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| I have been fishing this area of the river that looks like it was made for musky. There's about a 300 yard stretch of shore that is loaded with huge boulders. There is pleny of depth and shallow area's as well. There is also a channel that runs down the middle of the river. Most of the water is stag around the shore. As far as fishing goes, you can catch everything. the main catch is bass, catfish, and walleye. I have caught suckers and carp. There are lots of suckers. This area get fished pretty hard but most people are throwing crawlers and bass lures. The fishing is quite good.
Now the problem is that I have spent many, many hours fishing this area without a fish and only one follow ( i think). It was getting dark before a storm and I was standing on a big rock and saw a shadow under my bucktail of a large fish. It made a swift and smooth 180 and was gone. I fish at night, morning, afternoon. Nothing. I just look at this place and think there has to be musky here.
Should I keep pounding the area or move on and find another favorite spot? I do fish other places, just most of my time is concentrated on this area. Thanks for the advice. |
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Posts: 3242
Location: Racine, Wi | I would keep fishing this area. Pay close attn to where you are casting. See if there are any logs that you can't see out of the water that may be hiding. Try to cast in eddies created by the boulders.
Also, try twitching a minnow bait through there. I love Bomer Long A's for river fish!!!! I find that river fish have an affinity for those. Maybe even a topwater. '
If there is bait, the big fish will come. Just stick with it. |
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| Hi Lynn,
If you can let me know the river then I can probably tell you if it has a fishable population of muskies. I don't expect you to tell us the river though, so do you know it has muskies in general above or below your spot? If the answer to that question is NO, then I wouldn't try it for muskies. Ask your DNR if you don't know.
However, if you know muskies are in the system then it sounds like a great place to try and Joel gives you some great ideas above.
I love fishing rivers for muskies and I have found Shallow Invaders, Storm Crankbaits, and Rapala Husky Jerks work well. In general I would also try bucktails like the Mepps Musky Marabou and spinnerbaits like the ERC Pearson Grinder. Also try Tiger Tubes and Bull Dawgs. Topwaters always seem to work well too.
If it is a bigger river and you can troll, I would try trolling Jakes and Believers around those key spots, especially when pods of bait fish are present, evening periods, night, or with approaching weather fronts!
Please let me know more about the area if you can and I will be glad to tell you more!
Steve  |
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| I am fishing the Allegehney River in Western Pennsylvania Clarion County. The river has musky but is known for small-mouth bass, and catfish so the few musky that are caught are by accident. Besides the great structure, the area holds every kind of game fish found in the river, so I assume musky must be there as well. There are riffles above the area that an older man used to catch musky in, but I have to cross private land to get there.
I mainly throw bucktails I use both black and chartruesse (sp?). I also like 6" perch jake, topraider, depthraider, and I do like throwing the long bomber. I just got the undertaker and like to use it as well. This morning I fished for 3 hours. I started throwing a night crawler out and let it set while using my lures. I caught 2 small bass and a 21" carp on the crawler.
One thing I noticed about river fishing every day is how much the river changes day to day and even hour to hour. The current, the depth, the clarity is always changing. Most of the big boulders are under water so there are a lot of under currents. Unfortunately a few swimmers have drowned in the area because of the strong under currents. Thanks for all the help so far.
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Posts: 194
Location: Southwest PA | Lynn,
Keep pounding it, there are some very nice fish in the Allegheny. We fish it further north than where your fishing and have caught alot of fish out of it.
Are you fishing from shore or by boat? Dont limit your self to just that section of river, there is a lot of river to fish, dont over look some of the creeks that feed into the Allegheny.
If we can get our match fishing set for this weekend we'll be pounding it for awhile ourselves on Sunday.
Maybe we'll see you on the river someday.
Rich W. |
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Posts: 3242
Location: Racine, Wi | Sounds like you guys need to set up a mini MuskieFirst outing out there. You can learn lots and make some cool aquaintences. |
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Posts: 2754
Location: Mauston, Wisconsin | Lynn- Try fishing the heavy current area's- forget the slack water. Muskies here on the Wisconsin River are very active in the current- I've gotten 8 so far this year fishing from shore ( my truck's down for a new motor) & everyone came out of the current. Don't worry about depth as long as the water is relatively clear. River muskies seem to like really bright collors- my hottest has been a Bumblebee- yellow with black stripes.
Have fun.
Edited by ESOX Maniac 6/23/2004 5:30 PM
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| Lynn,
Joel and I did a mini M1st outing 4/1 on the Fox Chain of Lakes here in IL, so I like his idea to hook up with your fellow M1st members fishing the river.
Your lure selections sound good, and I agree with trying the chaotic fast current water and using really bright colors that stand out ! Also try jointed lures that give off more vibration like jointed Believers, Depth Raiders and Legend Outcasts.
One other thing to try is a sucker or chub on a quick strike rig if it is legal in your state on that river?
Steve |
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Posts: 3242
Location: Racine, Wi | If you can use a sucker, and are fishing from the shore, due to the current, you can run the sucker out on a planer board from the shore, then put it in a holder. You would get some fish for sure doing that. (of course, nothing is for sure in musky fishing, accept that you're on the water.) |
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