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Posts: 325
Location: Otsego, MN | I am headed to Cave Run in April (12/13th) and looking forward to some good time out on the boat and hopefully catching some nice fish with Gregg Thomas. I have never been to Cave Run and dont fully know what to expect...
Could someone help set the stage for my trip? Typical water temperatures, what portion of the spawn will the fish be in, tactics to be prepared to use for fishing, etc.
Anything you know about fishing in early April down there would be great! I am from WI so I am not used to fishing anything quite like this 
Thanks in Advance! |
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Posts: 40
Location: Cave Run, KY | If you are with Gregg and in his boat relax. He does the worring and you can expect to catch fish. Bring rain gear. |
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Posts: 228
| I would think the fish should be spawning in April. I would check with some locals or guides for Cave Run! I would not want to fish for them during the spawn! |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | bob1 - 3/3/2014 2:59 PM
I would think the fish should be spawning in April. I would check with some locals or guides for Cave Run! I would not want to fish for them during the spawn!
Why... It is a Put and Take Lake, In other words there is No Natural reproduction going on in the Lake...It's Stalked every year.
The Rivers are different. |
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Posts: 216
Location: Middletown, Ohio | If your fishing with Gregg,be prepared for a 12 hour day,the man is a machine!
Mark |
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Posts: 228
| It still puts stress on the fish! They do not recommend fishing on Lake Kinkaid in April either because of the spawn. Was out with Colby Simms and he told me the same thing! |
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Posts: 426
Location: Perryville, MO | bob1 - 3/4/2014 8:29 AM
They do not recommend fishing on Lake Kinkaid in April either because of the spawn.
Really? No doubt the bite falls off during and right after the spawn, but I gotta say I haven't ever noticed fewer guide boats during that time period, nor have I ever heard the caution issed. At the same time, I've never fished with Colby, but I do recognize his boat. I'm not contradicting you here, just saying I've never heard the concern get issued. Maybe I've learned something. At the same time, no worries for me because when I seem them starting to do their thing it's time for me to whack the 'gills for a while anyway.
I am interested if other guys take time off during this period because it's harmful for the fish or just because it's a difficult period to see results? |
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Posts: 785
| It's not a problem to fish during the spawn where natural reproductive success is zero or close to it. Cave run and Lake Kinkaid would fall into those categories. Granted the fish are under a bit more stress simply because they are spawning but when they pair up and are doing the deed it's nearly impossible to catch them anyways. Females may be contacted just before but usually are difficult to catch just after, males both before and after... and we all know how much it probably takes out of the males, not much  |
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Posts: 1
| I live near Cave Run and have been an avid musky hunter for
25 years. I prefer to fish the local streams but have been fishing
at the Cave for about the last 10 years. I have good news and bad
news for you. The good news, you have selected a very knowledgable
guide with a proven track record at the Cave. The bad news, the vast
majority of musky in Cave Run exhibit spawning behavior once the
water temperature reaches approx. 50 degrees. That almost always takes
place in early April. The rattle bait bite at Cave Run is proof of the spawning
activity in itself. That is one of the most popular techniques at Cave Run
during February and March. The fish migrate up into the creek channels
and the long hollows of the lake where they are caught in less than two
feet of water. If I had to fish the Cave in April I would fish the first or last week of
April. The PMTT Spring Qualifier is in April each year. Usually late April. |
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Posts: 228
| We booked Colby last year and specifically asked him when to fish in the spring! He recommended fishing in March and May because the spawn takes place usually in April. He also said he discourages fishing for the Muskie in the summer months because it is hard to release Muskies when the water temps reach 80 or above. We booked the end of September last year and should have waited at least 2 more weeks! He did not mention if the Muskies had a SUCCESSFUL spawn or not!
