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| Ok, long story short.
I'm new to the muskie scence. My buddy and I were out fishing in a lake where I keep my boat. I just bought a Pete Maina combo, and he thinks I'm nuts. He bet me that I couldn't catch a northern or a muskie by the end of the summer. If I do, he'll pay me what I paid for my combo. If I don't, well, I owe him money.
What can i do to make sure that I win this bet? There are monsters in this lake and pike as well.
Thank-You
Matt | |
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| Matt, let's get that bet won for you. Describe the lake in detail, and the folks here will get you on track! | |
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| Ok, this is what I know so far:
size: 1600 acres
Main Species: Walleye ( in very good numbers), muskie, northerns, largemouth, sunfish, crappie, and loads of yellow perch. Also, carp, golden shiners, the usual minnows, daces, and banded killifish
Clear, not crystal though,
Max. depth around 40 feet
has several arms that are made by the feeder streams.
it's a lake that sees moderate boat traffic, 9.9 hp regulation.
Side note: in the late 60's-early 70's, the PA fish comm. actually stocked amur pike in this lake. They claimed that this was the only lake in the east that had northerns, amur, muskie and pickerel.
They stock 8,000 muskie fingerlings every two years in this lake.
A recent trap netting survey (done on March 26, 2001) resulted in 7 muskie, none below 30 inches. They found 34 pike, and they ranged from 11 to 37 inches. They found a ton of walleye, claiming the best lake for walleye in it's management area. They found loads of perch as well. I'm going to get the official trap netting results and the results of the electrofishing they did. They only gave walleye reports on the copy I saw for the electrofishing, but probably the official report will tell more.
I also have access to the juniata river, which is stocked with muskies every two years. The main snack there is fallfish, smallies, walleyes, rock bass, it's just a small susquehanna in theory.
If I had a bigger boat, I just concentrate on the Raystown Lake. It's a 8,000 acre lake that is home to stripers, lake trout, walleyes, muskie, etc..... but on a 14 foot jon boat, I'd be mince meat for the jet skis, and boats that are big enough for off shore fishing.
Thank You,
Matt | |
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| Now that I know more about the lake you are fishing (I have seen pictures of that Amur pike, and the Amur x Northern hybrid- COOL!), I'm going to change my advice a little bit. The only thing you need on this lake now is TIME!! With it, you WILL catch a musky! I wish I had a lake by that description to fish to be honest (especially the motor restriction!). Although I still do stick by my spinnerbait suggestion, you didn't mention anything about weeds. The reason you should go with spinnerbaits/bucktails (spinnerbaits for the weeds) is that they hook and hold well. This is like tournament conditions- you don't want to find and then lose your money fish!! So make sure you personally sharpen those hooks. Those muskies will be relating to the good structure associated w/ the creek arms (points, flats, creek & river channel, breaklines). Find out where all those baitfish are holding & living, and then find the nearest structure near to deep water to the baitfish (includes all the species you mentioned) and you will find the 'skies. I'm from Michigan where many of our waters are stocking only as well, and that level of fish/acre would have me scrambling to fish it! Good luck. | |
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| Matt, what lake is it, I fish all over PA, and may be able to help you out. | |
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Ok, sorry about the post below, read this one for