Articles : Developing a year-round Muskie Fishing Strategy

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Developing a year-round Muskie Fishing Strategy
By: Steven James Rusteberg

The more time I spend on the water, the more I realize that fishing patterns become very cyclical. In eighteen years of serious muskie fishing, I have developed a milk run of sorts to plan my yearly success. Sticking to what has worked in years past and predicting, sometimes even avoiding, the “uncontrollable variables” when angling is the key to putting more and more muskie in the boat. Many times this “uncontrollable variable” involves current water conditions.

I have come to believe that water conditions are far more important than current weather conditions. When anglers react to weather conditions, commonly they are reacting to our own environment, not the fishes. Weather is to a human’s environment as water is to the fishes. I am not suggesting that our own environment (weather) doesn’t effect the fishes, but only on a secondary level. When we observe a short term temperature drop of ten to fifteen degrees in air, often times the water temperature will only drop three to four degrees. Remembering that this is only the very most top of the water column is important to our perception of how much this actually effects fishing. Our environment may go through a drastic change, but the fish’s environment is relatively unchanged.

I often hear anglers making excuses when they walk off the water at the end of a tough day. Many times they blame a cold front, moon phase, or the dog days of summer. “The cold front shut them down” or “the water is too warm” or “the moon phase is poor” … if only I had a nickel… The fact is, I highly doubt that any of these factors had anything to do with an angler’s failure. It seems to me that when some seem to be having a bad day there is always the exception to the rule… the few guys who have done very well. These guys were fishing where the fish were, placing the proper presentation into the fish’s environment, and the fish reacted to it. More often than not, these anglers put together a seasonal milk run, and know where the fish are on the lake during a certain time of year. Short-term weather changes have little to do with these movements. Time of year is the key to success these particular anglers rely on. The anglers caught them there last year and romped on them in exactly the same area this year. Likely it was the same bait, presented in the same way, in the same location. No secrets! Just previous success. These are the anglers making no excuses for their failure when they step onto the dock at the end of the day. These are the anglers that don’t brag about the muskie follows they have had during the day, but more often the fish that they have boated and carefully released.

Most fishing patterns will take place year after year. Problems in this formula come in the form of high water, low water, and dirty water. These make angling less predictable. I refer to this as the “uncontrollable variable”. These situations are beyond ones control and adjustments to yearly patterns must be made in order to be successful out on the lake or river you fish. These more serious changes in a fish’s seasonal habitat are the ones to watch out for.

Some muskie tracking reports I have come across in my studies show that muskie react more to seasonal movements than daily weather patterns. Year after year an individually tagged fish is found in the same exact area he was the year before at the same time of season. Daily (or even weekly) weather patterns have little to do with this seasonal movement. Again, a cold front, rain, hail, moon phase, or even lightning doesn’t appear to effect muskie activity in most studies. The muskie is an opportunistic feeder and feeds when hungry, or when the opportunity presents itself. It certainly does not poke its head above the water, take a temperature reading, consults a local weatherman, and decide weather or not it wants to chase a yellow perch. Too many times I find that people try to give animals such as fish, human qualities. Again, a fish reacts to it’s environment not yours. One who understands a muskies environment is likely to be more successful angling in it.

Seasonal patters over years of fishing become so predictable that one can be successful anytime of the year. The trick is to avoid these “uncontrollable variables”. For example, in spring (the second week of May usually) the Fox Chain muskie become very active. Several muskies a day can be caught high speed trolling outside the weed line in four to six foot of water. This happens every year regardless of weather patterns, water temperature, or even food abundance. These muskie come out of the shallows after the spawn hungry and aggressive. They must travel across the shallow flats to reach cooler, deeper, water before water tempetures become too warm. There is no way around it! They have to enter this strike zone if they intend to reach deeper water. There are very few years that I have not had at least one, six fish day during this time period. However, there is one thing that will throw this whole predictable yearly pattern out of whack. That one thing is “dirty water”. If there is dirty water (an “uncontrollable variable” due to spring rains) your success level will be lowered drastically. High, clear water is O.K., but will also limit your success during this time of year.

Yearly pattern success may mean changing lakes. I do not spend more than six weeks on the Fox Chain in the spring (pending clear water). There are better places to be when the seasonal pattern starts to fall off (usually the last week of July). Often times another seasonal movement is taking place on another body of water, in which I can be more successful. This is high percentage fishing. I know if I stick the pattern out on the Fox Chain (even after July) I can catch a fish, but if I go to another body of water that is peaking I may be able to catch several fish in one day. For instance, the first week of July is typically peak time on Lake St. Clair. Often time this body of water will give an average angler four to six fish a day at this time of year. Do you want to struggle on the Fox Chain or score “big time” on another seasonal pattern? You know where my boat will be.

Fisherman and guides who limit themselves to one body of water all year long (in my opinion) are limiting their success level. I see this time and time again on the Fox Chain. Guides typically do the same thing every time out all year long. It bothers me to watch them cast the same weedbed every week over and over again with limited success. Fish move seasonally. Fisherman and guides need to move with them. Fish activity is not consistent throughout the year on any body of water. There are slopes and valleys on every lake when it comes to fish activity. Some times of the year are better than others times. Limiting yourself to one lake will limit your fish catches. The angler who capitalizes on different lakes and their peaks is the angler who will shine in the end. Hitting the highest fish activity level on several different lakes will put more fish in your boat considering you have done your homework and know when those seasonal periods are best. The only factor to worry about is the “uncontrollable variable” screwing water conditions up (again not necessarily current weather). Avoid this variable and have success on any seasonal fishing peak. Year after year the peaks are predictable.

Many anglers have a bias against trolling or casting. The bottom line is… you do what you have to do to put fish in the boat. I am tired of hearing anglers say, “I don’t like to troll”. I guess you don’t like to be successful all year long either. I love to catch fish casting and it is my preference also, but there are certain times of year on certain lakes, that an angler doesn’t have much of a choice. The angler who doesn’t use all the tools available to him will limit his success. This is the “hard to swallow bottom-line”! Troll when it is necessary; don’t beat your brains out casting a weedline with a very limited success ratio. An angler needs to put all the odds in his favor because the odd are naturally stacked against one to begin with.

Use the tools given to you. Use your previous success to plan your year-round fishing strategies. Avoid “uncontrollable variables” and the hick-ups that Mother Nature throws into your annual fishing plans. Things such as high water, low water, or dirty water are the conditions necessary to avoid (not current weather or cold fronts). The “uncontrollable variables” will limit your success, not the daily weather conditions. A smart angler is one who has a plan and a back-up strategy to overcome the long-term “uncontrollable variables” in the fish’s environment.