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Posts: 661
Location: Sussex, NJ | I got a question for you guys. I'm from Jersey and its been warm here so I've been fishing a lot. I've caught a couple fish in about 12 feet of water with some cabbage growing. The water temp. today was 53 degrees at its peak. I plan on fishing the next couple days and its supposed to be in the high 60's lower 70's for the next couple days. I expect the water to reach around 56-58 degrees. So the ultimate question is where will the fish be? Will they be in the shallows to spawn? Will they be in the cabbage in 4-8 feet of water or will they continue to stay in they 8-15 foot range? Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Brandon |
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Posts: 1360
Location: Lake "y" cause lake"x" got over fished | I'm not from your area so not sure how different the lakes are from where I am to where you are....
But in early season, (when water temps are low) I always look for the warmest water. Usually sandy bottom in 5 feet of water or less, I find success. Early cabbage growth on the inside edge is my favorite on the lakes I fish. Generally anywhere that has some good sun penetration. With the weed growth not being full in the beginning of the year, I will also try to find some other kind of cover. For example down timber, emergent trees, and large rock piles or boulders. I see alot of success throwing smaller sized single blade tandem spinners. Also top water lures, and phantoms are my favorite spring time baits. I also will see some success using smaller swim baits, musky jigs or rattle traps, but if you use those you will also be catching pike, bass and some other species... I enjoy catching all types of fish but when the season is open here I try to avoid other speicies if I can.
Hope this helps
Edited by FAT-SKI 3/15/2012 11:11 PM
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Posts: 572
Location: Maplewood, MN | I agree with the above. I think he hit it on the head. |
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Location: Minneapolis | FAT-SKI - 3/15/2012 11:07 PM
I'm not from your area so not sure how different the lakes are from where I am to where you are....
But in early season, (when water temps are low) I always look for the warmest water. Usually sandy bottom in 5 feet of water or less.
Hope this helps
Sounds like beaches might be a good place to try this spring... |
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Posts: 1360
Location: Lake "y" cause lake"x" got over fished | TC MUSKIE - 3/15/2012 11:30 PM
FAT-SKI - 3/15/2012 11:07 PM
I'm not from your area so not sure how different the lakes are from where I am to where you are....
But in early season, (when water temps are low) I always look for the warmest water. Usually sandy bottom in 5 feet of water or less.
Hope this helps
Sounds like beaches might be a good place to try this spring...
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There are certain metro lakes over the last few years that because Muskies were coming up and bumping into, or biting kids they had to close beaches temporarily. For example in 2002 there was a 55" Musky that someone thought would be funny and put it into Round Lake in Eden prarie. If any of you know this lake... IT IS TINY. The musky was going up in 2 ft of water and bumping children in the back, when as they turned around to see a huge monster staring them in the face. It took professional anglers 5 days to catch it and move it back to a safe location. Its head alone weighed 11 pounds. So that being said I try it every year. Some times I miss some times not... One of the first places I am going to hit on opener, is no more then 15 yards from a public beach
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Posts: 1169
Location: New Hope MN | FAT-SKI - 3/15/2012 11:49 PM
For example in 2002 there was a 55" Musky that someone thought would be funny and put it into Round Lake in Eden prarie. If any of you know this lake... IT IS TINY. The musky was going up in 2 ft of water and bumping children in the back, when as they turned around to see a huge monster staring them in the face. It took professional anglers 5 days to catch it and move it back to a safe location. Its head alone weighed 11 pounds.
LOL!!! Now THAT is a fish story  |
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Posts: 661
Location: Sussex, NJ | FAT-SKI - 3/16/2012 12:07 AM
I'm not from your area so not sure how different the lakes are from where I am to where you are....
But in early season, (when water temps are low) I always look for the warmest water. Usually sandy bottom in 5 feet of water or less, I find success. Early cabbage growth on the inside edge is my favorite on the lakes I fish. Generally anywhere that has some good sun penetration. With the weed growth not being full in the beginning of the year, I will also try to find some other kind of cover. For example down timber, emergent trees, and large rock piles or boulders. I see alot of success throwing smaller sized single blade tandem spinners. Also top water lures, and phantoms are my favorite spring time baits. I also will see some success using smaller swim baits, musky jigs or rattle traps, but if you use those you will also be catching pike, bass and some other species... I enjoy catching all types of fish but when the season is open here I try to avoid other speicies if I can.
Hope this helps
Thanks FAT-SKI it does help. The lake I fish has all of what you stated above. The inside weed edge is in about 4 feet of water so ill be giving that a shot. Now even though the water is in the fifties will they start to spawn even though its early? Usually the last of the ice disappears by this time, not 70 degress and sunny |
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Posts: 1360
Location: Lake "y" cause lake"x" got over fished | "Now even though the water is in the fifties will they start to spawn even though its early"? ---fishfirst92
As far as spawning goes I am not the best person to ask about spawning habits. There are a lot of guys on here that are really knowledgeable about that. May be wise to make a post about it and see what people say. I would even be interested in some of their answers. but I would hit the inside edge, especially if there are rocks or boulders on that edge.
feel free to fire away with any questions and all sorts of people on here are willing to help |
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Posts: 661
Location: Sussex, NJ | Thanks a lot FAT-SKI. I'll probably end up posting a thread about the spawn habits. I appreciate your help |
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| Here's a few articles by Tony Grant. I believe most, if not all, appeared in Musky Hunter at one time or another. Not sure how they'll apply to your specific lakes and conditions, but I'm sure you can take something away from them. The first three articles pertain to early season. He has a pretty good article in the latest Musky Hunter, too.
http://www.tonygrantoutdoors.com/pages/articles.php |
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Posts: 32
Location: Tower, Lake Vermilion | There is an old saying...Muskies are where you find them, go out and cast until your arms fall off, that always works for me. 
"Ace" |
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Posts: 999
| There's no doubt musky's will spawn early this year. The walleyes,perch, and now sturgeon are wayyyyyyy ahead of schedule on the wolf river system, as of yesterday the walleyes were over 50% spawned out and the sturgeon started last nite. We are 3 weeks ahead on the walleyes, and a month ahead on the sturgeon. This is the earliest the DNR Bioligist Ron Bruch has on record for both species. |
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