Madeline Lake (Mud) Ramp 159 A2 2
Manson Lake Ramp 236 A2 2
Maple Lake Ramp 144 C 0
Margaret Lake (Lost) Ramp 88 B 2
Medicine Lake Ramp 372 A2 2
Mercer Lake Walk-in 257 A1 2
Mid Lake (Nawaii) Water 223 A2 2
Mildred Lake Ramp 191 B 0
Minocqua Lake Ramp 1360 A2 2
Moccasin Lake Water 95 A2 2
Moen Lake Ramp 460 A2 2
Mud L T38N R11E S17 (Crystal) Water 124 C 2
Mud Lake T38N R07E S07-04 None 36 A2 2
Muskellunge Lake T38NR08ES10 Ramp 284 A2 2
Muskie Lake Walk-in 43 B 0
Ninemile Lake, Lower Ramp 646 C 0
Nokomis Lake* Ramp 2433 A1 2
Oneida Lake Comm 255 A1 2
Oscar-Jenny Lake Ramp 104 C 3
Pelican Lake Ramp 3585 A2 2
Pickerel Lake T38N R09E S31 None 49
Pickerel Lake T39N R08E S07 Ramp 736 B 1
Pine Lake T37N R09E S04 Water 240 B 0
Pine Lake T39N R04E S36 None 203 B 0
Pine Lake, South Water 77 C 0
Planting Ground Lake Water 1012 A2 2
Rainbow Flowage Ramp 2035 B 1
Range Line Lake Water 123 C 2
Rhinelander Flowage Ramp 1326 A1 2
Rice River Flowage*(Nokomis) Ramp 920 A1 2
Round Lake T39N R11E S29 Water 150 A2 2
Sand Lake T39N R09E S20 Ramp 540 A2 2
Second Lake Water 111 A2 2
Sevenmile Lake Ramp 503 B 1
Seventeen Lake Road 172 B 2
Shepard Lake None 179 C 0
Shishebogama Lake (LdF) Water 716 A2 3
Snowden Lake (Stone) Walk-in 135 C 0
Soo Lake None 135 B 1
Spider Lake Ramp 118 A1 1
Spirit Lake Road 368 A2 2
Spring Lake (Mosquito) Road 90 C 2
Squaw Lake* Ramp 785 A2 2
Squirrel Lake Ramp 1317 A2 2
Stella Lake Ramp 405 B 2
Stone Lake T38N R09E S05 Ramp 188 A2 2
Stone Lake T39N R04E S27-15 None 254 A1 1
Sunset Lake (Mud) Ramp 36
Swamp Lake Ramp 296 C 0
Sweeney Lake Ramp 187 A2 2
Third Lake Road 103 A2 0
Thompson Lake Ramp 382 A2 2
Thunder Lake T37N R09E S29 Water 172 A1 2
Tim Lynn Lake None 84 C 0
Tom Doyle Lake Ramp 102 A2 2
Tomahawk Lake Ramp 3392 A2 2
Townline Lake T39N R11E S31 Ramp 152 A2 2
Two Lakes, North Comm 146 A2 2
Two Lakes, South Comm 214 A2 2
Two Sisters Lake (Black) Ramp 719 A1 2
Unnamed T39N R04E S14-02 None 33
Unnamed T39N R05E S12-15 None 23
Virgin Lake T38N R11E S11 Water 278 A2 2
Walters Lake Comm 61 C 0
Whitefish Lake Water 205 A2 2
Willow Flowage Ramp 6306 C 1
Willow Lake Comm 395 C 0

Spray Controversy will not die

Just when you think it's over, it's not. They must have nothing better to do.

Mathematicians call for muskie study

Three math experts examined the photo of Louie Spray's catch and say an independent investigation is needed.

BY STEVE KUCHERANEWS TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

The controversy over a muskie caught more than 56 years ago will not die.
Three mathematicians who examined photos of the world-record muskie are recommending that an independent group with experts in mathematics and photogrammetry be created to determine whether Louis Spray's fish was as large as claimed.
"Why do I care about the world-record muskie?" said Douglas N. Arnold, mathematics professor at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and director of its Institute for Mathematics and its Applications. "I was asked to put my name on these results. Math has something to contribute, and we should be honest about what it can say and can't say."
Arnold was one of the mathematicians that the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame in Hayward, asked to examine photographs of Spray and his muskie. Two others were Joseph Gallian, a mathematics professor at the University of Minnesota Duluth; and Dorian Goldfeld, professor of mathematics at Columbia University.
The three mathematicians worked independently on their calculations, then co-wrote a Feb. 1 letter to Emmett Brown, the Hall of Fame's executive director. They believe the Hall of Fame is not recognizing the limitations of their method of photo analysis.
"The three of us agree that things could have been done better," Joseph Gallian said. "There are ways that people who are experts using sophisticated methods could produce a much more accurate answer."
In their letter, the mathematicians said an independent group of such experts "should be supplied with the full information available, including all known photos of the fish in original format, and allowed to pursue the evidence as they feel most justified."
The Hall of Fame announced Jan. 19 that its board of directors had voted 8-0 to retain Spray's world record of a 69-pound, 11-ounce muskie caught on the Chippewa Flowage in 1949.
"Photos of this musky actually prove -- through the use of same plane, direct scaling techniques ... that the reported length of Spray's musky (63.9 inches) is in the 'ballpark' (the approximate range) of where it should be," was one of the reasons the hall cited for keeping Spray's record.
" 'Prove' is the wrong word," Gallian said. "Direct scaling is only accurate under ideal conditions. And we did not have those conditions. Even a small amount away from the perfect can make a significant difference."
Brown is satisfied that hall's board made the correct and final decision.
"We're confident in the record based on the strength of the affidavits," he said. "That's the most compelling bit of information. There are 10 verified witnesses to the measuring, the weighing, and that the fish was fresh and live caught."
A fire destroyed Spray's mounted fish in 1959, leaving only photographs and the affidavits as evidence of the fish's measurements.
"In the grand scheme of things the documentation -- the affidavits -- is the strongest piece of verification that the fish existed in the reported dimensions," Brown said. "Photo analysis can and is subjective."
Brown rejected earlier photo analysis done for the World Record Muskie Alliance, an Illinois group that challenged Spray's record, saying photos show that the fish was only 54 inches long, not 63.
If experts know how large something is in a photograph, they may be able to use that knowledge to determine how large something else in the picture is. In this case, if Spray's muskie is 63 inches long, the fish would appear to be 88 percent as long as the 6-foot Spray was tall.
But that assumes that Spray and the fish were next to each other when the picture was taken. And as any angler knows, holding a fish out at arm's length toward the camera makes the fish look larger than holding it close to the body. Tilting the camera will affect results as well.
Assuming Spray was holding the fish alongside his body and that the camera wasn't tilted, Gallian calculated a theoretical maximum length of about 65 inches for the fish. "It could be much smaller," he said of muskie in two photos he provided by the Hall of Fame.
Arnold was asked to examine just one photo. He questions why different people were given different pictures to examine, and whether the Hall of Fame understands his analysis.
Like Gallian, Arnold decided the fish could have been as much as 63 inches long. Or much shorter.
"If I had to guess, I would say probably considerably shorter because the one test I did made a much shorter board look that size," he said.
If Spray's record is ever thrown out, next in line is a 67-pounder caught in 1949 by Minneapolis outdoors writer Cal Johnson on Lac Courte Oreilles. That fish is on display at the Moccasin Bar in downtown Hayward.

