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Posts: 1663
Location: Kodiak, AK | Get right to the point-
I know the saying about using bucktails up until they're skittering across the ice, but as the water cools down through the 50's and into the 40's, do you typically still start off with the blades as a search bait to cover water, or do you start off deeper and a bit slower, but still cover water quickly with something like a Jake or other crankbait?
What kind of water clarity do you most look for? LSC is often windblown (well most of the year actually) in the fall, and in a 300 yard stretch you can go from gin, to green "steelhead" water, to stain to mud.
And along the lines of the wind, my last two fish have come in 3' waves and wind. My approach has been that wave action being tough on fish as it is, that I'd fish deeper and get out of the swell where I figured the fish would holding. Is my logic sound? I ask because I know of guys pulling 50 class fish to the top in 3'ers on bucktails and Suicks. I know there are no rules in muskie fishing, but I'd have put blades or shallow jerkbaits on last, and these guys are seeing fish on them. Am I missing out on a bite high in the water column when the waves are kicked up, white capping and blown? | |
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Posts: 8863
| I still fish blades, but when I do I fish them slow and deep. As for what to look for? I don't know LSC, so I can't comment on that area specifically. But as a general rule, I presume the fish will be seeking out the warmest water they can find. Sometimes that will be shallow, if you have a few warm sunny days. Sometimes that will be deeper water if you have a cold snap. General things I look for? Clearer water, any remaining green weeds, areas where there is current coming in...
When it comes to lure selection in general? Muskies won't be moving as fast or eating as often in colder water. Feeding windows are shorter and farther between. If the fish are active, I'd prefer a bait I can cover water with, because it just increases your odds. If they are not, my approach is to give them something that gets their attention, but is an easy meal to catch. Suicks, erratic gliders, soft plastics... I like something that hangs there for a second, something where you can throw in a pause or two.
Are you missing a bite in the shallow water where everything is kicked up? If there's bait in there, you very well might be. The good thing is those aeas are easy to find and you can cover them pretty quickly, so I would hit them and see. But I wouldn't give them a great deal of time unless I am seeing results.
I've found this time of year to be tricky, because you just never know. Fish aren't always in predictable locations, nor are they after what you would expect them to be after. That's all part of the fun though!
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Posts: 1663
Location: Kodiak, AK | Hey thanks for the detailed reply. You hit on alot of things I've thought about. Like today, I was able to fish the morning, but not the afternoon. The water temp came up two degrees just in the time I was there, and I'm thinking the afternoon bite will be where it's at today. But, having plans already for the afternoon, I missed out on it. But that was my train of thought, was to find the warmest water and hit it.
Also agree on the slower and deeper, which is why I asked about the blades. I'll keep fishing them of course, but are they usually your first bait of the day to cover the water, or do you opt for a different "fast" to cover the water, but at a slower speed?
And let me just make sure I got my "wave" question right....if I'm in 10-12' and the waves are 3', I'll put my bait or fly down to just above the weeds, say bout 7-8' down. Does that sound right, or am I missing fish by not even looking at the top 4-5' of the water colum?
I'm only a few years into my muskie career, having beeen a pike guy in AK before (no muskie in AK!) and this is my second fall on LSC, and this lake is almost like starting over again from what I learned to muskie fish on, which was MN water, so I'm largely a newb here. | |
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Posts: 295
Location: Southern Ontario, Detroit River and Lake StClair | Jeff.....this time of year on LSC and the DR I don't throw too many spinners as a first choice. when I do its usually a saftey pin style and I'm fishing them deeper. normally I'm throwing a glider or BullDawg as a first choice. something slower that they can zone in on. I will how ever put on a dbl #10 once I've found some fish especially if the water is dirty and I've missed a couple fish on the slower baits and run them just under the surface. As far as missing out on the "high bite" when its lumpy......deffiantly. When trolling I'll run my spinners off the boards 20-50ft back all the time which in clear water makes them easily visible from the boat so they are "right there" under the surface. I've had fish crush them in 3-4'rs. Same goes when casting. I wont have a problem fishing a shallow mag 'Dawg in the tops of the waves if there's bait there and it's an area that normally holds fish. one of my favorite times is when the wind is blowing hard onto the point off the head of one of the islands in the river. This time of year the shad get pushed in on it and the muskie are right behind them. Last weekend we got fish like that and saw quite a few others hunting shad like a Great Whites hunting seals. I guess what I'm saying is if there's bait there (any of the small river or creek mouths on LSC or the DR right now) I wouldn't be afraid at all to fish high. Yesterday morning in 3 hours we took two fish (42" and 47") and missed/lost 4 more fishing the top 3ft of the water column over 18-23ft of water.
