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Posts: 682
Location: Sycamore, IL | How do you guys and gals, who live in states with no closed season, approach fishing right after ice out...I would love to hear some techniques to add to my arsenal! Thanks. |
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| What is the traditional advice on spring muskie fishing? Downsize your lures. I would be throwing 5.5" Wileys and 6" minnow baits, Jake and Grandma being my choice. Perhaps a modest Musky Killer fished slow. |
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| Small gliders, small twitchers, rattlebaits, small bucktails |
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Posts: 682
Location: Sycamore, IL | I guess re-reading my post I should be asking more about location, depth and speed rather than techniques/ lure choices. Scenario: Boat launch just opened, ice still covering shallow bays and water temp is 38 where do you start? What type of structure do you look for? This is a time of year that I have really struggled with and I would like to get better results...thanks! |
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Posts: 2097
| They are not going to be moving shallow till around 45ยบ. |
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Posts: 2014
| MD75 - 3/31/2013 8:34 PM
I guess re-reading my post I should be asking more about location, depth and speed rather than techniques/ lure choices. Scenario: Boat launch just opened, ice still covering shallow bays and water temp is 38 where do you start? What type of structure do you look for? This is a time of year that I have really struggled with and I would like to get better results...thanks!
unfortunately, this time of year has muskies scattered most of the time, they can be shallow or deep, they are not feeding heavily and are generally neutral at best, you have to get your presentation close, whether they are shallow or deep, when they are shallow they generally have easy access to deep water this time of year, but I've caught them so shallow sometimes in the conditions you describe, that their backs are dang near out of the water. Cold water in the spring is not an easy bite -but if you can get a pre-spawn hawg to open her mouth it will make it worth the effort, you will strike out more than you success until the water warms... |
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Posts: 463
Location: Sw Pennsylvania | I personally would start looking off the first break(10 to 15') or deeper if the water temps are still that cold. Look around for bait and most likely they wont be far behind.
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Posts: 245
| Why wait, ice fish for them! |
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Posts: 157
| I too want to hear more about this, here in Iowa, this week should open things up, and I am ready to rock! |
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Posts: 46
| Since it is pre spawn i would be looking for staging areas. Better yet staging areas with shad close by. |
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Posts: 661
Location: Sussex, NJ | #1netman - 4/1/2013 10:11 AM
Since it is pre spawn i would be looking for staging areas. Better yet staging areas with shad close by.
Can you explain what these staging ares would consist of? Like what kind of structure and water depth and all that? Thank you! |
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Posts: 2097
| muddy bottom coves. |
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Posts: 16
| early season is really tough to consistently catch fish but i like to cast shallow bays and coves or shortline troll along the banks as far as lures go small grandmas and lil earnies are good to use but surprisingly depth raiders have proven themselves good early in the season for me |
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Posts: 139
| i doubt there will be open water in N Wisc by opening fishing day. this past sunday i still had 2 feet of ice i was drilling thru. |
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