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Posts: 161
| I target these hybrids with some regularity and I'm just wondering if anyone has an opinion on what the coldest water temp might be to have a reasonable chance of catching them is in the fall. I generally consider 50 degrees to be a "dotted line" on low temperature but we have had a cold snap here this week and I think its going to be down in the 40's now.
I'm specifically talking about casting for them with artificial lures. I'm not interested in using live bait. My best success for water temps have come in August/September when its 65-75 degrees so this cold water thing is an unknown for me.
Thanks |
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Posts: 270
Location: Central Pennsylvania | Me and buddies have caught tigers in below freezing temps. One of our biggest tigers ever was in 22 degree air temp. We catch them all year long other than summer.
Side note- it´s funny advising you because I remember reading what you´d say on forums about tigers when I was first learning to catch em
Edited by Pa Tigers n trout 10/20/2022 9:22 AM
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Location: Brighton CO. | In the early 90's when Quincy here in Colorado was kicking out big fish they used to keep it open to boating in November and nobody caught a thing. Big Joe and a standard sized Bulldawg were the only plastics on the market at the time. (and no live bait allowed) I know of a lake that is hard to get to in winter and not the safest place to ice fish someone I talked to while fishing in the summer told me of large Muskies caught thru the ice. |
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Posts: 161
| Pa Tigers n trout - 10/20/2022 9:18 AM
Me and buddies have caught tigers in below freezing temps. One of our biggest tigers ever was in 22 degree air temp. We catch them all year long other than summer.
Side note- it´s funny advising you because I remember reading what you´d say on forums about tigers when I was first learning to catch em
Thanks for the response.
Sorry when I stated 65-75 degrees I meant water temps, not air temps. I think there was some confusion between us when discussing temps. I'm specifically referring to water temps, which I expect will be in the mid to upper 40's. I intend to look for the warmest water I can find along with any remaining green weeds.
I've been patterning these fish for about 5 years now with fairly regular success. I've caught 7 this season and 8 is my personal best, but all my success comes when the water is significantly warmer.
I hooked up with one in August that was bigger than the biggest pure strain muskie I have caught (44 inches). Unfortunately it spit the hook when it shook its head but I marked it on my GPS so I got its address at least.
Edited by gimruis 10/20/2022 10:39 AM
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Posts: 270
Location: Central Pennsylvania | I'd be willing to bet with 22-degree air temp the water was no more than 35 degrees, but maybe I'm wrong. I river fish so freezing isn't an issue. |
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| Welcome to Muskiefirst. |
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Posts: 387
| This was just brought up on the backlash podcast a couple weeks back. The Lungen lure guy had the same deal - below 60 he doesn't even really try anymore. Seems weird as pike seem to love cold water way more than muskies. |
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Posts: 1476
Location: Brighton CO. | Years ago we fished a mountain lake here in Colorado the week after Labor Day and water temps were in the 40's my dad was hooked up to a mid 40 inch fish but he lost it. My nephew caught a Lake Trout on his Muskie lure and I had couple Lakers hanging on the tails of my Reapers. Had a couple other follows from Tigers. Also years ago a friends son caught bluegill and then a Tiger after the Tiger hit the Bluegill and this was in late November right before Thanksgiving and a couple weeks before ice up. |
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Location: Chisholm, MN | There is no lower limit. Fish until you physically can't. |
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Location: Chisholm, MN | Pa Tigers n trout - 10/20/2022 11:29 AM
I'd be willing to bet with 22-degree air temp the water was no more than 35 degrees, but maybe I'm wrong. I river fish so freezing isn't an issue.
No, not necessarily. We've had temps in the teens a couple weeks ago and we still have mid 40 degree water temps. |
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Posts: 161
| FlyPiker - 10/24/2022 9:40 AM
This was just brought up on the backlash podcast a couple weeks back. The Lungen lure guy had the same deal - below 60 he doesn't even really try anymore. Seems weird as pike seem to love cold water way more than muskies.
So maybe my pattern has some merit then. I've been specifically targeting these fish for 5 whole seasons now on three specific lakes, and 100% of my success comes when the water temperature is between 65-75 degrees, or close to that. I can't get a fish to bite when its really hot out, and I can't get one to bite when its cold out. Thanks for the reply. |
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Location: Chisholm, MN | gimruis - 10/24/2022 1:18 PM
FlyPiker - 10/24/2022 9:40 AM
This was just brought up on the backlash podcast a couple weeks back. The Lungen lure guy had the same deal - below 60 he doesn't even really try anymore. Seems weird as pike seem to love cold water way more than muskies.
