|
|
Posts: 393
Location: Kawarthas, Ontario | I live on a lake, Lake Scugog in the Kawartha's region of Ontario, and from what I've learned it is VERY similar to the 'flowages' of Wisconsin. My lake is man made, averages about 3 feet deep, is heavily stained in the busy summer months, has an old river channel running through it, has enough weeds to support a dozen lakes and is just chock full of 'numbers' muskies. Trolling has been the most effective technique (for most Scugog muskie guys) with stalkers and big spinnerbaits topping the list.
Do flowages have similar characteristics? If so, how do you approach them? What do you look for when going to a new flowage? Most of my muskie fishing has been done on meso water, so I'm looking for new insights into this ultra-eutrophic lake.
Thanks!
Edited by out2llunge 1/18/2005 9:02 AM
| |
| | |
| Out...
Great question. A couple of things that seem to affect the fishing on flowages is level of water and current flow. When dams are opened both are affected and will affect fishing conditions. How much current affects flowages is something I personally would like to learn more about. If anyone knows of a book that thoroughly deals with flowage fishing for muskies, please let us hear from you.
Otherwise, early in the season you can look for shallow bays that will obviously warm quicker. These bays will attract muskies before and after the spawn. If they are adjacent to the river channel that is even better. Fish will stage in these areas preparing for the spawn and when adverse weather conditions arrive they may fall back to the channel area. Flowages typically have a lot of stump fields and I personally like to see these areas on points or close to the river channel. Having an inlet coming into these shallow bays will attract spring muskies as well. Many of the same areas that you would look at in a lake (points, bars, humps, etc.) will apply in a flowage as well. I've done well with spinnerbaits, topwaters, jerkbaits. Because flowages will usually have darker water, I will work my baits a little slower. I've got a friend who runs his topwaters too fast on these darker waters and he's always missing fish because of it.
I've got a few articles in my muskie database on fishing flowages and if you are interested send me an e-mail and I would be glad to send them to you.
Air | |
| | |
Posts: 393
Location: Kawarthas, Ontario | Thanks Air....you've got mail | |
| | |
Posts: 32958
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Current, cover, and water temps are the keys, in my experience. Don't be afraid to fish VERY shallow. Find the current breaks, the cover and the forage, and you'll find the fish. | |
| | |
Posts: 3926
| Now hang on a minute. You're tolling in water that averages 3' deep? So the water depth may range from 6' deep to, say, +1 protrusion? Ok, I got it, and the answer.
When trolling, hope for calm winds and keep a long oar within easy reach.
And, try dragging a big Johnson Spoon w/ twintail. If that doesn't pay off in short order, move on to other options. | |
| | |
Posts: 393
Location: Kawarthas, Ontario | Although the average is 3 feet, there are many places, including straight out from my place where the water gets to 17 or 18'. I usually troll with stalkers, spinerbaits, homemade bobbies and wileys. The weeds are so thick that in places that you need to constantly check your lower unit. I've found edges, current breaks, bars, points to be good and also beinga pocket fisherman - looking for those holes between the weed masses pays off when casting. | |
| | |
| Out...
That heavy cover might be a nusance at times but in times of heavy curreent it should be a go-to spot. Order up one of Bucher's Slop Master Spinners, quickly became a favorite last season.
The flowages I fish are quite different from what you describe but the fundamentals of fishing them are quite similar to what Worrall suggested. Current, cover (current breaks), water temps/weather.
Best,
Mark Hintz
www.muskyadventures.com | |
| | |
Posts: 389
Location: Presque Isle Wisconsin | Some great answers for you in the above posts.I would concentrate heavily on those stump fields near the river channel because they will hold fish -PERIOD-. Even though you can troll them I would also cast them because its sometimes neccesary to get your baits right next to them.My most succesful baits are double bladed marabou bucktails dressed with a Gapen tail.THe two blades combined with the pulsing marabou and the seperate vibration of the tail seems to attract them when nothing else is producing.Secondly I like bladed surface lures that can be worked SLOWLY. Lee Tauchens How wobbler type bait with the blade on the back is a stone killer and is fast becoming my go to lure. My third option is a jackpot type surface lure like the prototype RECON from H20 lures. Sand bars and any other structural element near the river channel are my secondary options followed by stump fields or weed beds away from the channel. As stated in the other posts the current and depth associated with the river channel is all important on flowages. Once again- I would -make sure I cast these areas as well as trolling near them. | |
| |
|
Flowages, how do you decide where to start?