Muskies are Minnesota natives and still patrol the Mississippi River. Their numbers are likely higher today, due to supplemental stocking by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
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What month is best for muskie fishing?
Some of the highest catch rates for muskies are during the summer months when the water is warm and the fish are most active. Fall fishing can also be very productive at times, and many of the largest muskies are caught during the fall.
Where is the best place to fish for musky?
The three best big-water producers of giant muskies are Green Bay, Lake St. Clair, and the Ottawa River/St. Lawrence River systems. Anglers have a legitimate shot at a 50- to 56-inch muskie nearly any day of the season there and it’s possible a record fish swims in at least two of these fisheries.
What is the best time of day to catch muskie?
Like many predatory fish, muskie are most active at dawn and dusk, and these times typically provide the most action, especially on warm, sunny days. Cool, overcast days are usually best for muskie fishing.
What bait is best for muskie?
Bucktails – Bucktails are arguably the most popular bait used by musky anglers. Bucktails produce vibrations in the water that are easily felt by a musky’s lateral line. Bucktails can be retrieved at any speed, depending on the conditions. The most popular bucktails are double 9 blades and double 10 blades.
How long should a musky rod be?
We find that a rod length of around 8 feet is the “sweet spot” when fishing for musky. It gives you plenty of length and strength for casting the large lures, yet it’s much easier to handle than a 9-foot rod.
Where do you find muskie in a river?
Where do muskies live in a river?
Muskies will often relocate to shoreline-connected pockets where they can escape the force of the flow. The mouths of incoming streams can be especially productive as calmer, clearer water and a plethora of food fish are often found there.
Can I fish anywhere on the Mississippi river?
There’s no limit to what you can catch on the Mississippi, as long as it’s a freshwater species. Every state has their favorite catch, so depending on what you’d like to target, there are different areas to visit.
How old is a 50 inch muskie?
On average, musky are about 11 inches long after their first year of life, reach 34″ in year 7, reach 40″ in year 9, and reach 50 inches by age 17.
What depth do muskies like?
As a rule, muskies prefer shallow waters. They rarely go deeper than 40 ft (12 m) because they like to hide among the vegetated areas that need sunlight for growth.
What is a muskies favorite food?
Given the opportunity to choose, Muskies prefer soft rayed, high protein based fish such as Suckers, Tullibee, Ciscoes, Bullheads, Carp, and minnows. In fact, the food sources Muskies prefer most are usually fish species that most people would desire to not have in their lake.
Are muskie good eating?
People who love eating muskies will tell you that muskie tastes quite similar to bass. Others believe it tastes more like pike. Either way, muskie is more of a bland fish with not as much flavor as other fish species, like salmon or tuna. Much of the taste of the fish depends on how you cook it.
Why is it hard to catch musky?
Muskies are known as the “fish of 10,000 casts” for a reason. An elusive predator with razor-sharp teeth and a picky pallet, specific gear is needed to fish for the muskellunge — they reach up to five feet long, and can put up a strong fight against the most seasoned of anglers, including Animal Planet’s Jeremy Wade.
What water temp is best for musky fishing?
Biologists classify muskies as “cool-water” fish. They are most comfortable at water temperatures between 63 and 67 degrees. In that temperature range, and in even colder water, there’s enough oxygen in the water that a muskie can exert itself without lasting effects.
How many casts does it take to catch a muskie?
Muskellunge, also known as muskie or the fish of 10,000 casts is the largest pike in North America. They are notoriously difficult to catch, but often reach over 20 pounds and occasionally grow longer than 50 inches.
Is medium/heavy good for musky?
Typically, shorter individuals that are on low decked boats or fishing from a bank, won’t need a rod over 7′ and beginners should stick to medium weight tackle so a Medium Heavy rod will do fine. I recommend a Musky Shop Shield Rod or St. Croix Mojo Musky.
Can you use a spinning reel for musky?
Spinning reels should be fairly large when fishing for musky. The Daiwa Black Gold series was designed for saltwater and works great for musky fishing. It has quality components with excellent drag and bail systems. The 4500 is a good match for the St Croix rod above.
How do I choose a musky reel?
But, if musky are your new favorite species then it’s worthwhile to invest in the best musky reel you can afford. If you’re throwing larger lures and casting all day, something lighter and smoother is probably the best choice. If you are trolling and not casting as much, weight and castability are less of a factor.
Can you catch muskie from shore?
Most muskies are usually caught in boats or kayaks. Very few guys actually TARGET muskies fishing from shore.
Are muskies in rivers?
In northern waters, muskies tend to grow big in larger rivers, and reservoirs. They enter smaller streams after spawning, or when suckers run, or when shad run — in other words, at specific times of the year.
Where do muskie go in the summer?
In many cases, muskies will be close to the same areas you were catching them in the spring and early summer, just in deeper water. This could be the ledges along a point, rocky areas, drop offs near the weed line or deep weed lines. Another place to fish is in open water, where muskies may be suspended.
Has anyone been bitten by a muskie?
Matt Gervais, 39, was bitten by a muskie while swimming in Lake St. Clair, USA Today reports. After noticing the fish had latched onto his hand while he was training in the lake with a friend, Gervais was taken to a hospital, where he received 13 stitches.
What is considered a big muskie?
While the average size of muskie is somewhere between 30 and 40 inches and 10 and 20lb, this large apex predator can reach a length of more than 60 inches and a weight of up to 70lb.
What’s the largest muskie ever caught?
According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the tiger muskie is the biggest on record. The biggest muskellunge ever caught was 68 pounds and 631⁄2 inches long. It was caught on the Chippewa Flowage in Sawyer County on Oct. 10, 1949.