10/11/99
Targeting
Trophy Fall Muskies
By Scott King
At
some point in our effort to hold on to the remaining warm days of
autumn season, we lose our grip.
The frosts set in each and every night after awhile, and
the temperature of our lakes and rivers inevitably cool to the
point where the infamous fall turnover occurs.
A term often talked about (pre-, post-, and the actual
dreaded turnover itself), turnover is the mixing of the water
layers that were established during the warm-water months.
During the turnover event, which varies in time of
occurrence and duration, fishing is almost always poor for muskies
as well as other species of gamefish.
Water temperature can be measured in order to determine if
your fishing efforts are worthwhile at this time, but this event
is often marked but a substantial clouding of the water as well.
During this period, I often recommend fishing a lake that
is pre or post turnover.
Lakes across the road from one another can be in different
stages, due to depth, acreage, or overall clarity.
The turnover event aside, autumn’s post-turnover period
can be an outstanding time to cash in on actively feeding muskies,
and possibly trophy fish that you did not see during the heat of
summer muskie hunting.
Location—Bountiful
Baitfish Presence
Whether
you’re fishing a smaller weedy lake that produces mid-sized
muskies or the classic, Canadian Shield type-lake with rocks and
huge fish potential, baitfish presence is imperative to locating
fall muskies. The classic school of thought during fall is that muskies
will move towards obvious main lake points and steep breaklines in
order to forage before the long winter months.
The progression of this locational pattern (which becomes
stronger until water temperatures reach the freezing mark) is
concentrated from both the shallow and deeper portions of a lake.
Shallow muskies move relatively deeper towards the primary
drop offs in a system, and fish that have roamed open water during
the summer months move towards these same main-lake spots.
The reason—baitfish use this primary structure during the
fall in almost any type of system muskies are found.
In waters with a cisco forage base, predators are taking
advantage of the spawning habits of these fish.
Finding hard bottoms on the primary drops in these lakes is
essential, because ciscoes and muskies will be nearby.
The best looking spots on a lake map often have the
greatest concentrations of fish.
In non-cisco based systems, muskies will follow the
seasonal movement of other types of forage to the same relative
areas in a lake— primary drop offs.
Walleyes and perch move to these areas as the water cools
and stay there until early ice covers our northern lakes.
Fish these areas thoroughly and with the proper lures in
order to maximize your effectiveness.
Presentations—Crankbaits
and Contact
Although
location is always your primary concern when fishing for muskies,
your presentation of lures must be executed properly in order to
ensure success. While
several approaches are taken regarding bait choice for fall
muskies, no method out produces the crankbait for taking numbers
of sizeable muskies. Whether trolled or cast, crankbaits will reach a muskie’s
strike zone, and have the profile and vibration that signals an
easy meal. Whether to cast or to troll?
This is a tough question sometimes, but based upon a few
key observations that you make from both your lake map and your
fish locator, you can confidently make a decision.
Begin
by classic looking structure.
However, pay close attention to your fish locator for the
presence of baitfish, both suspended and close to structure. When
you have located the best locations with the most bait as you
troll (maybe picking up some fish as you troll), go back to this
area or areas and begin your casting efforts.
It’s
important to thoroughly work over potential spots.
There are times when
I’ve
spent hours in small areas with good baitfish concentrations,
staying right near the best group of bait.
Countless casts to the right area without results will
suddenly be rewarded, with solid hooks into a head-shaking
monster. The muskies
will be there, it’s just a matter of time during the fall as to
when they will feed. And
don’t spend much time casting in areas where you saw fish this
past summer, you’ll likely be wasting time.
It’s not the same game, both from a location and
presentation standpoint.
Depth
of baitfish concentrations and predominant forage will determine
your choice of lure. If
the bait is high in the water column (less than 10 feet) a
shallower diving crankbait will be most effective.
Shallow divers with large profiles such as Bomber Long
A’s, Crane Baits, Super Shad Raps, and Mania Jakes are all
excellent performers. Lower
riding baitfish schools will require deeper diving crankbaits such
as Believers, Bagleys, Cisco Kids, and Bucher Depth Raiders.
Whether going high or low in your cranking, utilize this
technique: Crank the bait down to its maximum attainable depth and
then alternate pulling/ripping the bait while cranking it back to
the boat. The
stop-and-go action of the crankbait causes fish to strike more
often than a straight retrieve.
The ripping technique should also be employed while
trolling with these same crankbaits. You’ll often get strikes
just after the lure has stopped.
These
presentation and location patterns for fall muskie can be
effective the lakes ice over.
However, the location of the baitfish will ultimately
determine whether the predators are present or not, so finding the
bait is always in your best interest. Try these methods in the proper locations this fall for
muskies and have patience. Muskie
fishing is hardly ever a numbers game and the fall is no
exception. Dress warmly so you can stick it out, and you may smack
the trophy of a lifetime, because from now until ice-up is big
fish time on muskie waters.
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