Fall Muskie Discussion

[MuskieWannabe]

Well, as no one seems to want to talk publicly about fall muskies I figured I'd try and start soemthing going here to hopefully help us all catch some monsters this year.

We don't need specific spots but would be nice to hear what kind of structures, speds, lures, depths, adn everythign people were doing, where sucesses are being found, etc etc.....

And I know that there will be a few people to say "go to a muskies canada meeting" but not all of us have time for that, so lets try and have a good discussion here without any headaches....an exchange of iseas.

I've been out most Saturday mornings and have been fishing a flat that has a good shelf on it. In the middle it's around 5 FOW and drops sharply down to about 25 FOW. Last week, the water temp was 58. I have been trolling around 3.5mph with some shallowraiders and jakes. I've been going up onto the flat and down the drop off.

It has seemed to be doing very well, a 44" and a 35" to show for it, without a whole lot of time on the water. I think I've been trolling with roughly 40 feet of line out, according to one line counter.

I think I'm going to stick with the same pattern this weekend so hopefuly it'll pay off and I can find a monster. I haven't gone out deep and I'm not too sure if I will, if the flat keeps paying off.

What kind of structure, depths, lures is everyone else out there using?

Again, we don't need spots, but structure ideas, depths, lures is always nice.

Anyone else not living in a clam that wants to compare notes?

I have more to add, but getting late int he lunch hour!

Cheers,

MW

[bass_hunter]

Well, as no one seems to want to talk publicly about fall muskies I figured I'd try and start soemthing going here to hopefully help us all catch some monsters this year.

We don't need specific spots but would be nice to hear what kind of structures, speds, lures, depths, adn everythign people were doing, where sucesses are being found, etc etc.....

And I know that there will be a few people to say "go to a muskies canada meeting" but not all of us have time for that, so lets try and have a good discussion here without any headaches....an exchange of iseas.

I've been out most Saturday mornings and have been fishing a flat that has a good shelf on it. In the middle it's around 5 FOW and drops sharply down to about 25 FOW. Last week, the water temp was 58. I have been trolling around 3.5mph with some shallowraiders and jakes. I've been going up onto the flat and down the drop off.

It has seemed to be doing very well, a 44" and a 35" to show for it, without a whole lot of time on the water. I think I've been trolling with roughly 40 feet of line out, according to one line counter.

I think I'm going to stick with the same pattern this weekend so hopefuly it'll pay off and I can find a monster. I haven't gone out deep and I'm not too sure if I will, if the flat keeps paying off.

What kind of structure, depths, lures is everyone else out there using?

Again, we don't need spots, but structure ideas, depths, lures is always nice.

Anyone else not living in a clam that wants to compare notes?

I have more to add, but getting late int he lunch hour!

Cheers,

MW

Im not a muskie master , but what tips i have for you is :

- 5-7 mph trolling (You will thinnk you are going 2 fast at first but when a monster strikes you will start understanding)
- 20-30 feet of line(IN THE PROP WASH)
- 6-10 FOW
- mig spinners and BELIEVERS
- and you want humps with weedy bottoms

[MuskieWannabe]

I hope the lack of responses is because people are writing and proof-reading their entries...Seriously?

For those of you who are too cool or think you have secrets you have some real issues...seriously.....If you can't even discuss what tactics you use why even come on the website?

Man, some people here are small schoolbus special I guess.......I know which ones.....

[Chevy Champagne]

lol muskie wannabee we have been doing about the same 20 30 feet of water,with belivers and spinner bait

with top waters we have been useing smaller ones on calm days and bigger on more choppy days usualy useing top rairers and walk the dog lures
have a good one
walleye man

[bass_hunter]

I hope the lack of responses is because people are writing and proof-reading their entries...Seriously?

For those of you who are too cool or think you have secrets you have some real issues...seriously.....If you can't even discuss what tactics you use why even come on the website?

Man, some people here are small schoolbus special I guess.......I know which ones.....

I think the problem on this site is people like you that are angry all the time , who cares that no one responded to you report in 5 hours.People do work you know and not all of them have access to a computer.Did the hook in the thumb give you rabbies?Obviously you wrote this thread angry in the first place as you did not even respond to my reply.Thanks for nothing.Please have patience when writting a thread.

[Billy Bones]

Hey MuskieWannabe

I think that this is a great thread. I used to fish muskie years ago but never trolled for them. Was given some pointers by Big Jim when he was with Fishin Buddies on Carling Ave. Told you it was years ago.

Have a young grandson that is really dying to hook into one. Had a nice one follow a small hooked Walleye to the boat recently, and that turned him right on. Got some great advice from TMH on the board and will be out Friday morning armed with a couple of suggested lures. Will be watching this thread for sure for any tips and or suggestions. Can't add anything myself, yet.

Thanks
Billy Bones and Bonesey

[MuskieWannabe]

My only beef is that well over 70 people had read it by my second post and only 1 reply. I know that there are a lot of people out there fishing muskies, butt hey are all too secretive.

Now, as for trolling spinners at 5-7 MPH, I think it’s a little late in the season for me. Would be nice to know if it was still working for some people, but I’ve been having my luck on shallow cranks in water slightly deeper than 5-7’.