Night Fishing for Muskies

by Laura Morrison

Fishing for muskie at night is a completely different ball game. Aside from being very productive, it can also be a real heart stopper. You almost have to rethink the way you fish. Unless there is a full moon, you really can't see much. When it's very dark, I know I rely mostly on what I feel and not on what I hear. Setting the hook when you hear the splash is all too easy and you're surely going to miss the fish.

Plan your evening muskie fishing trip well in advance. Doing this will give you enough time to be totally prepared. Here are some steps that will make your night fishing trip successful.

Know the lake you're going to fish. The lake will look different at night. Know the tree lines and how to read them. Learn landmarks to follow if you do get lost. Bring a compass just in case you get turned around and lose site of what direction you need to go. If you're unsure of the lake, do not go out at night. Take the time to prefish it during the daylight hours. Learn the spots and how to get to each one without hitting any hazards.

Make sure your boat is prepared. All running lights must be in working order. Have a full tank of gas. The extra gas may be needed if you get lost on a larger lake. Fully charge your batteries. Keep a strong spotlight/flashlight on board. You'll want to have the ability to see what's around you, especially the shoreline or to let another boat know you're there. Depending on how you're positioned, it may be difficult for another boat to clearly see your running lights. Do not point a strong spotlight in the eyes of the driver of the other boat. Blinding another driver could make things ugly. Headlamps work well when you need to use both hands. Instances such as, changing lures, landing fish, or removing hooks. With any motor, you may have problems. Keep an oar on board just in case everything else fails.

Prepare yourself in advance. Foreseeing any mishaps will help you plan for anything thrown at you. The safest thing to do is to be prepared for everything. Check the weather before you go. Storms at night will not increase your catches. Tell someone which lake you will be fishing and what time you will be home. Bring a cell phone with a full battery. This will allow you to contact someone if there is a problem. You can also call home if the action is so good that you plan to stay a little later. Significant others always think the worst when you're running late from a night trip. Ease their minds by letting them know you're okay.

Double-check your arsenal. If you think your leader is due for a change, change it before you go out. A lost lure from a broken snap is more difficult to locate at night. Pick out a few lures you plan on using and sharpen the hooks. Keep spare, sharp hooks on board (out of the way) in case you have to cut the hooks after a catch. You may even want to try some of the glow in the dark stickers to apply to your lures.

Be safe when driving. Life jackets should be worn at all times, especially at night. Wear clear safety glasses while driving. Like the old saying goes, "It's all fun and games until someone loses an eye". Hitting bugs, even at 20 mph, can be very painful. This brings me to another point, SLOW DOWN after sunset.

Take extra care while in the boat. Keep the floor clear of anything not being used. Put away extra rods, lures, trash, empty beer cans (just kidding, you shouldn't drink while on the water), etc. Designate a space for your release tools and spotlight. Since I don't recommend fishing alone at night, know where your partner is at all times and tell your partner where you are. Set the hook in the direction opposite of your partner's location. Missing a fish with a hard hook set could cause an injury to your partner if they are in direct line with your hook set. When you do catch a fish, DO NOT hand land it. Use the proper landing net for muskies. Putting the net in a vertical position keeps it out of your walkway and makes it easier to get at.

Prepare for the unexpected. Are you ready for a heart attack? Unexpected hits at the boat can be terminal! The only way to prepare you for this is to ALWAYS expect a fish to be there. Execute a complete figure eight during each retrieve; in fact do a couple of them.

I would like to say in summary that muskei fishing at night is an adrenaline rush. The excitement of just planning a trip can intensify your heart rate. It is important that you do not loose site of safety and are prepared in advance. One accident at night could ruin a good thing.

Oconto County Muskie Lakes

Lake Name Access Acres Class Category
Anderson Lake Ramp 182 C 3
Archibald Lake Ramp 393 B 1
Bear Lake None 78
Boot Lake Ramp 235 C 1
Caldron Falls
Reservoir Ramp 1018 A2 2
Munger Lake Ramp 96
Waubee Lake Ramp 137
White Potato Lake Ramp 978 C 2

Marquette County Muskie Lakes

Lake Name Access Acres Class Category
Mason Lake Ramp 855
Puckaway Lake Ramp 5039 C 3

Endargangered Muskies at Lake of the Woods and other species.

I ran across this very distubring article about commercial fishing nets on Lake of the Woods. This is one of the best, if not the best, fisheries in North America. Click on the link below which will bring you to some more information about this disgusting abuse of Lake of the Woods.

http://www.thenextbite.com/SaveLOTW/


Lake of the Woods Resource Watch
Let's Keep Lake of the Woods Great!

Make yourself heard!
Click here for ministry and tourism contacts.

Please email us any information or photos you have, and we will relay it to the appropriate parties.


News:

May 19, 2005 - Is this what we have to look forward to on LOTW?

April 22, 2005 - Is there a solution?

April 13, 2005 - Is Lake of the Woods in trouble? A disturbing message.

Jan 21, 2005

1997-2002 Harvest data for Lake of the Woods

We have finally received a copy of the harvest data for the Lake of the Woods area, you can view it here. This report covers the years 1997-2002, and gives us a good baseline to monitor the future.


Nov 5, 2004
Pictures of nets on Lake of the Woods, Ontario.

On November 5, 2004 pictures were taken in the Hades of a net with dead fish, notice the muskie in the photo. I wonder how long it will take before netting damages the so far excellent but fragile muskie fishery on the lake?


Aug 2, 2004
Pictures of nets on Lake of the Woods, Ontario.

On August 2, 2004 a local guide took photos of a net full of rotting fish in the North West Angle portion of Lake of the Woods. He told of this being a sample of many nets in the area full of rotting fish (muskie, pike and walleye).


June 8, 2004
Pictures of nets on Lake of the Woods, Ontario.

On June 8, 2004 U.S. fishermen came across net on Sabaskong Bay, Lake of the Woods. They took pictures in disgust of nets containing muskie, pike, bass, walleye and other fish to commemorate their trip to the unspoiled Canadian wilderness.