So maybe my pattern has some merit then. I've been specifically targeting these fish for 5 whole seasons now on three specific lakes, and 100% of my success comes when the water temperature is between 65-75 degrees, or close to that. I can't get a fish to bite when its really hot out, and I can't get one to bite when its cold out. Thanks for the reply.
I think you probably need to change your tactics if you are unable to catch fish under 65 degrees. |
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Location: Brighton CO. | Back when the Fish and Game stocked the lakes properly here in Colorado all the state records and or large fish were caught on the full or new moon in July and if the air temp was in the 90's or above. |
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Posts: 161
| Kirby Budrow - 10/24/2022 1:37 PM
gimruis - 10/24/2022 1:18 PM
FlyPiker - 10/24/2022 9:40 AM
This was just brought up on the backlash podcast a couple weeks back. The Lungen lure guy had the same deal - below 60 he doesn't even really try anymore. Seems weird as pike seem to love cold water way more than muskies.
So maybe my pattern has some merit then. I've been specifically targeting these fish for 5 whole seasons now on three specific lakes, and 100% of my success comes when the water temperature is between 65-75 degrees, or close to that. I can't get a fish to bite when its really hot out, and I can't get one to bite when its cold out. Thanks for the reply.
I think you probably need to change your tactics if you are unable to catch fish under 65 degrees.
Enlighten me. And don't advise me to sit there with a sucker either. That just isn't going to happen. |
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Location: Chisholm, MN | gimruis - 10/26/2022 8:42 AM
Kirby Budrow - 10/24/2022 1:37 PM
gimruis - 10/24/2022 1:18 PM
FlyPiker - 10/24/2022 9:40 AM
This was just brought up on the backlash podcast a couple weeks back. The Lungen lure guy had the same deal - below 60 he doesn't even really try anymore. Seems weird as pike seem to love cold water way more than muskies.
So maybe my pattern has some merit then. I've been specifically targeting these fish for 5 whole seasons now on three specific lakes, and 100% of my success comes when the water temperature is between 65-75 degrees, or close to that. I can't get a fish to bite when its really hot out, and I can't get one to bite when its cold out. Thanks for the reply.
I think you probably need to change your tactics if you are unable to catch fish under 65 degrees.
Enlighten me. And don't advise me to sit there with a sucker either. That just isn't going to happen.
I rarely use suckers. Fish can be caught casting and trolling right up to ice up. Typically we use big rubber later in the season but our best casting topwater/bucktail bite is when the water temp is low 60s. The fish tend to push shallow up until turnover, then tend to move deeper after. Colder temps down in the low 50s to mid 30s usually call for slower presentations.
I advise you to look up some fall fishing videos on youtube. Also the backlash podcast has great info. I'm not sure where you fish or what presentation you use, so I can't say what you are doing is wrong. But they can be caught and in good numbers. Fall is the time musky fishermen live for. |
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Posts: 161
| I'm specifically referring to tiger muskie though, not pure strains. Fall is obviously a peak time to target pure strains when it coincides with the cisco spawn. I think you're confusing the two.
The lakes I'm targeting tiger muskies in have no ciscoes. Its like they go into hibernation once the water temps drop to a certain temperature, and that dotted line appears to be in the 65 degree range.
Regardless, I'm done fishing now anyways until next spring but thanks for the responses.
Edited by gimruis 10/26/2022 10:03 AM
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| I would think tigers would be more active in cold water than pure strain. Pike are active all winter long, favorite target of tip up anglers here in the north woods. |
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| North of 8 - 10/26/2022 10:36 AM
I would think tigers would be more active in cold water than pure strain. Pike are active all winter long, favorite target of tip up anglers here in the north woods.
One would think. Hasn't been my experience though. Another problem with that is muskie season closes on Dec 1 here so specifically targeting one with a tip up would be illegal. You could set tips ups for pike and accidentally catch one. I don't ice fish though and I'm not about to start. lol |
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Location: Chisholm, MN | I know you're talking tigers. But muskies and pike love the fall. I don't see how there could be a difference. Doesn't matter if there are ciscos or not. They are eating something. Find the bait, and you'll find the fish. |
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| No matter what time of year it is they still gotta eat. |
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Location: Duluth | Yep, fish know what makes a poop. It appears you don't this time of year.
There's something you are missing; location, presentation, timing. |
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| Fish in the tiger lakes around my house, bite until ice up. My go to baits are a 6 inch Suick for casting, and a slow trolled Shallow Invader on a long leash. Many years ago on the Tiger Cat Flowage, I had good success with a Giant Jackpot. Don't recall the water temps at that time, but we had to keep our reels in the camper, as they were freezing up if left in the rod locker. |
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Location: NW WI | gimruis - 10/26/2022 9:59 AM
Regardless, I'm done fishing now anyways until next spring but thanks for the responses.
