Part 1: giants are coming
The summer is behind us, the water temps are dropping to the low pre-freezing mark and the fish metabolisms are slowing down. This means the fish are retaining their body fat which they will need to survive the cold of winter. It’s great to remember the traditional but flawed “rules” of musky fishing many of us believed to be the way things worked: “muskies only feed in the fall”, “they only have teeth in the fall”, “ they feed more often in the fall so they can get fat for the winter”. Although there is some small truths buried within each of these quotes, it’s not as it once was believed to be many years ago. We set out in the cold, the wind, the sun, the rain and snow to learn, experience and catch giants!
The biggest key in the fall like in the early season opener, the more time you spend on the water the more successful you will be. I am not referring to the odds, but rather becoming tuned in to where they live, what they are eating, what makes them move and when they are more likely to bite. All these things are very difficult to figure out if you don’t spend time on water regularly and often, bait moves around, some spots have bait but will not produce muskies. Why? Your guess is as good as mine, but the fact remains they don’t produce muskies. So you can waste a lot of precious fishing time trying to locate bait then when you do, you have to figure out what they want to eat, or at least bite. Weather, winds, pressure, water temps, sunrise, moon rise, moon set, sun set, wow it’s a lot to process. So how to get started? Spend some time on the water…
So where are the giants? Well on our quest for a giant we had to go through the little guys first!
This one looks very similar to the first one, could we have hooked the same fish twice? it's possible!
The little fish gave us such good fights, it was incredible. They pulled drag out of our reels so fast and hard, we were convinced we had a fatso every time. After each fish make sure you check every inch from your knot to the leader, then the hooks, even the split rings. The fish can damage or bend things which weakens the whole setup. You dont want your leader or hook to give out when you have a big fish on. It's a lot of fun when you hook into multiple fish in the fall, but what about the giants?
Patience, they are coming...
Stay tuned!
The biggest key in the fall like in the early season opener, the more time you spend on the water the more successful you will be. I am not referring to the odds, but rather becoming tuned in to where they live, what they are eating, what makes them move and when they are more likely to bite. All these things are very difficult to figure out if you don’t spend time on water regularly and often, bait moves around, some spots have bait but will not produce muskies. Why? Your guess is as good as mine, but the fact remains they don’t produce muskies. So you can waste a lot of precious fishing time trying to locate bait then when you do, you have to figure out what they want to eat, or at least bite. Weather, winds, pressure, water temps, sunrise, moon rise, moon set, sun set, wow it’s a lot to process. So how to get started? Spend some time on the water…
So where are the giants? Well on our quest for a giant we had to go through the little guys first!
This one looks very similar to the first one, could we have hooked the same fish twice? it's possible!
The little fish gave us such good fights, it was incredible. They pulled drag out of our reels so fast and hard, we were convinced we had a fatso every time. After each fish make sure you check every inch from your knot to the leader, then the hooks, even the split rings. The fish can damage or bend things which weakens the whole setup. You dont want your leader or hook to give out when you have a big fish on. It's a lot of fun when you hook into multiple fish in the fall, but what about the giants?
Patience, they are coming...
Stay tuned!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by craig stapon on -
you are so right......equipment failure causes more lost fish for those that don't look after the little details..... great insight...I believe what you have stated 100%....I have been fishing lunge for 35 years and u have hit the nail on the head....good info..Craig
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Permalink Reply by Sean Landsman on -
Looks like the same fish to me! Congrats.
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Permalink Reply by Loic Ayotte on -
You can go many fish without checking equipment and nothing will happen if you use good quality setups, last 5 years, I never had a plit ring open, or a leader snap, and no bad lucks with knots..
but this year, i've seen fish straighten out a 6/0 middle trebble on crankbaits twice and lost a fish, and after my last fish, checked it out and the split ring was open, sheer luck the hook never came out. Who knows when this happened, or even if it was my fault when removing hooks but if I had not checked, next fish would of stabbed itself with a trebble and left with it.
craig stapon said:you are so right......equipment failure causes more lost fish for those that don't look after the little details..... great insight...I believe what you have stated 100%....I have been fishing lunge for 35 years and u have hit the nail on the head....good info..Craig
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Permalink Reply by Zielke Experience on -
Loic,
Very interesting giant discussion! (Beautiful, lg. fish!) Yes! here in WI, as we got close to end of Fall, Muskies
only wanted Suckers...In Sept. even, as I field tested two boards of bucktails, I even saw that they got less
productive towards Fall. But, in summer July especially, my larger willow leaf blades work well! I have many new styles. Loic, Yes! I had super giant on in Vilas Co. It was rod equiptment failure. But, good news a true 40" was
caught on last day of vac. At one of our lakes here in SE WI, we have sunken rocks. In Fall, I always try to keep
a Sucker in that area when I'm casting. Ea. time that I have caught nice Muskie, the Sucker will go crazy!
So, I'll keep casting with outfit to keep Muskie interested! I'm a lure maker and I really put a lot of high quality
construction into lures. Another thing that I try is, I'll have another casting outfit set up for Bass. If I throw into
sunken rock spot and Bass are spooked out, I know for sure Muskies are in there! So, I'll keep trying many
methods then to catch a Muskie. I have partial video filmed of broken rod encounter from Vilas Co. But, I am
still surprised as rod came from Upper MI big sporting goods store from Pike/Muskie rod dept. I caught many
big fish on that outfit. I know these days, there could of been a flaw or weak spot in rod when it was made.
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Permalink Reply by Zielke Experience on
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I honestly believe that huge Muskie jaw w/teeth found 8/1996 by an island at Chip Flowage was a 70lb. fish!
That fish would of not ventured out too far for food. It would of found a place like by a channel with an island
where it could of had an easy meal! Fish would of had to have great length like 64"! And girth would of had to
be simply huge! Whoever would of caught it, would of been a big player receiving plenty of bling! (promotions,
lure deals, t.v. shows and more!) I believe huge Muskie jaw w/teeth is on display in Hayward, WI area...
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