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| 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: 1141
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: 1356
| 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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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: 32881
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: 181
| 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: 487
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: 523
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: 716
| 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: 2318
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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| In a different arena,,has I get older I definitely don't say NO to drugs |
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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: 3861
| 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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Location: Duluth | Old heads are usually telling the truth when they say, "There's musky in there." |
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Posts: 318
| 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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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: 318
| 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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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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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: 318
| Hi!
Well I'm not going very strong but still going.:-) |
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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: 390
| 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: 3861
| 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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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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| never to post near the tail end of a thread lest only I see the post.
Edited by curdmudgeon 1/30/2022 5:04 PM
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Location: Mauston, Wisconsin | 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
Going on 27th for me
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6. Muskies are an enigma, they will do what you don't want them too.
7. Time on the water, its a good teacher.
8. The two most critical pieces of structure are the surface and the bottom, muskies can be found somewhere in that zone at any time of the day or night. You just have to be there to catch them.
PS. Its nice to see some of you on this thread. dickP as always, thank you! The search is it... Ranger, we've had some great adventures. Who needs socks?
I'm afraid our current generation of new fisherman are in the instant gratification category.
Have fun!
Al
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Posts: 8772
| 9. Muskies are not "the fish of 10,000 casts". Muskies are the fish of one cast, in exactly the right place at exactly the right time. The other 9,999 casts are just practice. Your job is to narrow it down to the most likely place and time, and make that cast.
10. Anybody that tells you muskies are solitary creatures is mistaken. If there's a fish in there, it's there for a reason. If it's there for a good enough reason there will be more. |
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Location: Mt. Zion, IL | jerryb - 1/27/2022 6:48 AM
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.
That’s probably because some of us understand delayed mortality enough not to troll 50 ft deep for them. Yes I am also a spoonplugger, but catching a fish is not worth killing every one of them. |
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | esoxaddict - 2/3/2022 12:30 PM
9. Muskies are not "the fish of 10,000 casts". Muskies are the fish of one cast, in exactly the right place at exactly the right time. The other 9,999 casts are just practice. Your job is to narrow it down to the most likely place and time, and make that cast.
10. Anybody that tells you muskies are solitary creatures is mistaken. If there's a fish in there, it's there for a reason. If it's there for a good enough reason there will be more.
I think what's lost is it isn't and never really has been about the muskies. It's about the anglers. It's about us.
The muskies? They don't give a #*#*. They're fish. |
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Location: NW WI | ESOX Maniac - 2/3/2022 9:35 AM
I'm afraid our current generation of new fisherman are in the instant gratification category.
Have fun!
Al
Isn't that what's great about any pursuit of nature? It's only partially feasible to say "You get out what you put in"?. Sure there's levels of luck and skill that come into play but it's those surprises that keep us sportsman coming back, even if we did throw our hat in the water and scream in French. We know that if you just keep grinding at your goal you will likely find success. If instant gratification is what's desired, than quiting or seeking personal improvement will follow after you fail. But I totally get where your coming from, all my fishing buddies are panfish/largemouth guys hahaha. |
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Posts: 3861
| Addict - "PS. Its nice to see some of you on this thread. dickP as always, thank you! The search is it... Ranger, we've had some great adventures. Who needs socks?"
Al, it was always a treat to hang out with you. I never saw anyone wear unlaced, damp, canvas tennis shoes in an aluminum boat in high wind and mid-30*s for 6 hours. No socks. Hope to never forget your fat 44" in Buck Lake on your fav custom painted Little Ernie or your amazing camp cooking (chicken noodle soup!) at the Mine Ponds. That fish was picture perfect, the result of confidence and an accurate cast into the whitecaps next to the only pier in the water on the south end of the lake. The tricky motor work to keep the boat in position for the epic fight. 20 years ago and I can still remember every moment.
Edited by Ranger 2/5/2022 11:59 AM
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Ranger - 2/5/2022 11:46 AM
Addict - "PS. Its nice to see some of you on this thread. dickP as always, thank you! The search is it... Ranger, we've had some great adventures. Who needs socks?"
Al, it was always a treat to hang out with you. I never saw anyone wear unlaced, damp, canvas tennis shoes in an aluminum boat in high wind and mid-30*s for 6 hours. No socks. Hope to never forget your fat 44" in Buck Lake on your fav custom painted Little Ernie or your amazing camp cooking (chicken noodle soup!) at the Mine Ponds. That fish was picture perfect, the result of confidence and an accurate cast into the whitecaps next to the only pier in the water on the south end of the lake. The tricky motor work to keep the boat in position for the epic fight. 20 years ago and I can still remember every moment.
And that is what this sport is really all about. |
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Location: oswego, il | I remember a character who used to frequent this site who was from Tennecheese and I took him to a lake I fished near the only one he did in northern cheeseland, .42 degree morning and he's in shorts and sandals took him 2 minutes to catch a fish.
Edited by ToddM 2/6/2022 9:02 AM
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Posts: 333
Location: SE Wisc | Ignorance is bliss. |
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A few things I've learned...