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Posts: 36
Location: Pittsburgh PA | I am looking for peoples imput on this topic although I have down most of my footage on this topic for tv .I would like to hear others input and times they have had sucess because of the variation. thanks Herb |
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Posts: 159
Location: Stevens Point, WI | I'm sure it's different in PA than in WI, but we got muskies on top in 40 degree water temps in may this year, and in 40 degree water temps in October, as well as everything in between on our river. Our very best month for topwaters seems to be september. That's also our best month for bucktails, so that might not mean much. Our river has really dark water, and according to my records they like topwaters no matter if it's sunny or overcast. How about for you? |
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Posts: 61
Location: Sioux Lookout On Canada | I find that when all of the waterfowl are training their young how to swim... it is "baby loon" time. This means earlier in the season right into July, and august... september is jackpot time. |
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Posts: 159
Location: Stevens Point, WI | SO TRUE about the waterfowl! A homerun bait early on is the "baby mallard" topraider! You're fishing lakes mostly, right muskynorth? |
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Posts: 373
Location: On the River | I would have to respectfully disagree with September being the best month For the past 20 years I have done most of my fishing on the Wisconsin River catching over 800 muskies. Mid june until the end of August is best for me, my September top water numbers drop dramicitically. |
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Posts: 1
| I just flat out stink when it comes to river fishing, and it doesn't matter the species.  I just can't seem to figure out rivers. Lakes are an entirely different story.  Top water in late spring to midsummer. |
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Posts: 61
Location: Sioux Lookout On Canada | I should clarify... jackpot meaning a big "walk the dog" lure. I rarely get to fish rivers so yes, this is primarily fishing lakes. Years when the eather is warmer and the cabbage is healthy, we fish topwaters to cover water and locate fish. I have to agree that the earlier months are the best. |
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| I forgot to log in but Im going to ask this question anyways, its kinda off topic but for those of you who live in a state were there is no season for muskie fishing, do you guys think topwaters would be a good choice right after ice out or do you think it would be better to wait awhile? also at what water temperature do you guys start throwing topwaters? |
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| muskynorth - 2/1/2009 8:05 PM
I should clarify... jackpot meaning a big "walk the dog" lure. I rarely get to fish rivers so yes, this is primarily fishing lakes. Years when the eather is warmer and the cabbage is healthy, we fish topwaters to cover water and locate fish. I have to agree that the earlier months are the best. muskynorth,
when you say earlier months are the best are you refering to rotating topwaters are the best or WTD's are the best? or both? |
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Posts: 159
Location: Stevens Point, WI | wisriverrat, that's interesting that we'd have different statistics! I think i might just stick with my topraiders as deep into the year as they work. August is a sweet topwater month for me too, but more fish total are caught in Sept and i keep good records on it. I do notice a drop off on topwaters right after September here, though. Maybe you're fishing a bigger flowage too, that might make a difference. |
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Posts: 36
Location: Pittsburgh PA | I do not think that topwater is a good choice just after ice out .I think that waiting is the best bet do to water temps being cold. If theres ice ,fish are coming off a cold hard time droggy. In my experince that letting water temps rise would best maximize your catch rate for top water muskies. In my part of the world It starts in mid june to realy turn on top water. Though it is somtimes different as to the best time , it is a trail error thing to the area you are in. Some areas it is october, the river basins are mostly different do to the offset to water temps and biological change in lakes and rivers. |
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| I have been fishing rivers for a few years now, and I've been unable to catch any muskies on topwater. I don't know why this is, but all the fish I've caught have been on subsurface lures. Most of the people that I've seen fishing there have been throwing topwater and I've wondered if the muskies have just become conditioned to them. |
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Posts: 36
Location: Pittsburgh PA | I do not think that they are conditioned to it . I have fished topwater muskies in the river basin for years.The area are high presured areas also. The rivers in p.a do differ from one to another. It is also the bait that differs on the rivers. Presentation is a big factor on the river. For example I have floated the same drift and about 6 boats behind thoughing topwater the same bait the color was different and my retrievel was much diffent, not fast. I caught were they did not.Middle June is a good time in P.a as well as july and october though middle november. late June though I through pimarly baby topraiders and some walk the dog baits like poes or dancin raiders. I almost always use a med to slow reterievel with a uninterupted consisitents if you can hear a full bubble pop on a toperaider your doing it right. I have caught up to 4 fish in the 40 to 44 range in less then two hours using strickly topraiders of diffent colors on the river basins during filming with fox. It is sometimes the ticket and is my favorite . It has povided big muskies that you would otherwiese not thinking of them hiting topwater in the rivers. Try late june in slack water ajasent to cover or creeks. If you see others fishing it with top water that means they have a reason to fish it. |
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Posts: 74
Location: thunder bay | with Lac Seul you have a mix of both because it's a reservoir.you have your open area's like a lake and channel's like a river. I use top water any time because your not only imitating baby duck's the fish allso see thoughs bait's as mink, musk rat, dying fish,snake's ect. A buddie of mine got a 46 incher on a jackpot in november. Early season and late in the season I'll use the walk to dog style a little bit more because they resemble more of the bait that's around at that time and once the baby duck's are poping out then I use the more striat in type like the top raider. |
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| Thats awsome, and so true about them thinking that they are differnt animals I feel the same way. they are major predetor of what ever it might be coming across the water nothings safe. |
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Posts: 2091
Location: Stevens Point, WI | Good thread, I have boated fish the past three Southern WI openers on Pacemakers and Topraiders with water temps in the 40's. This is my favorite time of the year on the WI River, the fish are very predictable and the action can be very hot. You have to approach them like big trout. Nearly all of the fish I catch at this time of the year are holding really tight to current breaks in fast current. Many times these fish are within a foot or two of near whitewater current behind boulders and timber. I approach these areas with many casts to the same current breaks at different angles rather than running and gunning. It is not uncommon to take more than one different fish from the exact same piece of structure or slack water area within a very short time frame. Bait size does not really seem to be important, neither does color for me. These are totally ambush strikes and they will take whatever crosses their path. These fish are deadly accurate in their strikes on topwaters vs. lake fish in my experience and rarely miss a prop style bait. This bite usually holds out for most of May and June and then the fish take on their deeper channel related summer patterns. Topwater can still be good during the summer in some of these current areas and sloughs that have baitfish. |
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Posts: 36
Location: Pittsburgh PA | Thats great medic,some good stuff there. The rivers in P.a are alittle differnt as is to one to another here. I agree they are deadly accurate in the rivers. They have a no mercy policy and almost seem very comfortable taking topwater even the bigger fish .The summer months have been most hot June July.I have planned the shows around that because of the predictability. The latest I did a show was july 22 with water levels very low and temps high. With rain in the forcast it was a good |
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Posts: 102
Location: Bowling Green, KY | Here in KY there really and truly seems to be NO good time. I've tried for a solid
year, doggedly and it has been an exercise in frustration. I keep telling myself
"a musky is a musky" but I'm not so sure. All my fishing is done on local rivers.
I have yet to even talk to anyone who has. To tell the truth, this goes for most
traditional musky lures. Most muskies are caught of large bass crankbaits and
spinnerbaits. I will keep trying just because I love watching them come back.
Maybe someday I'll figure out something. My fishing partner has outfished me
5 to 1 this year because he just doesn't fool with topwaters. |
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Posts: 36
Location: Pittsburgh PA | I have not fished KY there would have to be a time porid I would think depending on water temps and weather fronts that would maxiumize your chances. There are two rivers I fish here though that are 5 hours apart that top water times very by three months apart. |
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Top water times best times rivers vs. lakes?