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| Hi all,
Not many muskies around me, but I really enjoy fishing for pike. I live near Lake Champlain, a +/- 350,000 acre lake straddling the borders of Northern NY, VT and Quebec. There are a very few muskies left over from the only native population in New England, and I'd like to catch one--but I have no idea how. Most of the muskies get caught in one of 3 major tributary streams, all of which have dams several miles upstream from the lake. There is a thriving LM and SM bass population here, as well as plenty of pike and some cold water species, but like the musky very few walleye left (the dams). Water temps in the lake right now are in the mid-70's, the rivers about the same, but they'll cool off in early september, before I hang up the rods for bird season. I have only heavy bass gear (flipping rod, etc) which I often use to throw musky-sized bucktails and spinnerbaits for pike, but I don't have--nor do I really want to buy--much in the way of dedicated musky gear. Maybe I'd buy a few lures that I can also use for pike. I have a boat to get me anywhere I need to be. I will be releasing anything I catch and I am familiar with careful fish handling.
If you were fishing for a musky here, how would you approach it, what lures would you use, what type of areas would you target? I used to fish for tiger musky on a different river growing up, but not with any consistent success--I'm really a rank novice, so basic tips or advanced tips, they are all very welcome.
Thanks very much in advance. | |
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| You are lucky to be near Champlain, but that is not a numbers place for muskie. Talk to whoever you can find who fishes for them; and see if he will share some knowledge. If you are fishing in a river, look for slack water and deep pools. The structures that will attract them are submerged weeds, boulders, and rock piles. They will usually be facing upstream. I would throw crankbaits in the 6", 7", and 8" class. The Believer might be good because you can attach your leader to two different eyes for running it shallow or deeper. If the water is clear, try natural finnish baits. Nothing too funky to start. If the water is darker, you might go as far as a firetiger finnish. If you are fishing from a boat, make sure you have an adequate net. Pike size will not be enough. Good luck. | |
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Posts: 667
Location: Roscoe IL | I would also try some topwater baits.. Topraiders, Weagles or even a creeper at first light and primetime in the same areas Swan mentioned.. | |
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Posts: 1220
| I'm the perfect guy for you, I have the odd sort of luck that has caused me to catch amazing bass during musky events and quite a few muskies during the bass events. Catching what I am supposed to is a whole different matter but we'll leave the tears for a different thread. You say you have the knowhow and the equipment to fish for bass, have no desire to upsize and the musky population is tiny anyway.......well I'd say, fish for bass but with a slightly upsized set of baits. Instead of using the 2 inch tubes everybody uses for smallies...go to 3 1/2 and 4 inch tubes and a bigger jig-hook inside. You'll still get the bigger smallies to go after the bait giving you something to do and you will likely have a bit better chance at tempting a muskie. Truth is, plenty of musky are taken on the smaller tubes as well. Most of the time, guys here are recomending bigger gear because we want the gear to get the fish into the boat instead of the gear being left in a soon to be dead fish. With your specific situation however, it seems like a better idea to upsize to the point you can and take your chances. Either that, or come to Wisconsin where all the Real Musky guys live (  ) and fish with us here! | |
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| Thanks all. Sounds like what I'm doing will work, just gotta be in the right place at the right time. I have no intention of leaving any hooks in a fishes face, so I'm already on some much bigger tackle with a leader, so I'll "keep on doin'". Thanks. If anyone has other tips or tactics or secrets that I might not already be using, I'm definitely all ears.
Thanks! | |
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Posts: 3910
| Call the local DNR and ask for advice. | |
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