Marinette County Muskie Lakes

Lake Name Access Acres Class Category
Big Quinnesec
Falls Flowage Water 127
Caldron Falls
Reservoir Ramp 1018 A2 2
Chalk Hills
Flowage Ramp 866 C 2
High Falls
Reservoir Ramp 1498 B 1
Johnson Falls
Flowage Ramp 158 C 0
Noquebay Lake Ramp 2409 C 3
Sandstone
Flowage Ramp 153 C 3
White Rapids
Flowage Ramp 477 C 2

Tools and the Pro-Active Relaese for Muskies

An article by Pete Maina about the importance of good catch and release.

Before I get to my main topic, I want to revisit the topic of live and dead bait use briefly. In past issues of Esox Angler Magazine, I have discussed this topic in detail, since spring is a season where live and dead bait are commonly used. At the time, I discussed the importance of using quickstrike rigging, and NOT allowing ingestion of bait and hook(s). This plea has been further backed-up by Michael Butler, citing mortality rates from studies done with different species (including pike) as further warning/proof that ingested hooks kill.

Recently "circle" hooks have been promoted as an alternative to quickstrike rigs. These hooks are touted as potentially, or in some cases definitely (which is the reason for this mention; the potential to continue to kill muskies is VERY real) being a safe alternative to the old standard, square (swallow) hooks. But, keep in mind that circle hooks involve waiting for the fish to "turn" the bait, and therefore, potential for ingestion still exists. Until more is discovered about these hooks, the safest thing for the good of esocids is to stick exclusively with quickstrike rigging and immediate setting when using bait. There are many variables with respect to the use of circle hooks, and while there have been some positive reports, there are also reports of fish still being hooked in the stomach or gullet. Until more is known about these hooks, I'd like to suggest that you err on the safe side.

Tools
The tools of the trade for proper, effective catch and release for esox can't be discussed too much. Neither can the basics of handling release properly. So, a list of tools again is a must (I know this is a repeat for many of you, but it is important stuff! For those hearing this again, remember those new to the sport and this website and bear with me). Without the following tools, the Johnsons, Burns, Pearsons‹no one, no matter how many muskies they have handled, can release effectively or safely. The mandatory tools at all times (the "have them or don't go" tools) include long-nose pliers (11 inch models are great), quality hook cutters (Knipex are simply the best and are available through Esox Angler Magazine) and jaw spreaders. Back-up sets of each are a great idea. Other suggested items that make release even more efficient and safe, include "hookouts", heavy gloves, split-ring pliers, spare hooks (preferably pre-sharpened) and quality landing devices which include large nets, cradles or the net/cradle hybrid.

Be Proactive
Another part of successful release is the angler's mindset. With fishing, the right frame of mind is as much a tool as a rod and reel, and it's the same with release. A proactive mindset is as important a tool as your hook cutters. Make certain that you "have a plan." If you don't consider this before going on the water, you simply won't be as successful in releasing fish as you could be. Being a newcomer to the sport is no excuse for not have a plan. In reality, it's much more important for the inexperienced. And, it's not at all hard.

To develop a plan, go through the possible scenarios you may encounter with a hooked fish. Will you be using a landing device and if so, what kind is it? Do you know how to use it? Does it allow you to keep the fish in the water, and is the mesh treated and as tangle-free as possible (knotless, treated mesh is MUCH better for the fish)? I won't get into great detail here on landing devices, but be certain you have the most fish-friendly tool you can afford, then know how it works and plan how you'll use it.

The advantage to a landing device for catch and release is simply in the speed it allows. Landing devices allow you to subdue and, if properly handled, release the fish to its natural environment quickly. Speed is a huge factor in overall stress‹minimize the time the fish is out of its natural element and the fish wins.

The "if properly handled" part of this speed equation is the "proactive" approach to release and the use of the aforementioned tools. The most important of the suggested tools are those Knipex cutters. Don't worry, they won't wear out (it's the reason you buy a good set). You can cut hundreds or thousands of hooks with them. A great "plan" for those new to the sport is to put the fish in the landing device and just cut all the hooks on the lure. Even for experienced anglers, the first step in a release with a landing device, once a fish is in the thing, is to simply cut every hook in sight.
Very likely, the biggest mistake made by most esox fishers is to wait for what are considered by many to be drastic measures until after the standard method proves slow or completely unsuccessful; the "standard" method being simply grabbing the long-nose pliers or hookouts first, in all cases. All too often, thirty seconds or a minute later, the cutters are grabbed because pliers have accomplished nothing other than bent hooks and torn flesh. For the fish and you, it's often better to begin with "drastic" hook removal measures.

Sure, once in a while, the fish is not a twister or roller; it's not hooked too badly and the shank of the hook is exposed and easily grabbed with pliers and popped out. Great!

But any of you that have caught numbers of esocids know that they don't all cooperate. They seem to not understand our good intentions for their return to the water. They twist and roll and wrap line around themselves, through hooks and leaders and everything else in sight, and then this whole mess ends up in the landing device, and the fish rolls again. This is about as bad as it gets (the only thing worse is the addition of hooks in eyes or gills too). But, it's really not that big of a deal if you're proactive.

In these cases, don't even consider pliers. They have no place in this scenario with the exception of possibly plucking hook pieces after they've been cut, but that comes later. Get those cutters, and as quickly as you can, cut the line (and leader if necessary; a scenario more common with longer trolling leaders) and cut the hooks out. Just start snipping everything in several places like a madman/woman. If a hook is deeply imbedded and tough to get to, cut the split ring or main shank and as the fish is freed up you can usually return to that hook from a better angle. In seconds, the fish can be totally free. Cut line, leader, hooks, basically whatever is in the way until it's all gone.

Any pieces of hook left in the fish need to come out (most of the time, hook pieces simply fall out). So, in the case of a hook where the split ring or shank was cut, get a gill hold on the fish (carefull here to do this correctly; it is VERY important to know how to hold them) and cut that hook to pieces and get the pieces out. Often, jaw spreaders may be necessary to get at these hooks.

So, automatically grab the cutters when hooks are embedded deeply; when hooks are in dangerous areas like eyes or gills; when fish are wrapped in line and/or mesh, and especially when you're new to the game. Many times, I've heard folks talk about being excited; about that excitement hindering the thought process and mechanics somewhat. Recently, a fellow new to muskies said to me while discussing release, "I'm just not as calm as you with these fish." Understandable, and unless you just aren't human, expected. It's all the more reason to simply plan to grab the cutters and just cut the line and hooks.

A good set of cutters is a beginner's, and fish's, best friend. Have I mentioned the importance of cutters too much here? No, I don't think that's possible. Viewing hook cutters as the "last resort" may be the biggest obstacle I consistently see to a quick release, and the solution to the problem is fairly simple - be proactive. If it's in the way or offering potential for any further damage, cut it!

Did I mention cutting hooks and line if need be?
CUT, CUT, CUT!

Let 'em go alive.