In the summer, I had all my luck trolling around 10 FOW at around 4.5 MPH with Fudally’s and River Rats alongside weed beds.

I’ll be trolling cranks again this weekend and will throw in some casting as well to try and persuade some big girls to bite.

[bass_hunter]

My only beef is that well over 70 people had read it by my second post and only 1 reply. I know that there are a lot of people out there fishing muskies, butt hey are all too secretive.

Now, as for trolling spinners at 5-7 MPH, I think it’s a little late in the season for me. Would be nice to know if it was still working for some people, but I’ve been having my luck on shallow cranks in water slightly deeper than 5-7’.

In the summer, I had all my luck trolling around 10 FOW at around 4.5 MPH with Fudally’s and River Rats alongside weed beds.

I’ll be trolling cranks again this weekend and will throw in some casting as well to try and persuade some big girls to bite.

I caught mine last week going 5-6 mph , i kept telling my cousin to slow down,

[Chewie]

Well MuskieWannabe your doing better than me. I have never caught a Muskie. I have been working at it. I'm using a very large spinner bait from Mikey's Tacklebox trolling in 6/12 feet of water going over the humps and weed beds. Check out his lures ( his ad is on the main page). I'm also flipping my Zara spook that I modified with a short skirt and a stinger hook in the skirt. Its been working great on the bass and some decent pike but no muskie. I am also trolling a Storm lure that looks just like a Mooneye.
I know where there is a very large pike living and last out he was interested in the muskie spinner bait. He's my first objective of the weekend.

Good luck lads and we'll be seing ya on the Ottawa between Rockland and Orleans this weekend as it looks like the nicest weather we are going to have this Fall. And a long weekend to boot! I'm gettin' the house chores/ gardening done now so I can fish all weekend. Come Tuesday I'll be fishing in Gananoque for 2 days on the St. Laurence. Thats 5 days of Muskie fishing so I have my hopes up. Heeeeeeyyaaaaa!

[thundercraft]

Good luck Chewie.
Thats my home town Gananoque.
Great fishing.
I my self still after my first muskie.
Have fun.

rt

[almontefisher]

Hey Muskiewannabe: I could tell ya what I have been trying this year but with nothing to show for it I would think my tactics are so far off the deep end it is not good...I have been working water from 5-30ft...using beleivers, jakes, spinners, a shoe..just kidding but at this point it might be worth a shot...Mine are very stinky and will leave a nice trail for them to follow. Hey maybe I should try a shoe ...Anyway I have always heard from friends of ours your techniques and they almost are the same that I have been trying this year. I have not given up hope yet for this year but if I do not get one soon I made a promise to not fish for them next year ..As for speed I have tried 2-6mph and even casting for them and nothing. It is probably me but what kind of fishing excuss is that. It is never the fishermen it is the lures, presentation, colour, temp, clarity, wind, motor, rod, reel, hook, the guy in the next boat ripping past etc..etc..etc.....But maybe it is just me . You do not need help muskiewannabe you have had great year and you should be pretty confident in your techniques...Almost time to change your username if you ask me.

[muskymatt]

......I'll ignore the negative....

Why does everyone want to be told how to do things??? Go there , do this and this, then that and you'll get fish...I don't get it......Whats wrong with trial and error??? Everyone wants results without working for it


Some like to cast...some like to troll....it a preference thing.

As for speed .....it varies from lure type to time of year to weather conditions to where you are fishing.....these things are better off learned.So you can understand the habits and movement of 'skies.

Bait color and size is all relative to water conditions and time of year....once again , better off learned.

I have spent over 15 yrs learning what I know and would not trade that for anything....it was a blast and you would be for the better learning it on your own.

If you are serious and want to fish muskies then go to the next MCI meeting and you will be able to see what it's all about.

Not being rude but I for one will not give all the info on the internet to anyone who asks...nothing personal .

Cheers

[Mr.J.]

My advice for fall musky?

Do the opposite of me

I am 0 for 4 since September

[MuskieWannabe]

I knew a MCI would hold his secrets and techniques for his meetings..Chewie...I'd head a little east to Wendover if you want muskies...had 3 inan hour there last year. Pretty well all in and around where the Nation flows into the Ottawa....some great action in there!

Gotta run but will harrass more people in the morning!!!!

[Fishing 24/7]

muskymatt has a good point there

people are making a living of musky guiding...

if a pro like muskymatt comes along and tell's us WHAT to use and WHEN and WHERE to use it.... whats fun in that???

youl go fishing with exactly what he said and fail then be even more pee pee off...

like he said TRY TRY TRY .... we were giving good pointers BUT created our own style and success TRUCK.... dosent mean thats going to happen this week end!

keeping HIGH hopes and POSITIVE thought is the key!

a guy like TROPHYMUSKY or musky matt thats been fishing 15 years have lots of tricks up there sleeve...

i for one cant wait to find tricks of my own!

sharing details is one thing but putting it into practice is another!

good luck to all of you guys that are on the hunt.. and cant wait to hook into my FIRST musky myself!