NEW ARTICLE: So you think you want to target Musky?

Josh

Josh

Dead in the water
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Let’s start with the when. Short answer? Whenever you can. I’ve personally caught tiger muskies nearly every month of the year, partially to prove a point and partially just because I really love targeting these huge predators. Late Spring through early Summer tend to be the best for seeing the most fish, but you’ll also see the most people these times. If you’re just starting out, this is the time that I would recommend because of the visuals of seeing where fish are holding in addition to far more active fish in general, not to mention the weather is typically outstanding (nice air temps, nice water temps, etc).
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Check out this great new article by @clarkman about chasing Musky on the fly!

pnwflyfishing.com

So you think you want to target Musky?

So you think you want to target Musky? Musky are traditionally known as the fish of 10,000 casts! So just take your fish of 1,000 casts (our beloved steelhead) and multiply by 10. Okay, okay, it’s not quite that bad for most folks. Once you...
pnwflyfishing.com pnwflyfishing.com
 
As mentioned in the article, the epilogue is the best part!
 
Great stuff Randy, thanks for your efforts and willingness to share hard gained insight.

Cheers
 
Good read.
This year I'm continuing my goal of catching a Montana Tiger. First try of the year was yesterday. It's a bit of a drive.
Forecast was mid 40's with afternoon rain. Fishing from shore this trip.
Arrived mid morning, temps in 30's, 9 mph wind. Lake was mostly brown from sediment.😒 Didn't check water temps but it was damn cold, some ice still on shoreline. Fly line was not happy. Black wall of weather blew in, snow instead of rain, air temp remained in 30's.
Tough going...though there were two boats out.
I'd like to hear feedback on optimal water temps. I'm guessing the early conditions in Montana are not on the same plane as most musky states. Typically the pike fishing ramps up in late April/May.
This particular lake is fairly exposed, and it doesn't take much wind to degrade the water quality, don't know if this puts it on par with murky Midwest water conditions.
I'll figure it out eventually.
 
Hem said:
Good read.
This year I'm continuing my goal of catching a Montana Tiger. First try of the year was yesterday. It's a bit of a drive.
Forecast was mid 40's with afternoon rain. Fishing from shore this trip.
Arrived mid morning, temps in 30's, 9 mph wind. Lake was mostly brown from sediment.😒 Didn't check water temps but it was damn cold, some ice still on shoreline. Fly line was not happy. Black wall of weather blew in, snow instead of rain, air temp remained in 30's.
Tough going...though there were two boats out.
I'd like to hear feedback on optimal water temps. I'm guessing the early conditions in Montana are not on the same plane as most musky states. Typically the pike fishing ramps up in late April/May.
This particular lake is fairly exposed, and it doesn't take much wind to degrade the water quality, don't know if this puts it on par with murky Midwest water conditions.
I'll figure it out eventually.
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Way to get out!!
What type of flies do you like for them?
 
@Hem the Midwest musky guys fish for them as long as they can get their boat in! For our tigers out here (WA), I've found that they're the most active once that water temp hits 50+. @Dustin Chromers has fished for them a ton as well, so hopefully he'll chime in as well with his experience. Today, I was out at one of the M lakes and the surface water temp was right around 45 when my battery died at 11am. I had spotted several (including one cruiser) and had 2 lazy follows, so we're getting close here (another few weeks of warmer weather should get a better thermocline where they can pick and choose a little easier) . One thing to keep in mind though, it does pay to slow down (like, way down) when it's cold and especially in a lake setting. If it feels painfully slow, go slower...lol.
 
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clarkman said:
@Hem the Midwest musky guys fish for them as long as they can get their boat in! For our tigers out here (WA), I've found that they're the most active once that water temp hits 50+. @Dustin Chromers has fished for them a ton as well, so hopefully he'll chime in as well with his experience. Today, I was out at one of the M lakes and the surface water temp was right around 45 when my battery died at 11am. I had spotted several (including one cruiser) and had 2 lazy follows, so we're getting close here (another few weeks of warmer weather should get a better thermocline where they can pick and choose a little easier) . One thing to keep in mind though, it does pay to slow down (like, way down) when it's cold and especially in a lake setting. If it feels painfully slow, go slower...lol.
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Solid advice. I'm guessing water temps were in the high 30's, maybe 40. Still some ice on the bank. Lake bottom has variety. Shallow bays the weed eventually flourishes in, but also deeper water bordered by sand, ledge and some larger structure. I took my boat out last September, trying to get some mechanical kinks ironed out ever since. Think it injested too much sediment.
A guy I know did well in early July last year sight casting in the shallow bays.
Won't get back until May . Again I'll be in waders fishing shoreline...think I'll try smaller flies. Hopefully by early summer boat is running for a visit. Late Fall, as well.
Probably should get a fish finder to explain depth and structure.
Its all a puzzle worth figuring.
 
given your description, I wouldn't expect to see a ton of fish for a bit. That said, all it takes is one. They still have to eat, just not as much...
 
Hem said:
Kinda what I was thinking.
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If you can find a lake topo map, that may help in locating points, drop offs and other structures. Sometimes google earth can help. Google earth helped a lot when I was fishing tigers in WA many years ago.

Thinking about trying to locate a few northern pike lakes near me in sw Montana. Good luck on your search.
 
SpeyrodGB said:
If you can find a lake topo map, that may help in locating points, drop offs and other structures. Sometimes google earth can help. Google earth helped a lot when I was fishing tigers in WA many years ago.

Thinking about trying to locate a few northern pike lakes near me in sw Montana. Good luck on your search.
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Where are you located?
 
Josh said:
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Check out this great new article by @clarkman about chasing Musky on the fly!

www.pnwflyfishing.com

So you think you want to target Musky?

So you think you want to target Musky? Musky are traditionally known as the fish of 10,000 casts! So just take your fish of 1,000 casts (our beloved steelhead) and multiply by 10. Okay, okay, it’s not quite that bad for most folks. Once you...
www.pnwflyfishing.com www.pnwflyfishing.com
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Google Lost Creek Fly Shop in Onalaska WA if you want a good muskie guide
 
The Coho King said:
Google Lost Creek Fly Shop in Onalaska WA if you want a good muskie guide
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Sturza's the best!

So is the guy who showed him the ropes...(it ain't me!)
 
The one and only time I successfully landed a Muskie was on the Tahquamenon River in the UP of Michigan. I spent three days throwing about every Muskie fly known to man without success. Muskie are truly not one of a fish of a thousand casts, but one of a fish of ten thousand casts. Very oddly, I got my one and only Muskie on a # 6 Hornberg. Everyone, (especially me) was dumfounded that the fish took the fly. I only used it because I was simply out of ideas as I had used every color and every size fly recommended by local "experts". It's fishing, so who knows!
 
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