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Posts: 8721
| Reflecting as little as I head into my 19th season chasing muskies...
1. There are no secret lakes.
2. There are no secret spots.
3. There are no "magic lures".
4. When muskies are active, there is little you can do to stop them
5. When muskies are not active, there is little you can do to start them
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Posts: 1136
Location: NorthCentral WI | esoxaddict - 1/21/2022 12:02 PM
Reflecting as little as I head into my 19th season chasing muskies...
As I head into my 17th year fishing muskies my thoughts are:
1. There are no secret lakes.
I agree there are no secret lakes but there most certainly are quality lakes that receive very little pressure. Particularly when there are well known musky lakes nearby, the no name lakes are overlooked by 90% of anglers.
2. There are no secret spots.
I can think of a few lakes where I've caught dozens of fish in certain areas that if you looked on the map, they would be the last spots you'd consider fishing. Point being is the most obvious, great structure spots are not always the best producers of fish.
3. There are no "magic lures".
Angler confidence in a lure specific to a lake or river is as close to a magic lure as you can get.
4. When muskies are active, there is little you can do to stop them
We all know those guys who struggle to catch anything even when others in the boat may have had multiple fish. I've witnesses it many times with regards to both muskies and walleyes.
5. When muskies are not active, there is little you can do to start them
I would argue that guys in a league or tournament setting always find a way to trigger inactive fish.
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Posts: 1196
| Boy the lake looks great today!
Cast, retrieve, figure eight.
Where are we going to eat tonight?
only 10 days till I have to be home $#*$# ! |
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Posts: 20180
Location: oswego, il | Musky fishing success is directly proportional to your awareness level of your ability to hire good guides.
Edited by ToddM 1/22/2022 12:01 PM
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| MartinTD - 1/21/2022 1:15 PM
esoxaddict - 1/21/2022 12:02 PM
Reflecting as little as I head into my 19th season chasing muskies...
As I head into my 17th year fishing muskies my thoughts are:
1. There are no secret lakes.
I agree there are no secret lakes but there most certainly are quality lakes that receive very little pressure. Particularly when there are well known musky lakes nearby, the no name lakes are overlooked by 90% of anglers.
2. There are no secret spots.
I can think of a few lakes where I've caught dozens of fish in certain areas that if you looked on the map, they would be the last spots you'd consider fishing. Point being is the most obvious, great structure spots are not always the best producers of fish.
3. There are no "magic lures".
Angler confidence in a lure specific to a lake or river is as close to a magic lure as you can get.
4. When muskies are active, there is little you can do to stop them
We all know those guys who struggle to catch anything even when others in the boat may have had multiple fish. I've witnesses it many times with regards to both muskies and walleyes.
5. When muskies are not active, there is little you can do to start them
I would argue that guys in a league or tournament setting always find a way to trigger inactive fish.
Somebody usually does, but not always. Remember when the PMT had a big tournament on Green Bay and no one caught a fish? The had a raffle for the prize boat. Famous for big fish and a field of hard core musky guys got shut out. |
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Posts: 32800
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | I have watched thousands of hours of fish doing absolutely nothing but swimming around on my Aqua-Vu cameras over the years. When they are going, they are, when not, not so much. Cover enough water, and one may find one that moves. Then again, one may not.
When the fish are eating, it's obvious. Same thing applies to muskies. just have to be there when it happens. There's no magic to this at all. The trick is knowing where the 'there' is. |
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Posts: 177
| I agree with 3, 4, and 5. But 1 and 2 may be true in metro areas or counties with less than 1300 lakes. |
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Posts: 480
Location: Northern Illinois | The "no secret spots" has me in a quandary. On a lake that I have fished for years, just by chance I "discovered" a new spot that I have never seen anyone fish. I consider it a secret spot, but it might not be. Maybe it was fished in the past or when I'm not there. I certainly won't be taking pics of it and posting online though! |
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Posts: 490
Location: NW WI | RLSea - 1/22/2022 5:16 PM
The "no secret spots" has me in a quandary. On a lake that I have fished for years, just by chance I "discovered" a new spot that I have never seen anyone fish. I consider it a secret spot, but it might not be. Maybe it was fished in the past or when I'm not there. I certainly won't be taking pics of it and posting online though!
