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| I absolutely love night fishing. There is a river near my house where the water is quite stained, even has an algae bloom going on right now. Water temps are currently about 65 degrees. The river is probably about 100 yards wide at it narrowest point and there is a flowage above the dam. There is a well defined channel in the flowage area but in the narrower section, which runs many miles, the channel gives way to flatter a river bottom which is mainly sand. There are several holes in this section with the max depth being about 15 feet. I have recently located a rocky bottom area that runs for several hundred yards. One part has a nice rock bar that goes from 2 to 4 feet, deepest water near there is 9 feet.
Back in the sandy bottom section there are two weed beds, that are located on sunken islands deepest water there is about 6 feet, the sunken islands come up to about a foot but are weed choked. There are several small bays and one larger bay with a max depth of 5 feet.
There are some islands with mainly sand surrounding them.
Trees lie in the water pretty often throughout the river.
What areas should I look to start night fishing in? What type of structure with stained water? Do I want real shallow water, say 2 feet or less? Or start in 6 foot or less water? There are spots that are 25 feet deep but that is the deepest it gets.
Should I start fishing rocks or sandbars? Weedbeds or wood?
There are so many options but every time I have tried night fishing for musky I haven't even raised a fish (that I know of).
The current is not very strong, at least at this time of year.
Could you perhaps describe a spot you would first go to night fishing in a stained river system? I'm pretty sure I could locate what you describe. The whole river, dam to dam, to about 20 miles or more so there are lots of options. My problem is there are too many and the ones I have tried don't seem to be working.
Thank you for any assistance! I really appreciate it.
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Posts: 1936
Location: Eau Claire, WI | Sounds like you live in my back yard...:)
This sounds quite similar to the rivers in my area and to be honest the night bite is limited at best, at least in my experience. You may want to consider the flowage you mention on top of the dam, might have better after-dark bite.
Suppose I would try the flats you talk about in the 6-3 foot range at dusk and dark. If baitfish move up there there may be a musky laying in waiting. Topper Stoppers, Bucktails, Jackpot type baits, and minnow baits have all produced for me during the twilight hours on the river.
Remember as fall approaches your feeding windows will get smaller and smaller and the fish in the river system should start to orient themselves close to the deeper holes. If the sun has been shining on rocks and sand bars you may want to try concentrating there later in the day.
River fishing is a hoot...by nature Muskie are river fish. If you really are interested in learning more about classic river fishing you may want to consider hiring a guide experienced in river fishing. Tanner Wilds in the Hayward area, Joe Flater around Holcombe, Todd Forcier on Petenwell, or if you're ever in the Chippewa Falls area Darrin Engstrom or myself. Not sure about guys in other states but they are out there if you look. The cost of the trip is most often offset by the knowledge you can take home with you. | |
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Location: Eau Claire,WI | It does sound like a few rivers I fish...I have also read the replies from another message board...
I strongly disagree with what most of the people said!! Yes,fishing might be better durring
daylight but they do feed at night. I used to fish a local river that got tons of pressure durring the day,
had to go to night fishing to get em to bite...Quite a rush when you are wading in waist deep water
and have a musky run into your leg on a follow!!!
With all that said,my favorite spots are narrows,flats that are near holes,multiple structure spots,like rocks,
trees and weeds. I like water anywhere from 3 to 10 feet . My go to lures are jointed shallow raiders,
topwaters, the slower moving the better,bucktails with nickle blades.
I would start at the sand bars,especially if there was forage,like suckers,on them.
Hope I have helped,and I hope I didn't ruffle too many feathers...Paul
If you need any more help,just shoot me an email... | |
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Posts: 688
Location: Northern IL | "There are spots that are 25 feet deep but that is the deepest it gets."
You need to focus your efforts on structure, breaks, and breaklines in the deepest water you can find, day or night!
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| Thanks for the replies! I know fish bite at night, I just figured I haven't tried the right place yet.
I'm always open to suggestions.
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| Here is an interesting recent quote from a WI River guide.
"The Wisconsin River system (locally referred to as "The River") is producing excellent musky action for fish into the mid to higher 40s -- and an occasional trophy. Find warmer water, targeting afternoon hours and rocks. Fish 3 to 5 feet deep, as long as there is deeper water nearby. Suicks, Bulldawgs and live suckers are all working. One little secret is that when it gets dark, move off the shallower water and into deeper pool areas. Use a jointed Depth Raider or Cisco Kid, and cast over these deeper pools -- that's when you'll get a bigger fish."
Has anyone had luck casting deeper pools after dark?
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| a good place to get info on fall river fishing locations and tactics is from the Lindner's (Angling Edge).
check around for articles, videos, etc.
Jim Lindner donated a day with him this fall on the upper Mississippi to our Muskies Inc. club when he did a presentation for our spring event. i SOOOO wish i would have been the lucky winner! | |
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Night fishing stained river water, where to begin?