What rivers in Tennessee have musky?


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Great Falls is musky fishing treasure hidden in the middle of Tennessee. This body of water is the Grand Central Station of Middle Tennessee musky waters as it is the meeting point for the Caney Fork, Calf Killer, Rocky and Collins Rivers.

Where can I find musky in Tennessee?

Musky can be found throughout East Tennessee, most notably Melton Hill which is partially located in Knox county. Additional musky fishing opportunities abound throughout the state on such lakes as Norris, Douglas, Dale Hollow, Center Hill and Rock Island.

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.

How do you fly fish for muskie?

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What size fly rod for muskies?

Rods that can cast larger flies and handle big fish in tight quarters are the best choices for muskies. I use 9-foot, 9- or 10-weight rods, but there are some new 10-weights that are only 8 feet and provide advantages when working the fly on a short line.

Are there musky in the Tennessee River?

While Tennessee’s musky lakes can seem daunting due to their sheer size making our rivers a great option for many anglers but fishing for river muskies is a different experience.

What time of day are musky most active?

The best time of day to catch muskies is around dawn and dusk during the warmer months and around mid-afternoon during the winter. You can catch muskies during the day and even at night but the fishing will usually be a lot slower.

What time of day is best for 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 โ€“ 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 do you make a musky leader for fly fishing?

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What is a 10 weight fly rod good for?

10wt fly rods are pretty good for casting heavier and larger dry flies. Plus, they’re great at for casting over longer distances against the wind. In addition, 10wts are a good choice when it comes to fishing from different positions such as standing on the boat or from the shoreline.

What is the world record Muskie?

For muskies, the world records for length and weight are held by two different fish. The maximum documented length is 72.04 inches (183 cm), and the heaviest documented weight is 70.10 pounds (31.8 kg), according to FishBase.

What weight fly rod for muskies?

Flies. While a 9wt is the most common fly rod for Pike, Musky require larger flies and a larger rod. Most anglers prefer a 10wt or 11wt and some even use a 12wt for big fish.

What weight fly rod for pike and musky?

For equipment, most pike and muskie fly fishers use 8 to 10 weight rods, with a 9 weight being the most popular. Good quality, large arbor reels with solid drags are also a good idea to fight these strong fish effectively.

How do I start musky fishing?

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Are there pike in Tennessee?

There are two species of pike commonly sought by anglers, the muskellunge and the pickerel. The muskellunge occurs as two distinct strains. The first is native to streams in the northern portion of the Cumberland Plateau. It has been reintroduced to several other streams in middle and eastern Tennessee.

What fish are in the Collins River TN?

About Collins River Collins River is a stream near McMinnville. The most popular species caught here are Rock bass, Largemouth bass, and Smallmouth bass. 74 catches are logged on Fishbrain.

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.

Do muskies go shallow at night?

While muskie will be found in open and deeper water during the daytime, they tend to move to the shallower areas at night. For one thing, it’s because those shallow waters will hold more oxygen at night during the warm months of the year, making them more suitable for large predators.

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.

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 โ€” 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.

How hard is it to catch a muskie?

Because of this, they’re prized game fish throughout their range. Muskie are also famously hard to hook, hence the nickname “fish of a thousand casts.” They’re difficult to trick and impossible to predict. Even so, there are a few go-to tactics for both species.

Where do muskies go in the fall?

Main lake rock piles that top out between 3 and 6 feet of water, and shoreline rock that immediately adjoins deep water, are prime fall locations. Muskies use rocks all the time to ambush prey, and not all rocks are created equal.

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.

What is the best way to fish for muskie?

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