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.
Table of Contents
Are there muskie in the French River?
The French River in northeastern Ontario holds a special magic for muskie anglers —filled with great structure such as weedy bays, inlets, sunken humps and drop-offs. The river, which runs between Lake Nipissing and Georgian Bay, is also known for its trophy-sized walleye and bass.
Where is the best muskie fishing in Canada?
Sabaskong Bay on Lake of the Woods offers one of the finest Canadian muskie fishing areas in the world and is well known among muskie enthusiasts. Its darker water gives the perfect presentation, increasing the chances of catching that trophy fish.
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.
What type of fish are in the French River?
The French River is home to a wide variety of species including Muskie, Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, and many more.
What lures to use on the French River?
Some options that an angler might consider is presenting with a slip sinker or a slip bobber rig, pulled behind a spinner, tipped on a jig, or simply fished with a plain hook and split shot. Minnows, leeches and worms are the three most common live baits used for these picky river and bay fish.
What Lake has the most muskies?
The world record muskie is currently living in Minnesota’s Mille Lacs Lake—or so biologists think. In a recent press release, the Minnesota DNR announced that earlier this year they landed the largest muskie they’ve ever seen.
What is the biggest 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.
Where is the best musky fishing in Ontario?
- LAKE OF THE WOODS. Lake of the Woods (LOW) in Northwest Ontario is often known as Lake of the Muskies.
- EAGLE LAKE. There are few musky waters as rich in musky fishing lore as Eagle Lake in Northwest Ontario.
- LAKE ST. CLAIR.
- LAKE NIPISSING.
- OTTAWA RIVER.
- CONCLUSION.
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.
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.
What time of day are musky most active?
Title Muskie become more difficult to catch in the heat of summer and the cold of winter. 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.
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 is considered a trophy muskie?
What is this? This is a much-debated question, and the answer most anglers will give you is that a trophy muskie is a fish of at least 50 inches. A 50+ incher is undoubtedly a fish that dreams are made of, and to many, it’s the ultimate goal in life.
Does the French River have good fishing?
The French River has been rated as one of the top trophy walleye-producing rivers for fishing in Canada. Pickerel are our most abundant game fish. Ontario fishing early spring provides the best opportunity to catch your limit of Walleye and Northern Pike.
How deep is the French River?
The River. between its head at Lake Nipissing and its mouth at Georgian Bay. The river is known for its unspoiled picturesque shoreline, many weedy bays, numerous rocky shoals, and its variable depth (it is more than more 36 m deep, or 120 feet, in some of the larger basins).
What is the slot size for walleye on French River?
Great news for French River Walleye fishing enthusiasts. After the most recent Fall Walleye Index Netting assessment by the Ministry of Natural Resources, the slot size (must be released) for walleye has changed to 40cm to 60cm (15.75″ to 23.6″), allowing anglers to keep more fish.
Is there sturgeon in the French River?
You looking for Sturgeon, Channel Cats or Whitefish you will find them in the French River. Be always prepared for a big one, Muskie over 50″ and Walleye over 30″ get caught every year. Make sure your camera is in the boat.
Where can I fish on the French River?
Popular spots include Hartley Bay, Crombie Bay and the river’s delta. French River Provincial Park is set along this 120-km stretch of lakes, rapids and waterfalls. No reservations are needed for camping. You can fish along the shore or use the boat launch at Hartley Bay Marina.
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.
How deep should you fish for musky?
Most muskies are caught less than 30 feet deep, often from 15 to 25 feet. Sometimes they’re much shallower. Most casters lure fish in from 5 to 15 feet deep while trollers usually catch them from 8 to 30.
What colors do muskie like?
The most popular choices were natural, stealthy colors that match the hatch of the muskies’ forage in most waters. Black, white (or silver), and gold are all colors of fish that are on the musky’s menu, including: suckers. walleye.
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 the biggest muskie caught in Canada?
Ontario waters hold some of the world’s largest muskie. The provincial record is a 65-pound (29.5-kg) giant taken by Ken O’Brien of Toronto from Georgian Bay’s Blackstone Harbour. It was only a few pounds smaller than the 67.5-pound (30.61 kg) world record from Wisconsin.
What is the lifespan of a muskie?
Adult muskies have no aquatic predators, but may fall victim to disease, large birds of prey, or people. Muskellunge can live to about 18 years old, but fish up to 30 years of age have been documented.