Marathon County Muskie Lakes

Lake Name Access Acres Class Category
Big Eau Pleine
Reservoir Ramp 6830 B 2
Dubay Lake* Ramp 6700 B 2
Mission Lake
Crooked) Ramp 107 C 2
Mosinee Flowage Ramp 994 B 1
Wausau Dam Lake Ramp 284 C 1
Wausau Lake Ramp 1918 B 2

Anglers reel in 45-inch musky from Potomac River

This is not something you here of everyday, especially from the Potomac River.

By Jim Gilford
News-Post Staff
BRANDON PYLES AND HIS BUDDY James Tyeryar were at the right place at the right time. They were fishing for walleye at Taylors Landing Sunday before last. That Washington County section of the Potomac River below Dam No. 4 is a hot spot for walleye in the spring of the year, and the day was mild, topping off an unseasonably warm January.
They were trolling a 5-inch Rapala Firetiger on 12-pound test line about 400 yards downstream of the dam when a heavy fish took their bait. Mr. Pyles spent an exhilarating 30 minutes or so fighting the fish, fearful the entire time that the light line might break during the struggle. But the line held and eventually, with his companion's help, he was able to land the fish, which was not a walleye but a 45-inch long, 26.5-pound musky.

While not really expecting to catch a musky, Mr. Pyles knew about the presence of musky in the Taylors Landing area, so it wasn't a complete surprise either. Having caught a 37-inch musky several years ago, he knew almost at once it wasn't a walleye that had grabbed the bright chartreuse-and-orange crankbait on the end of his line.

But he couldn't be sure whether it was a tiger musky or a true musky; both are present in the Washington County stretch of the Potomac. The state record true musky, which was caught by Matt Beall in August of 2004, and the state record tiger musky, caught by Kevin Conner in February of 1997, both came from that part of the river. Mr. Beall's fish weighed just over 28 pounds, while Mr. Conner's trophy was 29 pounds, 4.75 ounces.


True or tiger?

The tiger musky is a sterile hybrid cross between true musky and a northern pike; some occur naturally but most are hatchery raised and stocked as fingerlings. The hybrid forms exhibit characteristics of both parents. They grow slightly faster than the true musky through the first several years of life and are said to endure higher temperatures better than either parent. It also is easier to raise in a hatchery environment than the true musky.

According to John Mullican, Department of Natural Re-source's musky expert and an experienced musky fisherman, most of the musky caught in the Taylors Landing area are pure-strain musky, and only a small percent are hybrids. From the photograph of Mr. Pyles' fish, Letha Grimes, of the Lewistown Work Center fisheries staff, identified it as a true musky. But like a rose by any other name, the musky Mr. Pyles caught is a spectacular fish whatever the nature of its genes.

The Maryland Fisheries Service has been stocking fingerling tiger musky, obtained from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, in the Potomac River since 1989. According to Mr. Mullican, some years, as many as 4,000 fingerling tiger musky have been stocked in the Potomac from Cumberland to Seneca. A few impoundments in the state, among them Blairs Valley Lake, Piney Run Reservoir and Little Seneca Lake, also have received stockings of tiger fingerlings.

The presence of the wild strain of musky in the Potomac wasn't recognized until 1996. Unlike the hybrid form, true musky do not do well in a hatchery environment and the Fisheries Service has never stocked true musky in the Potomac. Those that are present in the Washington County section of the Potomac are the result of natural reproduction, but how and when the reproducing population became established is not known.

When the Fisheries Service stocks fingerling tiger musky, usually it is done in the fall. Last week, Mr. Mullican said stocking probably will be cut back to about 2,000 fingerlings this fall; those fish will be placed in the river west of Paw Paw where no reproducing population of true musky exists. As a practice, stocking tiger musky in areas where true musky are established does not improve fishing and it may be detrimental.

If conditions are right and they are in a feeding mood, musky will eat almost anything that swims in front of them. Their prey may include items such as ducklings, snakes, young muskrats and various other forms of aquatic life, but the mainstay of their diet is other fish, preferably soft-rayed fish such as suckers, and the larger the better.

Biologically, musky like other members of the pike family are at the top of the aquatic food pyramid. They require a large food base; one report claims that a musky has to eat 5 to 7 pounds of forage fish to gain 1 pound of body weight. Because of that substantially large food requirement, a given area of a river or an impoundment can support relatively few musky; that's what makes musky fishing so different and so challenging.

A number of musky are caught every year by anglers fishing for other species, such as walleye and smallmouth bass, especially in the early spring and in the fall when the water is cooler and the big fish are more active. Early spring is also a time when suckers tend to accumulate below dams, such as Dam No. 4 several miles upstream from Taylors Landing. The concentration of forage fish at those sites attracts walleye and musky, and that attracts anglers.

While some musky are caught unintentionally, an increasing number of them are being caught by anglers who fish for them exclusively; they are willing to put in the time and effort it takes to catch one. And more and more, these same anglers are releasing the fish they catch so that they can be caught again. A big musky is an old musky. A 25- to 30-pound female, for example, is 14 to 17 years old, and when a fish of that size is caught and not released, it takes a long time for nature to replace it.

Musky fishing is not for anglers who measure success by the number of fish they catch. Musky typically are few and far between in any given body of water and, because of their place at the top of the food pyramid, that situation is not going to change; the quantity of food they require and their predatory nature limits their abundance.

Even so, breakthroughs in techniques for raising tiger musky in hatcheries has made it possible to introduce the hybrid form into rivers and impoundments where musky did not exist before, creating new musky fisheries and more opportunities to fish for musky. Tiger musky fingerlings stocked in the Potomac River and a few selected impoundments by the Fisheries Service, along with the naturally reproducing population of true musky in the river, has created an exciting and high-quality sport fishery for freshwater anglers.

If you need to be convinced, look at the big musky Mr. Pyles caught two Sundays ago at Taylors Landing.

(Jim Gilford can be contacted at jhgilford@md.net.)

Lincoln County Muskie Lakes

Lake Name Access Acres Class Category
Alexander Lake Ramp 677 B 2
Alice Lake Ramp 1369
Bridge Lake* Water 411 B 2
Deer Lake Water 152 C 1
Grandfather
Flowage Ramp 223 B 2
Grandmother
Flowage Ramp 119 B 2
Jersey City
Flowage Ramp 433 B 2
Merrill Flowage Ramp 164 C 1
Mohawksin Lake Ramp 1910 B 2
Muskellunge Lake Walk-In 159 C 3
Nokomis Lake* Ramp 2433 A2 2
Pine Lake Ramp 145 C 3
Rice River
Flowage Ramp 920 A2 2
Seven Island Lake Ramp 138 B 2
Somo Lake Ramp 340 B 2
Spirit River
Flowage Ramp 1239 C 2
Squaw Lake Ramp 82 B 3
Tug Lake Ramp 151 C 3

Langlade Country Muskie Lakes

Lake Name Access Acres Class Category
Deep Wood Lake Water 72 B 2
Duck Lake None 123
Enterprise Lake Ramp 502 A2 2
Greater Bass Lake Ramp 246 B 3
Moccasin Lake Ramp, NP 110 B 2
Summit Lake Ramp 282 B 2
Water Power Lake Ramp 22 B 2
West Lake None 26

Lake Name Access Acres Class Category
Deep Wood Lake Water 72 B 2
Duck Lake None 123
Enterprise Lake Ramp 502 A2 2
Greater Bass Lake Ramp 246 B 3
Moccasin Lake Ramp, NP 110 B 2
Summit Lake Ramp 282 B 2
Water Power Lake Ramp 22 B 2
West Lake None 26

LaFayette County Muskie Lakes

Lake Name Access Acres Class Category
Yellowstone Lake Ramp 455 A1 3

Muskie Anglers vie for boat package while helping out

Here's something that's got a nice prize, and is also for a good cause.