Bob |
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Posts: 426
Location: Perryville, MO | I'm really not trying to start a peeing match here, Bob (wondering about the exclamation points), just trying to see if Colby or somewhat else has ever spoken about it being particularly harmful for successful releases during the spawn (you suggested Colby has, as well as "they"). I could guess that it might be a bit concerning - being as they are already expending more energy than during a more normal time period. However, Kinkaid is definitely a put-and-take fishery for muskie (that is, there is no documented successful spawn) and I've never heard anyone caution about determintal effects of fishing during this period (and as I've stated I've never noticed a lack of muskie boats either). It's no surprise that if you asked about the "best" time to fish a guided trip that is was suggested to miss this period. As was stated above, females ain't biting at that time and even the males are less than aggressive. Even if you don't know where the fish are at in terms of their activity before arriving at the lake, you'll know after leaving if you hit that time period. It will have went from hot to seriously slow. Thankfully, it only lasts for a week or two at most (recognizing that across the lake they tend to be in a bit different place in terms of that cycle).
Now that I've hijacked this thread (sorry), I'm wondering if anyone down on the Cave suggests not fishing during the spawn because of the decreased probability of a healthy release...
Edited by hawkeye9 3/6/2014 5:57 AM
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I would guess Colby is telling you not to come fish with him in April when the muskies are spawning not because of harm to a stressed fish, but because when they go through their spawning routine they all but ingnore feeding and chasing lures. There are a handful caught here and there because not all muskies do the same thing at the same time, but your odds are way way down at contacting fish during the month of April here in central & southern Illinois.
Colby is being a good guide and trying not to wasting yout time and more importantly, your money.
That would be my assumption anyway. |
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Posts: 325
Location: Otsego, MN | Well I am super pumped, spawn or not just to be on the (soft) water for 12 hours a day will be pleasant! With how cold its been the spawn may be delayed, but that is just my opinion. Maybe as we get closer along people could continue to update water temps or indicate if the bite is going strong, etc.
Thanks for all the replies, even if its about the ethical nature of fishing during this period. |
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Posts: 785
| If it becomes known targeting fish at this time does offer high mortality I'll change my ways right now. Going on the information out there at this time though I agree it's not about hurting the fish it's about the bite being tough. Spawn takes place in the cold water period and the fish I've caught close to the spawn were very lively and took almost no revive time. Lots of guides continue to chase fish through this period, even though it's slower fishing. High water temps in summer are obviously another matter, big no-no.
As far as fishing the Cave at that time... don't expect a super hot bite but not all fish spawn at the same time and the water temps can vary greatly in different parts of the lake. Still better chances then sitting at home. Hope you stick a giant
Edited by musky-skunk 3/6/2014 9:48 AM
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Posts: 209
| Good to hear as he is a True Guide!!!!
FUBAR - 3/4/2014 5:40 AM
If your fishing with Gregg,be prepared for a 12 hour day,the man is a machine!
Mark |
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Posts: 228
| Colby did not make himself totally clear when we talked to him! I sent him an e-mail and his reply is posted below. Thanks everyone! Bob
Hey Bob,
The only time I've ever advised people to never target muskies on Kinkaid at all, is in the hottest part of summer. Leaving the muskies alone in hot water is especially important if oxygen levels aren't high. But, we never fish them in July or August, or anytime that the water temps climb much over 80 degrees, which can mean part of June and possibly the very beginning of September, during warmer years. This is because its too tough on them and many released fish will die. They're not typically very active in the heat of summer anyway, but we never actually fish for them, and try, if we hook one while bass or walleye fishing, to allow the muskie to shake itself off if possible, and to never remove them from the water, even for a second. The rest of the year is safe to fish for them, in cool waters, but muskies always need to be handled carefully and released quickly.
The muskie spawn is usually not successful on Kinkaid, Cave Run, and most southern lakes for a number of reasons, and our biologists don't even consider it, when calculating numbers for stocking. Muskies do lose weight and get beat up badly during spawning, but the water is cool enough that a good release should ensure survival after a catch. I may have suggested that a portion of April might not be a good time to plan a trip, for people ouside the area. While we have had some excellent fishing at times during the peak of the spawn, its usually inconsistent, maybe more so than any other time of the season, and you can have some very slow days of fishing when the peak spawn is on. The peak varies, depending on water temperatures, but often means a couple of weeks with largely inconsistent bites when its on.
Take care Bob,
Colby Simms
CSO Sports Team
COLBY SIMMS OUTDOORS LLC
COLBY SIMMS TACKLE Dba
COLBY SIMMS SPORTS Co
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