|
|
Posts: 7121
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | We've done this in the past, and thought it might be a good exercise as we move into fall.
I just grabbed this map off the WI DNR website, and I'm not really sure if it's a muskie lake, but lets use these parameters for analysis:
-Early fall (pre-turnover)
-Clear water (visibility of 8-10')
-Sparse weed lines.
-Class A lake, with a good shot at a 50", but the majority of the population between 36-44"
How would you approach this lake? What would your strategies be for chasing muskies here?
Attachments
----------------
 LakeX.GIF (83KB - 89 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 1764
Location: Ogden, Ut | Oh, I may as well start this thing...
I think my spots are probably going to be rather obvious though.
Areas outlined in red would be my first choice, blue second, and orange third.
Hopefully there's some current in the narrow area between the east and west basins; I feel the restriction and the islands associated w/ it could be good. Slamr didn't say where the weeds are so I'll just assume that they grow pretty much anywhere the light penetration allows.
1) Islands, saddles, probable current locations
2) Smaller flats w/associated access to deep water
3) main lake points, sunken island, weedlines along otherwise 'featureless' shorelines
of course, where is the boat ramp? I'd fish there as it seems to get the least pressure 
or else go to a small dark water lake and fish in 3' of water and weeds...
Sorno
Attachments
----------------
LakeX.GIF (85KB - 88 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 699
Location: Hugo, MN | I've marked my spots
Edited by marine_1 9/13/2005 1:56 PM
Attachments
----------------
LakeX.GIF (83KB - 81 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 4266
| Lots of inside turns here.
The one on the left near the inlet will be my number 1 spot as well as the one where the 2 small islands pinch together.
It all depends on the weed growth, prevailing winds etc.
Inside turns are one of my favorite pieces of structure, especially with deep water near on in the corner. They are also spots that many guys overlook.
Beav
Edited by Beaver 9/13/2005 2:44 PM
Attachments
----------------
Lake X.gif (97KB - 88 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
| I'd hope it was close enough to Worrall's stomping grounds that he'd know something of it and offer up a few tidbits.
And geez, you're not really sure if it's a muskie lake? You'd be better off trying to sell Burmek B-1's!
I've been seen floating around the two west basin islands, the flat north of there, and toward the narrows. Basins, saddles, steep breaks, flats, narrows all in one small area. The deep slot between the east basin islands south of the narrows has also held my interest. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 354
| That is Greenduck lake! And yes it does have muskies in it. You can pull my post now!
Bill C. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2112
Location: The Sportsman, home, or out on the water | Slamr,
I fished that lake the first few years of my musky carrer, mainly because my uncle has a cabin down the road from it. Numbers-wise, not a great lake. Size-wise, I raised a few there that were 40-48 inches. If you are serious about fishing it, shoot me an e-mail.
Rob |
|
| |
|
Posts: 7121
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | I'm not going to fish it, was just putting this up there for people to show how they read a lake map, and what they look for. But, thanks for the offer. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 303
Location: Valentine, NE USA |
Attachments
----------------
untitled.GIF (83KB - 93 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 1046
| Its funny most picked more or less the same areas, I will be the only boat out in the basin! My first and last choice, don`t even care what type baitfish is in there! |
|
| |
|
| I couldn't agree more with handyman. Get out in that 45' deep area of the basin and count down a castaic or a depth raider and hold on tight and wait for the monster to strike. Let all the other folks catch the 32"-38" up shallow. I am assuming a cisco population of course. |
|
| |
|
| Thanks for posting this exercise. As someone who has been trying to learn a few new lakes on my own, this has been beneficial to see where others would fish in comparison to where I would on lakes with similar structure.
JTM |
|
| |
|
Posts: 127
Location: NW burbs of Chicago | Because I like to learn and be annoying and ask questions, and since this map is posted, can someone perhaps shed some light on HOW you are reading the map? What are you looking for on the map when you're making the determination to fish it? Most of us who aren't in the driver's seat of the boat might be unfamiliar with being able to determine where to go from a map such as this.
Thanks.
Crash McG |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1764
Location: Ogden, Ut | Crash,
The lines are depth contour lines- the closer they are together, the steeper the bottom contour (more rapidly the depth changes). I mainly look for areas where the shoreline restricts (bottlenecks) and forms areas where, if there's flow, it will become more pronounced. I'm told muskies like current. Larger flats areas (little depth change) next to ares where the depths change rapidly - towards deeper water are also what I look for. I'm told baitfish like flats and muskies like baitfish (baitfish also like large open water areas; so where you concentrate on depends on the species of baitfish you have present). Obviously, a contour map cannot give you pinpoint areas of weeds, but knowing the depth of light penetration, you can deduce areas that are likely to have them. Any combination of current, weeds and/or flats closely associated with access to deeper water and/or food is a likely spot to start. It gives the muskies food, current, and cover. Hope this helps.
Sorno |
|
| |
|
Posts: 127
Location: NW burbs of Chicago | So THAT'S what all those squiggly lines mean?
Thanks, Sorno.
Crash McG |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1906
Location: Oconto Falls, WI | I marked the map as if I know nothing about it, as unfortuneatley I know the lake. I agree with the basins being #1, but that is if it was a summer thing. In the fall, I'll take the deep inside turns especially if they are near a feeding flat. Sharp drops with rock/gravel are also my top picks. If the lake had cribs marked, I would also be there.
As I know a bit about this lake, it is deceiving. Some of the worst looking spots are very good, and vise versa.
By the way, no ciscos to be found in there. 
Attachments
----------------
LakeX.GIF (83KB - 85 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 459
Location: New Baden IL | The areas I marked in red would be starter spots to see if I could contact some fish casting. I would be using some search type baits like bucktails to try to weed some fish out of the sparse weeds that I could find. If I did contact some active fish in these areas, I would slow down my approach with some slower gliders, or big twitched crankbaits.
If that failed, I'd get rigged up for some trolling and hammer out the spots I marked in blue. I would put out a spread that included a bait run fairly high, around 3-5' up, preferably on a board to stick some high holding fish that might be a bit boat shy. And I would also run some baits a bit deeper, like a jointed Believer about 12' down and at least one coming into contact with rocky structures around 15' down.
The deeper bait would be the one I would expect to get nailed first, but pre-turnover, I have caught fish on the board, up high away from the boat, closer to the shallow structure.
Rod LaCaze
Attachments
----------------
LakeX.GIF (83KB - 80 downloads)
|
|
| |