Last week I received a phone call from Gary Dew.

"Mike, I was hoping you could once again help me," he said.

Dew told me of a one-day muskie tournament he is organizing. The tournament is scheduled for Saturday, March 18, at Kincaid Lake in southern Illinois. The entry cost is $120 per two-person team.

But unlike other muskie tournaments, this competition offers no cash or other prizes for the top finishers. What it does offer for those contestants who enter the tournament is monetary relief for a family in need and a chance at winning a boat, motor and trailer.

Here is why Dew said he hoped I could help him.

"Terry and Janet Graeff, own the Top of the Hill Bait Shop in Murphysboro, Ill.," said Dew. "The Graeffs have been wonderful supporters of muskie anglers who visit Kincaid Lake and are well-known in the muskie community. "Their daughter Lacey is 23 years old and the mother of 4-year-old daughter Jade, and 6-year-old son Solomon."

In early December of last year, Lacey Graeff Caraway was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma, a very rare form of abdominal cancer. This cancer is so rare, that very few case studies are available in treating the disease.

"Lacey has already had one surgery, enduring a very painful procedure that involved scraping her abdominal wall to remove the cancer cells," Dew said.

"There have been cases where a 5-year survival has occurred, but in most cases, survival usually last no more than 2-5 years," he added. "Lacey was recently hospitalized with an infection that caused swelling of her brain, and she has lost some of her short-term memory."

While Lacey does have some medical insurance, the deductibles, co-pays and cost of travel to and from St. Louis for treatments are eroding away what little money she and her family have.

Therefore, Dew is organizing a muskie tournament as a benefit tournament, with all entry fees, and proceeds from a raffle and silent auction to be passed along to Lacey Caraway and her family.

"In addition, I'm looking for product donations for the raffle, as well as cash donations to help underwrite the cost of an insurance policy for a special promotion for those entering the muskie tournament," Dew said.

Contestants in the tournament will not only be helping out Caraway, but should a contestant catch the Illinois state record muskie (currently 38 pounds, 8 ounces) during the tournament, he or she will win a 2006 Alumacraft boat, motor and trailer package valued at $13,200.

"Kincaid Lake is thought to be the home of the next state record muskie," said Dew, "and around the tournament time is when Kincaid's female muskies near spawning and will be at their maximum weight."

Dew is no stranger to raising funds to offset medical bills for the needy. In 2003, Dew raised over $17,000 for the Charles Williams family of Aurora. Williams was suffering from colon and liver cancer. In 2004, he raised another $12,000 for Brian Barron family of Rockford. Barron was diagnosed with brain cancer.

So I suggested to Dew that he start a raffle and I offered my services to a one-day guided fishing trip for two people on Geneva Lake for large and smallmouth bass this summer.

Donators to Caraway's cancer fund could receive one chance to win the guided fishing trip for a $10 donation, three chances to win the trip for a $25 donation, and ten chances to win the trip for a $50 donation. Dew liked the idea and said he would likewise offer a one-day guided fishing trip for two to Kincaid Lake to fish for muskies.

To those interested in entering the raffle and receiving a chance(s) to win either of the guided fishing trips, checks should be made payable to and mailed to: The Lacey Graeff Caraway Cancer Fund, c/o Gary Dew, 631 Haish Blvd., DeKalb, IL. 60115.

To enter the muskie tournament and have a chance for the boat, motor, and trailer package, entry forms can be found at www.shawneemuskiehunters.org or call Dew at 815-529-1159.

Outdoors with Mike Norris is heard every Thursday from 3-4 p.m. on WBIG (AM-1280). For more information on his fish guiding service, Mike Norris can be reached at wallimike@aol.com

Muskie Fishing | Fishing Lures | Fishing Lakes

Muskie Fishing | Fishing Lures | Fishing Lakes

Keep it Simple for Muskies

Here's an interesting and informative article by Jack Burns.

Most years at this time, I write about spring muskie tactics. I cover the conventional wisdom (small, shallow, fast-warming lakes … fishing in and near spawning bays … small lures, presently slowly) and then jump out to tactics that get you away from the crowd (fishing larger, deeper trophy lakes … fishing mid-lake structures … and trolling over deep open water with large crankbaits). Most years.

But some time ago (at a Minnesota Muskie Expo), I got one of those wake-up calls. Every so often, a reader reminds me that I should write about muskie fishing basics once in a while. It happened again. It was politely suggested that I should write about getting started in muskie fishing.

All you veterans out there may be tempted to stop reading here. Please bear with me. Somewhere buried in the "basics," there might be something for you.

OK. Let’s assume (for a moment) that you are literally a novice when it comes to muskie fishing. Do you fish bass and/or northern pike? If so, you are almost there. Never mind the obscene amount of tackle most muskie loonies acquire in a 20- to 40-year career.

To get started, you only need one 7-foot trigger stick (baitcasting) rod that can handle 3/4- to 3-ounce lures and a quality oversized bass/pike reel. I use (bass) flippin’ sticks and Carolina rig rods for about 1/4 of my muskie fishing, but a 7-foot muskie bucktail rod is a better bet. Spool the reel with high-tech braided line, and tie on a muskie

You say you are familiar with bass fishing? Then you’ve heard of spinnerbaits, crankbaits, topwaters… How about jerkbaits and in-line bucktails? Then you know what to do. Pick up the same stuff in the 3/4- to 3-ounce range. But don’t go nuts. You don’t need to stock up with every color in the spectrum. You’ll rarely need to match the hatch. I would pick up a few of each lure type in only a few colors. You will want loud colors for visibility in stained water, and you will want natural colors to look "natural" in very clear water. Beyond that, it’s all marketing.

I fish with a lot of novices. They (almost) all make the same mistake. In the course of a day, they easily spend half their time changing lures, looking into their tackle boxes, pondering the only thing that they think they can control: lure selection. What is up with THAT? I’ll tell you what. It's called rookie syndrome. These folks actually believe the secret lies somewhere in their tackle box. I have news for them. They’re looking in the wrong place.