In the day of Satellite images and mapping, secret spots are a false hood. They're secret to you and a few other like minded die hards |
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Posts: 714
| Observation:
Every time that you say "no" you limit yourself because your brain has turned off the ability to even factor that subject into your observations. One thing about fishing is that while there can be very strong tendencies in fish response there is nothing that is an absolute. So limiting yourself by saying "no" to whats happening around you is to limit your own success.
Observation beats preconception every time.
Edited by bturg 1/23/2022 12:06 AM
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Posts: 2280
Location: Chisholm, MN | 1. There ARE secret lakes until the wrong person finds out. I’ve had a few in the past.
2. Definitely have some secret spots that I’ve never seen anyone fish.
3. Definitely no magic lure
4. Don’t tell anyone when you find a secret. Nobody!
5. Fish with friends more often. Just not on your secrets lakes. |
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Posts: 3136
| In a different arena,,has I get older I definitely don't say NO to drugs |
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Posts: 309
Location: Selkirk, Manitoba | Fun thread. Some of my observations on the same points:
1. There are some lakes that are pretty inaccessible in NW Ontario - secret would be the wrong word for them. There are also some really low density sympatric musky (with pike) populations on the fringes of productive waters that probably contain some really big ones. Are either worth it? Depends on what you are feining for.
2. There are geographic spots that are likely not secret in that many have suspected musky to use, have moved or caught musky there - however the "secret" may be some environmental condition or set of conditions that may cause musky to use said spot and be moved on it. These conditions may be a secret that may be known to one or few and those conditions may not be frequent enough for anyone to take advantage of on a regular basis, perhaps not even once during a year sometimes. This is true for other predators as well - musky just happen to be so low density that a musky angler may only have a few limited chances in their lifetime when these conditions align and the angler is able to be on the water.
3. Yup. There are no magic lures. There likely is a lure in your box or elsewhere that may trigger the fish, but that lure may not have got the muskies attention in the first place. I don't think muskies are unique in being curious and following and rejecting lures and not biting; other fish look lures over and follow (to a point), muskies are unique in being fearless.
4. Yup. The feeding frenzy. It's too bad this often coincides with the chance of getting killed by lightning or dealing with dangerous rollers.
5. Yup. Musky fishing is a grind sometimes. You may not be able to start the ones you see that are frustrating you, but there is some going or catchable somewhere. Again, I think this is true for other predators as well. We enjoy musky fishing 'cause it's hard.
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Location: Athens, Ohio | To paraphrase Freewheelin' Franklin:
"Pot will get you thru days of no muskies better than muskies will get you thru days of no pot." m |
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Posts: 3783
| 1. Smarts + Persistence + Confidence pays off in diamonds.
2.1. Never forget that there are spirits that exist in our natural world. People are mostly ignored but we may gain favor by never passing an opportunity to help the lake and the critters that live there. Be humble and respectful.
2.2. Prior to the first cast flip a silver coin high in the air and say "To the Lady of the Lake" before it hits the water.
3. If your hospital-issued plastic urinal flies out of your boat on the way to the landing it will always be on the side of the road on your way home.
4. If you whistle loud at a bird flying overhead it will always #*#*. The game is to time the whistle so the #*#* lands in the boat.
5. Always make allowances for your fishing pard, be patient and generous.
6. Gift kids with time, gear and encouragement.
Word.
