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Posts: 2515
Location: Waukesha & Land O Lakes, WI | During the spring and summer, the lake I'm on is normally murky to say the least. Visibility is usually about 2-3 feet (If I can see my prop, I'm amazed). Over the course of the last few seasons, I've noticed that after turnover, the lake becomes close to gin clear and the fishing never really picks up again.
Is it possible for a lake to become so clear after turnover, that Musky just dont feel comfortable enough to move on baits/suckers? Should I move on to another lake that has more sturcture and leave the weeds? Would flouro lift off rigs help? |
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Posts: 1996
Location: Pelican Lake/Three Lakes Chain | GMG, A bunch of lakes get very clear after turnover, Pelican being one of them. You just have to adjust your fishing techniques a bit, the fish are still there, and they will still eat.
I find most of my post turnover fish while fishing along extremely steep breaks, but even late in the fall they will come up on shallow stuff under low light conditions. I had a shot at Steve's pet, or as he calls it the "queen of the island" last year in 3-4 foot of gin clear water, but had deep water very close by. I still check weeds after turnover but have better luck fishing hard breaks with deep water access nearby. |
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Posts: 1938
Location: Black Creek, WI | I think Norm is right. Stay on the lake but try other types of spots/structure. I bet the fish are pretty shallow during the dark water periods... and simply move deeper once the lake clears up.
jlong |
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Posts: 2515
Location: Waukesha & Land O Lakes, WI | Thanks fellas, affraid I was gonna hear this. I'm on a lake with an average depth of 7ft and a couple of spots at 12. Nothing but a huge weed flat for the most part. Our thought was that fish would move out of dead and dying weeds in deeper water to more green weeds in shallower water. Problem with the shallower water? How clear it is. We gambled to fish a less pressured but shallow lake rather than go to the deeper lake with pressure....we lost.
Thanks for the advice. |
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Posts: 1938
Location: Black Creek, WI | Hmmm... with that shallow of a lake you either have plenty of springs or a fresh water source (inlet/outlet). I'd invest the time and energy to locate the springs and concentrate on them. If there is flowing water.... target the inlet area. If none of the above... I'd pound the deepest areas of the lake... regardless of how shallow they may be. If not there... retreat to the weeds. If the weeds are green and crisp... seems odd their isn't an occasional window there.... but we are talkin' muskies so who knows??? I'm also assuming you switched from loud, noisy, straight retrieve type presentations in the dark water to a more erratic with pauses type presentation in the clear water?
jlong |
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Posts: 2515
Location: Waukesha & Land O Lakes, WI | We found dead and decaying weeds in the depths, so left them alone and headed to healthy weed edges and points. Yup started with Depth Raiders and big Cranes to HR's and Undertakers....slow taps and tugs followed by a pause and a quick snap for a trigger.....Maybe we gave up on the deeper water too early when we saw the cruddy weeds. Maina just did an article about how Perch will go to these areas and Musky will follow.
I'm really beginning to see a need for a game plan in fall, and more importantly, sticking to it instead of "hodge-podging" around. It's easy to do when the days start late and end early. Trying too much too quick leads to failure. |
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