Musky Fishing For The Novice

The musky is a North American game fish that is currently stocked in some form in thirty five states as well as provinces in Canada. Even though musky fishing pressure has increased over the years, there are still plenty of trophy musky in our waters. Catch and release fishing for muskies has really become popular in recent years which should increase the musky population. Many anglers now feel that a picture is just as good as a mount.

When fishing for musky it is definitely the bigger the better. Size limits over the years have increased which is a good thing that will protect the smaller fish. Good musky fishing states will usually have a minimum size limit of at least 44 inches and some go up to around 55 inches. A musky this size is generally classified as a world class fish. Certain states will even have size limits that are different for each lake.

Musky fishing takes a lot of patience and experience. Most muskies will stay in a certain range in a lake and you will only know this by continuing to fish. A good musky fisherman will have specific spots that he fishes to give the best chance of producing a good fish. This is much different than fishing for panfish which can be found throughout the lake.

Muskies will hang out near some type of structure or in weed beds. This structure provides shade and cover which is ideal for a musky because they are a low light species fish. The thicker the weeds the better and topwater baits are perfect for fishing in heavy weeds. When fishing for musky, don't worry about the size of the bait as well because the larger the sucker the better. