Northwest Fishing Reports

Hey gang...now that the ice is off the water I thought it would be interesting to have people share their perspective on how to get a big toothy critter in the boat during the early season/cold water time.

So let's hear it...what do you believe is the best lure selection, location and tactic to make it happen? Staying home until it warms up is not an appropriate strategy to share at this point.
Darin

First fish came from a 10" 6 ounce swimbait last year. I find the big swim baits the ticket, bringing them in slow and not very regular. Also, the fish are suspended in deeper water. That first one last year was over 25' of water. I am sure she was on the surface or close. Water temp was 41 degrees and it was April 6th. I was trolling to get her. I still don't worry about speed. Muskies are fast enough even in the colder water to tag their prey. They just have to make sure the prey is worth going for....

Headed to Silver this afternoon or tomorrow.... Great days to be out. Nobody else on the lakes (ESP. jet skis, other boaters).

Hmm..Doug figures you'd be the guy going against the grain eh? Though I'd be there right next to ya throwin bulldawgs. Generally though you'd go small in the spring. You figure most the bait fish have just spawned or are spawning so all those little fry would be easy prey for the muskies. Look for warmer, shallow water and if you can find that, well, then the rest falls into place. Right. Nope. Anyway smaller twitcher baits or small spinners. A buddy of mine always uses spinner baits say size 2 blades or smaller and seems to nail early season tigers. So kind of go with your heart. Trust yourself and your feeling at the time you can always adjust accordingly. Trolling is good early season tactic. Yes...I said trolling. You can troll in 6 feet of water with shallow diving cranks like grammas or rapalas. Or right behind the boat in a little deeper water with deep diving crankbaits like cranes or swim whizzes. Again you gotta search for that one bite. That one strike that can get you a fish in the net early in the year. Thats what you're looking for. Good luck fellow musky hunters.

Thanks guys for your thoughts. I'm hoping to get out a bit this week and freeze while pretending I'm going to catch a fish.

Doug, did you make it out to Silver when you thought you were going to the other day?

Yes, I made it out on Saturday afternoon. Missed Sunday due to a bunch of stuff I needed to complete. Saturday was not bad, but I only saw one fish. 24" hammer handle in the shallows. I worked most of the cover types, with no success. I really feel the fish are still out in deep water. I trolled a little, but not all day. Water temp is 38-39 right now.