Edited by Ranger 1/25/2022 7:00 PM
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Posts: 596
Location: Duluth | Old heads are usually telling the truth when they say, "There's musky in there." |
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Posts: 306
| There might still be a few secrets.If so,they'll remain that way if we think they don't exist.It's all about the search really. |
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Posts: 267
| esoxaddict - 1/21/2022 12:02 PM
Reflecting as little as I head into my 19th season chasing muskies...
1. There are no secret lakes.
2. There are no secret spots.
3. There are no "magic lures".
4. When muskies are active, there is little you can do to stop them
5. When muskies are not active, there is little you can do to start them
Thanks, I have nothing to look forward to now.  |
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| I think the most important thing I have learned about muskie fishing is to enjoy the entire process. Casting, looking at structure, enjoying being out in nature. If the only joy you get is in catching one, probably not going to be a fun sport for you. |
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Posts: 20180
Location: oswego, il | I seen a secret given up on a recent musky show. I heard they were in there but fishable, they were! |
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Posts: 306
| I think the key thing was set out by one of my contemporaries,Juan Ponce de Leon.To paraphrase him...'just keep searching for that fountain of new water'. |
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Posts: 688
Location: Northern IL | I 100% agree with just about everything on esoxaddict's list except for #2, "No secret spots". There are not a lot of fishermen who fish deep structure. |
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Posts: 309
Location: Selkirk, Manitoba | dickP - 1/26/2022 8:55 PM
I think the key thing was set out by one of my contemporaries,Juan Ponce de Leon.To paraphrase him...'just keep searching for that fountain of new water'.
Ponce must have showed you where it is, 'cause your still going strong it sounds like...
Edited by Angling Oracle 1/27/2022 4:35 PM
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Posts: 306
| Hi!
Well I'm not going very strong but still going.:-) |
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Posts: 1208
Location: E. Tenn | Ranger - 1/25/2022 7:45 PM
1. Smarts + Persistence + Confidence pays off in diamonds.
2.1. Never forget that there are spirits that exist in our natural world. People are mostly ignored but we may gain favor by never passing an opportunity to help the lake and the critters that live there. Be humble and respectful.
2.2. Prior to the first cast flip a silver coin high in the air and say "To the Lady of the Lake" before it hits the water.
3. If your hospital-issued plastic urinal flies out of your boat on the way to the landing it will always be on the side of the road on your way home.
4. If you whistle loud at a bird flying overhead it will always #*#*. The game is to time the whistle so the #*#* lands in the boat.
5. Always make allowances for your fishing pard, be patient and generous.
6. Gift kids with time, gear and encouragement.
Word.
1, 2.1, 5, & 6..
...especially 6... |
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Posts: 375
| Things I have learned
1. Karma (good and bad) exists when you are musky fishing
2. Be in the moment when fishing. Enjoy and appreciate your time on the water.
3. Planning and preparing for a fishing trip is almost as enjoyable as the trip itself
4. I dont second guess or regret the $ spent on musky fishing. These arent economic decisions they are my passion |
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Posts: 426
| The one thing I'm pretty sure of from a Musks' point of view looking up at the hull is that they can"t tell a $100,000.00 boat from a $100.00 boat. So fish out what can afford. All you need to catch fish are basic electronics, a few proven lures and......Time On The Water! The one thing that determines long term constancy is your ability to adapt to daily conditions. Remember you have the most developed brain on earth. A Musky has one the size of a pea.....it should be no contest (LOL) |
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Posts: 3783
| The elephant has the most developed brain on earth. By all evidence humans are regressing, especially in the USA.
Edited by Ranger 1/29/2022 3:45 PM
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Posts: 24
Location: Southern WI | By all means read up in your free time but it’s important to come up with your own playbook rather than copy and paste what you read in musky hunter and then try to guess what they’re doing or just re-fish guided spots. |
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| Ranger - 1/29/2022 3:41 PM
The elephant has the most developed brain on earth. By all evidence humans are regressing, especially in the USA.
If you have not already done so, read "The Elephant Whisperer". It supports your thesis about elephant intelligence. |
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