I also fish with a lot of muskie "names" (Bruce Shumway, Dan Klis, Doug Johnson, Pete Maina, Dick Pearson, Doug Stange, Greg and Paul Thorne) and a lot of equally qualified and experienced muskie guys who prefer a lower profile. With all their experience-all their expertise-all their idiosyncrasies, they spend virtually zero time changing or even thinking about changing lures. They spend 99.9 percent of their time keeping their lures wet. That’s the big secret. The really successful muskie people are the most relentless. Their lures are ALWAYS in the water. They all agree on this (although little else).

So far we’ve talked about basic tackle and keeping your lure in the water. We’re 10 percent there. All that’s left to talk about is where to fish-where to look for muskies. As you may have heard, I am the editor of Esox Angler magazine-a magazine dedicated to muskie and trophy pike fishing. Our contributors (all of the veterans mentioned above, plus anglers from much of the U.S. and western Europe) routinely dissect the nuances of large predator location on a seasonal basis. Factors such as water chemistry, geography, lake type, seasonal trends, forage movements, weather, current, structure, available weed growth, fishing pressure, etc., etc., etc. are dealt with. If you want to learn from the best, Esox Angler is a good place to go.

But if you want it simple-if you want a locational starting point, just go with what you know. In the spring and summer, fish bass spots (just ask the bass pros who fish our muskie waters). If you are fishing a largemouth/muskie lake, fish the largest-most complex-weedbeds and structures. If you are fishing a smallmouth/muskie lake, fish the largest most complex-rock structures. If you are fishing a mixed largemouth/smallmouth/muskie lake, fish the largest-most complex-weedbeds AND rock structures. This rule of thumb applies to every lake I fish. Even if the lake does not have bass, fish it like it does, only with your favorite muskie tackle.
In the fall, concentrate your efforts on large pike and walleye spots-deeper classic structure: edges, points, and humps-the largest, most pronounced classic deep-water structures in the lake.

That’s all there is to it. Invest in a minimal array of equipment, fish water you know, and keep your lure wet 99.9 percent of the day.

If you connect (and you certainly will if you put the formula together) you will suddenly find yourself confronted with the issue of safely handling a large, ornery, razor-toothed predator with a mouthful of hooks. When I say "safely," I am thinking about the fish, of course. But in reality, I am more concerned with your hide. Gulp.

Invest in the proper tools-a long needle-nose pliers and high quality hook cutters-at a minimum. The safest way to go (for the fish and for your hide) is to cut every hook you see.

Safe handling and releasing is not only a topic in it's own right, but also a regular column (by Pete Maina) in every issue of Esox Angler. This is where you should turn to an experienced muskie angler and/or read Esox Angler.

Catch a nice one and let it go. Let them ALL go.

Spray's Muskie Validated

Maybe finally they can put this thing to rest!


We recently reported on a group known as the World Record Muskie Alliance (NRMA) who presented a report to the National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Fame (NFWFHF) who alleged that Louie Spray's 1949 record muskie had been falsified in size and should be expunged from he record books. After careful and objective review of every aspect of the report during the past three months, the NFWFHF has ruled that the report lacks sufficient merit to overturn the Spray record.

The WRMA report claimed that Spray's 1949 record muskie officially weighed and measured in at 53.6 inches long (plus or minus 1.5 inches.) Therefore it couldn't have weighed anywhere near its reported 69 pound 11 ounce weight. The NRMA accused not only Spray, but also his fishing partners who witnessed the catching, measuring and weighing of the fish (George Quentmeyer and Ted Hag), the other two men who both swore that they had weighed and /or measured the fish, the Postmaster, and the taxidermist who mounted the fish, of all being co-conspirators in an elaborate fraud to back up a false angling claim.
Both the Hall and the Alliance used modern technology provided by experts to verify their claims.

Spray's fish burned in an insurance office in Rice Lake. We too will conclude that the Chippewa Flowage out of Hayward has produced the world record musky as thoroughly documented and that had the fish not burned, we wouldn't have all this to write about.

Kewaunee County Muskie Lakes

Lake Name Access Acres Class Category
Alaska Lake, East Ramp 53 B 3

Kenosha County Muskie Lakes

Lake Name Access Acres Class Category
Silver Lake Ramp 464 B 3

Juneau County Muskie Lakes

Lake Name Access Acres Class Category
Castle Rock Lake Ramp 13955 C 3
Petenwell Lake Ramp 23040 B 3

'Muskie Girl' hooks 2nd in contest

Anne Marie Miller was not exactly out to contend for a contest championship when she and her husband headed out to do some fishing in September in Wisconsin.

The Richmond woman "lucked into," catching a 52-inch muskie, and she decided to enter it into the Musky Marathon, a contest staged by Vilas County, Wis.

When results were released in mid-January, she was amazed to find out she finished second in the adult released division.

"I had heard about the contest, but I didn't really know a lot about it," Miller said. "After I lucked into it, I decided I would enter."
Catches had to be made by Nov. 30, and participants had until Dec. 31 to enter. Results were revealed Jan. 16. Mark Suess of Oshkosh, Wis., won with a 53-inch muskie. Crystal Lake's John Harmon was fourth, and Algonquin's Tim Brim was fifth.

Miller, 23, considers herself a muskie novice, but she had a 48-inch catch in 2004. She insists her ability to catch muskies is nothing but good fortune, but when she heads to her "slice of heaven" in Land O'Lakes, Wis., others recognize her instantly.

Her father-in-law, Gary Miller, said she is called "Muskie Annie." She says friends at the Bear Trap Inn simply refer to her as "the Muskie Girl."

Miller, a senior at Northern Illinois University, credits her husband, Eric, as her guide, though she said Eric's largest catches were 32 and 35 inches.

She has been going to Land O'Lakes "since I was just a baby." Her father used to fish and she had gone, too, but she stopped for a while after his death. She said she started fishing for muskie with his old tackle. She used that to catch her 48-inch fish.

Gary Miller enjoys his reaction when he tells people his daughter-in-law has caught such big fish. Anne Marie Miller is 5-foot-2 and 105 pounds.

"They call her 'Muskie Annie,' " he said. "But she doesn't look like she fits that name."

Said Anne Marie: "I met the guy who won first place, and he was a little bit surprised [when he saw her]."

For information on the contest, visit the organization's Web site, Vilas.org.

Woodstock baseball: The addition of lights at Bates Park will highlight the upcoming Woodstock Little League baseball season. Registration starts Saturday.

League president Bob Stroh said installing lights at two fields at Bates Park will help the league's schedules.

Registration is set for 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday and Feb. 19 at the Woodstock VFW. The league is for players 7 to 12 years old. For information, visit the league's Web site at WoodstockLittleLeague.com or call (815) 338-2170.

Older players will have more options this season with the formation of the Greater Woodstock Baseball Association.

