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C.Painter |
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Posts: 1245 Location: Madtown, WI | Normally the muskies we catch in the madison Chain are VERY healthy speciements....but it seems that this summer we have been getting nothing but solid to VERY FAT muskies....typically, in the summer they have a slightly thinner build. Here is my theory and was wondering if others are experiencing the same..especially in areas like INDY where the temps are usually hotter. I think the hot summers drive water temps up, take the fish further away from thier perferred temp zone, their metabolisms kick up and they end up carrying less weight till the fall when they can start packing it back on. Now, with this cool summer, we are closer to the prefferred temps and the fish are fat and sassy....in Madison it is not unlikely to get 80 degree surface temps...for almost ALL of august we have been anywhere from the mid 60's to very low 70's. What are your thoughts experiences?? Here is an absolute Jenny Craig special Brad Nelson caught in Madison last night.....COngrats to Brad by the way! Cory Edited by C.Painter 9/2/2004 11:19 AM Attachments ----------------  46 1 8-31-04 (2).JPG (70KB - 80 downloads) | ||
| Slamr |
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Posts: 7119 Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | |||
| mreiter |
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Posts: 333 Location: menasha wi 54952 | Sounds good to me but I think that the big ones we are seeing and catching are the ones that we normally never see until fall. They are the ones that suspend to get away from the heat but this year they have been very catchable on the structure. Just a thought  MR | ||
| C.Painter |
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Posts: 1245 Location: Madtown, WI | |||
| muskyboy |
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| This summer has been more like traditional fall, so fall tactics have worked best. I do agree that the fish I have caught this year are more girthy than usual, especially in WI and MN. In addition I have experienced lots of lazy follows and nips, also signs of unfavorable weather conditions and cold water temps more than likely? Good question and I am curious to see how the end of the year plays out. I hit the Ottawa River the end of November and I hope to hit LOTW the end of this month. We could see the biggest fish ever this fall and that is why I expect the MN record to be broken soon! | |||
| CiscoKid |
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Posts: 1906 Location: Oconto Falls, WI | I agree with Cory and Mike. Not only is there metabolism perhaps a bit slower, but they have been taking in some pretty big meals also. This year I have had more fish COMPLETELY inhale a magnum bulldawg than ever before. They have been feeding machines. Mike hit the nail on the head about the accesability issue. With cooler water temps the bigger fish didn't have to venture as far away from structure/shallow water to be more comfortable. I think that is why there were quite a few 50+ fish caught already. Suckers, crappies, walleyes, and other fish have been staying shallower making it easier to fish effectively for fish that you would normally have a hard time contacting. On a side note. Fall tactics aren't only for fall! I pretty much don't change the way I fish throughout the year. Sure I make minor adjustments, but you don't need to change too much when you target the fish all year deep. Clear lakes are always stated as "Fall" lakes, but that is because that is usually the only time people start fishing deep for them. Fish steep breaking shorelines in the summer, and your results may not be much different than they are in the fall.  | ||
| lambeau |
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| i'm with you. here's a Monona (off Estes Beach) fish from mid-summer. this fish was only 41" long, but had the girth of a much bigger fish. Attachments ---------------- 04-6-30 41 Inch (Monona)(2).jpg (30KB - 82 downloads) | |||
| Reef Hawg |
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| malone |
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| bchunter26 |
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