Good Fishin'
Tim
Edited by Roughneck1860 10/11/2009 8:24 PM
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Posts: 1663
Location: Kodiak, AK | Thanks Tim. I was hoping you'd chime in. I like fishing in the nasty stuff and like I say my last two fish have come deep under big seas, but I know guys catch fish on bucktails in the chop as well. But I do find myself wanting to start the day searching with cranks and plastics in the cooler water. | |
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Posts: 295
Location: Southern Ontario, Detroit River and Lake StClair | We were out for about an hour and half this morning by Peche Island. A honkin' E wind had the waves really rolling. We landed a 46" and missed another tossing Dbl #10's up onto the shallow edge of "The Hole" and retrieving them across the tops of 2-3ft'rs out over deep water (18-23ft).
Good Fishin'
Tim
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Posts: 378
Location: Michigan | esoxfly - 10/10/2009 5:24 PM
...having beeen a pike guy in AK before (no muskie in AK!) and this is my second fall on LSC, and this lake is almost like starting over again from what I learned to muskie fish on, which was MN water....
Jeff,
You are living my nightmare.... Welcom to LSC... The two worst things you could be before you were a muskie fisherman on LSC is a muskie fisherman on shield water, and a pike fisherman...
I was a pike guy first, and I am always thinking structure, cooler water, deeper presentations, etc... Got to get that out of your head. Easier said than done. On this lake its all about the bait, and I think 99% that the muskie relate to is suspended. (except seasonal jigging in rivers)
Although temp can be an indicater, look for bait. You actually said that to me at the muskie school, and it's true... Find the bait, and you will have muskie. And other than the bait, the muskie may not be relating to anything else.
They definately feed in the top of the water column in big slop at times during this time of the year. A few years ago I was trolling, and I kept hearing guys on the radio saying the fish were on top and going nuts... Guys around me were catching fish in a crazy feeding window. I kept shortening my lines behind the releases and the boat (from 30 to 20) until finally I had 10' of line out and I started catching fish. Those lures wer practically breaking the surface....
THis is a crazy lake... I have been on it 8 years, and I still feel like a newb. There are so many seasonl movements, so many ways to catch fish, and so many places to do it. Just remember, its a journney. I have been banking experiences, and little tips for years that have helped. You finally start to see some patterns that repeat. But about then you get 4-5 days with nothing working that is"supposed to".
Then there are guys like Tim who have been doing it their whole life and catch them everywhere, and seemingly all the time;)...
Edited by Chadster 10/12/2009 8:23 PM
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Posts: 1663
Location: Kodiak, AK | It is a funny lake indeed. I love fishing it, but I often miss my AK and MN waters that I learned on. They're "easy" to read. The bait here are a complete mystery to me. The best I can do is to fish where I think the bait will be. Weeds, river mouths and current.
Sadly, I'm only here another three years before the CG sends me somewhere else....hopefully back to AK where I can chase the shield pike I know so well! Just when I start to figure it out, I'll be on my way out of here. | |
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Posts: 378
Location: Michigan | Well if you end up back in Alaska, and need some company, that has always been on my must do list. Have done Northern Ontario and Manitoba many times, but need to get to Yukon, Saskatchewan, and Alaska... Love the pike... | |
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Posts: 1530
| esoxfly. lsc can be a fickle place. fall fishing we look for bait. shad arrive the muskies move in. you can find them in 4ft to 40 ft. normally the muskies gorge wherever the shad are. as the season gets late, waters cold the big fish move down. we troll our woodie bottomfeeders crashing bottom in late nov,,, december. as the fish metabolism slows you need to put baits very close. they wont move far to eat.. right now try in front of narrowdowns and the rivermouths. the larger shad will soon arrive. | |
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Fall Water- A Few Questions.