The association will replace the league's Junior and Senior leagues for players ages 13-16. The association offers an in-house league as well as travel teams. Non-travel teams will play between 15 and 20 games. The travel teams will participate in the Nippersink League, and players can expect to play about 30 games in northeastern Illinois and southeastern Wisconsin.

The GWBA will operate independent of the Woodstock Little League. For information, visit its Web site, GWBA.org.

* Al Lagattolla is a sports copy editor for the Northwest Herald. He can be reached at (815) 526-4508, via fax at (815) 459-5640 or via e-mail at alagattolla@nwherald.com.

Lure Colors and Muskies

You’ve all seen the smiley tackle manufacturer or rep at the sports show, graciously offering info on their line of product; also counsel on the myriad of colors available. I’ve been there myself many times; on both sides of the fence. Once an angler is convinced they can’t possibly live without a particular lure type, the inevitable question is what color. It’s a tough one really. My standard reply as a manufacturer, of course, is-one of each.

I know, there’s plenty of moms, wives and non-fishers related or other-wise attached to esox nuts out there who can’t seem to understand why multiple overstuffed tackle boxes are a absolute necessity to pursue these fish; and considering monetary outlays, it’s a legit concern. We can get a little carried away with the "just-gotta-haves." But in defense of lure junkies everywhere, I will unequivocally state that there is "some" validity in all of this. Colors do make a difference; sometimes it’s huge

Is every single color in the line-up absolutely necessary? Probably not, but a good selection of colors in the chosen brand of each particular lure-type is actually not a bad idea. Certainly the confidence lures or those used consistently should be had in a variety of shades. Talk to a guy like Dick Pearson, who fishes many different bodies of water, and who, if he likes ‘em, gets to know them intimately … eventually productive color patterns for that body of water come up.

There are those lovely days when it seems to make little difference. The fish will hit any color. Some days even the type of lure makes little difference. But too often, the same lure in several colors will result in follows, while one specific pattern will be the only one that gets bit.

The good news when fish are following … is that you are close! Although something is still not right. One or both of two factors "could" make the difference: sizing up or down in lure size and changing color.

The "right" colors are certainly arguable. All I know for sure is, that the angler who sticks strictly to one or two favorite colors is definitely missing the boat much of the time. There may be valuable information available via tackle shops and local experts, but often just personal day-to-day experimentation is the key. With time, colors that consistently perform well on individual bodies of water can be noted. Consider also, that often colors that work well in one lure-type may not be as effective on another.

Or, a color that is hot on smaller lures may not work well on the same, significantly larger bait. It may just be too much of a good thing. Also consider that a large amount of run-off or a heavy algae bloom may change the water clarity enough to alter the most consistent colors’ consistency. The key is utilizing a variety of colors and simple time on the water to figure out hot patterns for a given lake. This offers a great starting point and a definite advantage. Subtle changes can be made from there.

One big mistake that I’ve made in the past, is to assume that a nearby water with very similar water clarity will find its muskies liking the same color patterns as the neighboring lake I was already familiar with. Definitely don’t count on that. Sometimes it works, but often it doesn’t. Be careful to not assume too much. The lakes may be amazingly similar, and yet effective color patterns during the same period may be nearly opposite. Keep an open mind and experiment.

In general, lures that are less erratic (straight retrieves) are lures that muskie are more likely to show specific color preferences for. Spinners lures seem to me to be the most color reliant. A good variety in your favorites is advisable.

Jerkbaits and crankbaits are somewhere in the middle. The more erratic the action, the less color will usually matter, but here too, experiment. I’ve seen drastic cases of color preferences with jerks too many times to ignore it. Even fast, make-‘em-mad-type retrieves, where you’d assume fish are strictly reacting to the action, can be ignored if the color isn’t right. Sorry mom, the junior muskie nut should have a pretty fair color selection in jerks and cranks (as he can afford, of course).
Now that I’ve probably created enemies of those closest to the severely addicted, I’ll make a few general suggestions … and maybe I’ll score a few points here with the first statement. Considering the fact that muskie lures are a far cry from free, don’t go rushing into a huge selection of every new item that initially tickles your fancy. Start with one. See if you really like it. Does it do what you expect? Are you confident it will work for you? Better yet, go out with a buddy that’s already been suckered into it and check theirs out. Often there’s someone around (lighter wallet) who has what you want to try.

But … and this is the bad news mom … when you find a lure you really like and have confidence in it, definitely get a good color selection. Basically, it’s not a bad idea to consider three or four natural patterns and three "gaudy" patterns. Naturals include stuff like perch, shad, walleye and bluegill. Gaudy means just that, bright stuff like chartreuse and orange.

Remember that on bodies of water that receive a lot of pressure, it often pays to just be different. If too many folks are tossing the same thing, fish may simply be getting dialed in to it. In general, natural patterns are usually better in clear water situations, but don’t be afraid to throw that real gaudy stuff. It can really be surprising.

There is no doubt that "hot" color patterns are a real phenomenon. Unfortunately they vary in effectiveness and length of life on given waters... but I guess that what keeps it fun.... sorry mom.

Jackson County Muskie Fishing Lakes

Lake Name Access Acres Class Category
Arbutus Lake Ramp 839 C 3
Black River
Flowage Ramp 198 B 3
Potter Flowage Ramp 348 B 3
Upper Backwater None 49

Muskies Under Pressure

By Rob Kimm

The popularity of muskie fishing in Minnesota has never been greater. Anglers from all over the country travel to Minnesota to get in on the action. Local anglers, recognizing the great fishing to be had, are targeting muskie more and more. Even weeknights find popular muskie waters swarming with muskie anglers. Weekends are an utter zoo. And it goes on from the season opener right up until it closes.


The end result, if you happen to be one of those anglers, is facing the difficult task of trying to fool highly pressured, very well educated fish. By the end of summer, muskies lurking around the weedbeds, rock reefs and rush banks of Minnesota’s most popular muskie waters have just about seen it all. If they could talk, I suspect many of them could tell you what the hot baits were at the muskie shows this year, what the newspapers and internet sites have claimed to be the sure thing presentation, and what’s been on sale at the local tackle shop.

So what’s a poor muskie angler to do? Here’s a few theories on how to respond to pressured waters.
The most obvious - and most drastic - option is to simply bug out. If your favorite lake looks like the Bumper Boats pool on the Midway, seek out a different body of water. Most muskie lakes in Minnesota get some amount of pressure - there aren’t many "Lake X’s" to be found. But not all of them get flogged as badly as others. Sometimes lakes get less pressure because they "aren’t as good" as more popular lakes. They may hold fewer fish overall, or be more difficult to fish. All things being equal, these lakes may in fact not be as good as a more popular body of water, but when pressure is factored in, your odds may be better on an otherwise ‘marginal‘ lake.