Huh?
Because of other circumstances or because of water temp? |
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Posts: 161
| 7.62xJay - 10/26/2022 6:03 PM
gimruis - 10/26/2022 9:59 AM
Regardless, I'm done fishing now anyways until next spring but thanks for the responses.
Huh?
Because of other circumstances or because of water temp?
Circumstances. My boat is being winterized for the season because I will be hunting instead of fishing now.
I'll likely encounter this riddle again next October though. |
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Location: Brighton CO. | A nice day in the neighborhood, got up to grey skies then the first snow of the year (little less then a inch) Some trees are bare some are turning and some are greenish. A perfect looking day. Picked up my jig rod and headed to a local state Park 5 miles from home there are Tigers in this lake the water was low but up from Labor day the last time I was there. Still too low to fish from shore but I'm thinking heading west tomorrow and fish a lake in the foothills (again from shore) but some deep water access may have to put on some hunting boots with gators depending on how much snow they got up there. Maybe my last shoot of the year. |
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Location: NW WI | gimruis - 10/27/2022 8:23 AM
7.62xJay - 10/26/2022 6:03 PM
gimruis - 10/26/2022 9:59 AM
Regardless, I'm done fishing now anyways until next spring but thanks for the responses.
Huh?
Because of other circumstances or because of water temp?
Circumstances. My boat is being winterized for the season because I will be hunting instead of fishing now.
I'll likely encounter this riddle again next October though.
Ah, gotcha well good luck this season man, stay safe. |
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Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | Perhaps change your tactics or the way you go after them when the water gets cooler? They are still in there and they do eat...Perhaps more right before Ice up.
But you will never know because you quit for the yr.
The positive thing is.... while you're in the woods chasing Bambi, I'm out on the water catching the biggest fish of the Season.
Be Safe out there. |
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Location: Brighton CO. | Made the trip west today to fish Evergreen Lake (little less than a hour away.) Fished from shore with some areas of deep water to fish. Fished with 6" grandma sucker pattern (black Gold prism) Baby Depth Raider (Shimmering Shad) Cisco Mini Medussa and some spoons too. Was able to fish some points and deep water by the dam on the south shore. I was thinking I should be on the north shore and had to think how to walk over that way. Then a fellow walking by said "hey there's a big Muskie on the north shore on the corner of the dam" Made the long walk back to the car drove to a different parking lot and made another long walk to the fish. It was still there 3-4 feet down in the water and nice solid 40" Tiger. I Threw a bunch of different things at it from different angles. (not eating) Air temp 52, snow on the north side shade, skin ice in a channel.
I guess I'm done fishing for the year.
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Posts: 225
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota | Last year I spent a good amount of time fishing the tiger musky lakes in the Minneapolis metro. Last fish of the year I got was in 46 degree water and it ate a 7” slammer I was twitching pretty hard in 7ft of water near a drop off. Biggest if the year was 48 degree water on a standard size bulldawg. Fished the bait halfway down the water on the end of a point, probably 20fow. That was a hair under 45”, and was easily the hardest fighting musky I have ever caught. I have noticed that the tigers around here like small baits, and fight pound for pound harder than pike or pure strain |
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| Ogandrews - 11/1/2022 6:26 PM
Last year I spent a good amount of time fishing the tiger musky lakes in the Minneapolis metro. Last fish of the year I got was in 46 degree water and it ate a 7” slammer I was twitching pretty hard in 7ft of water near a drop off. Biggest if the year was 48 degree water on a standard size bulldawg. Fished the bait halfway down the water on the end of a point, probably 20fow. That was a hair under 45”, and was easily the hardest fighting musky I have ever caught. I have noticed that the tigers around here like small baits, and fight pound for pound harder than pike or pure strain
Great information. The tigers I catch are on smaller lures too. Not the traditional sized pure strain muskie lures. Almost like I'm bass fishing but with bigger gear.
45 inch tiger is massive. Normally they don't grow to the size of a pure strain. |
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Posts: 1476
Location: Brighton CO. | I thru smaller stuff last trip but I have a couple projects going in my yard that have to get done before winter, so maybe next week depending on the weather I may just have to make one more trip with a spinning rod (20# braid) and a 5" canyon tube and Bass rod and Bomber Fat Free had with beefed up spit rings and triple grip hooks. I had too much fun to call it quits. |
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tiger muskie/temps