"Bugging out" can also be applied on a smaller scale by seeking out areas of a body of water that don’t receive as much pressure as the known, community spots. It may be isolated weedbeds, small rock piles on an otherwise featureless flat, or even stretches of ‘blank’ shoreline between known muskie spots. Over time lakes become known for particular patterns. Awareness of those traditional techniques helps in your search for off the wall spots and techniques. Finding these areas takes work and persistent effort, but the reward can be uneducated, unpressured fish in the midst of highly pressured areas. It’s worth the time spent.

In both cases, go into things accepting you are likely fishing areas where there are fewer fish. But pressure changes the equation significantly. There are 90 muskies over here, and ten over there. The 90 fish see incessant pressure, while the 10 see little to none. Would you rather try to catch one of the 90 that can spell ’M E P P S’ by the beginning of July, or one of the 10 that hasn’t seen a muskie lure in a week?

Adjusting your presentation is a necessity on pressured water. When I’m around other muskie boats, I invariably pay attention to what everyone’s throwing. I’m not watching to see what I should be using. I’m watching to see what I shouldn’t be using. If there are boats all over, and I see black and orange bucktails sailing out of every boat in sight, it’ll be the last thing out of my box. Even if I think it may be the best tool for the situation, if it’s all muskies are seeing, I’ll switch gears completely to a different type of presentation altogether. If the thundering herd is using bucktails, try an erratic jerkbait. If topwaters are everywhere, try soft plastics, or bang bottom with a crankbait.

Different twists on popular lures can also be an effective way to mix up your presentation. Popular presentations get popular for a reason - there is something about them that works. But take the basic elements of those popular techniques, and change the particulars. If buzzing inline bucktails over weedbeds is the dominant local technique, go in after them. Dick Pearson’s ‘Grinder’ from Esox Research Company, a bullet headed, short arm spinnerbait purpose-built for fishing in heavy weeds, can be worked down into weed growth rather than simply passing over it - a technique Dick calls ’grinding’ - as in, grinding the lure through the weeds. Lures such as the Grinder allow you to reach fish deep in weedbeds that may not react to lures high overhead, and offer them an entirely different set of triggers than the daily parade of inline bucktails. Speed is another variation. On many of my favorite Minnesota lakes, my first option, especially when searching for fish, is a tiny bucktail such as a Fudally Muskie Candy, a small Hunter Tail or similar undersized bucktail most muskie anglers would consider a ‘spring bait.’ Fished at high speeds, these baits are tremendous fish catchers, and can trigger responses from fish that would normally ignore larger, slower moving baits. Finally, totally off the wall baits can produce on pressured waters. Traditional baits in outlandish color combinations, little known or unusual lures, even old lures popular in years past that fish may not have seen recently - all can be effective. The downside to such tricks is they don’t work forever.

However you choose to counter the effects of fishing pressure, it begins with one thing: paying attention. Be aware of what other anglers are doing. I take pains to avoid ’hot lakes,’ and positively foam at the mouth when my ’home waters’ are the Lake of the Week in the local papers. As my fellow Esox Angler editor and longtime Outdoor News columnist Jack Burns is fond of saying: "When they go East, go West. When they fish slow, fish fast…" Break away from the crowd and seek out unpressured fish. Target pressured fish with something different.

Year-Round Fishing Tournament to Begin in 2006 on Lake of the Woods

This is pretty cool.

(Feb. 03, 2006 - Baudette, MN)... The stunning international waters of Lake of the Woods and Rainy River provide some of the best fishing in the world. Anglers flock to this spectacular lake year-round in search of that elusive record catch. Now there is one more reason for anglers to make the trip to Lake of the Woods - a chance to win their share of $20,000 in cash and $15,000 in prizes during the year-round 2006 Grand Master Angler Tournament.

Lake of the Woods is well known for the dynamic walleye catch it provides anglers. But Lake of the Woods is much more than a walleye fishing destination. It is one of the most diverse fisheries in the world. With this in mind the Lake of the Woods Tourism Bureau of Baudette, MN has developed a fishing tournament that encompasses the entire lake, nearly 40 Minnesota resorts, 10 species of fish and twelve months to find them.

The tournament is broken down into seven fish species categories: walleye/sauger, northern/muskie, small mouth/large mouth bass, crappie, burbot, sturgeon and jumbo perch. Each category holds its own fishing tournament and substantial prize payout. All fish entered in the tournament will be measured; the fish that fall into the designated prize payouts at the end of the year will win cash and prizes!

The prize payouts for each species category are different - here’s a look at what participating anglers are competing for:

The walleye/sauger category offers a $5,000 total cash purse. The angler that catches the longest walleye or sauger on Lake of the Woods in 2006 will be crowned the GMA Walleye Champion and be awarded a limited edition, personalized Grand Master Angler Jacket, a $1000 fishing vacation at a Lake of the Woods resort, a $500 fishing product package and $500 cash! The angler that places 25th will win $1000 cash, 50th place will win $1500 cash and the angler that catches the 100th longest walleye on Lake of the Woods in 2006 will win $2000 cash!

The northern/muskie category offers a $4,000 total cash purse. The angler that catches the longest fish in the northern/muskie category on Lake of the Woods in 2006 will be crowned the GMA Northern/Muskie Champion and be awarded a limited edition, personalized Grand Master Angler Jacket, a $1000 fishing vacation at a Lake of the Woods resort, a $500 fishing product package and $400 cash! The angler that places 25th will win $800 cash, 50th place will win $1200 cash and the angler that catches the 100th longest northern/muskie on Lake of the Woods in 2006 will win $1600 cash!
The jumbo perch category offers a $3000 total cash purse giving $300 cash to the first place finisher along with the $1000 resort package, $500 fishing product package and limited edition GMA jacket. Other cash payouts for perch are $600 cash for 25th place, $900 cash for 50th place and the 100th longest perch will win $1200 cash.

The categories of small mouth/large mouth bass, crappie, burbot and sturgeon all offer a total cash purse of $2000. The longest fish in each category will win $200 cash, a $1000 resort package, $500 fishing product package and limited edition GMA jacket. Other cash payouts in these categories are $600 for 25th place and $1200 for 50th place.

Anyone fishing Lake of the Woods throughout the year has an equal chance to win a prize in the Grand Master Angler Tournament. Anglers simply need to purchase a tournament ticket for one or more of the species categories, catch a fish in that category ($20 tickets available at participating Lake of the Woods Tourism Bureau resorts and Sponsor locations), measure the fish and have the ticket authorized by a participating Grand Master Angler Resort or Sponsor location.

Lake of the Woods is an exceptional fishery and the Lake of the Woods Tourism Bureau of Baudette, MN is excited to host this one of a kind year-round fishing tournament to outdoor enthusiast who visit the area. The Grand Master Angler Tournament has been structured so it is easy and fun for anglers of all abilities to participate.

For complete information on this one of a kind fishing tournament contact the Lake of the Woods Tourism Bureau by calling 1-800-382-FISH.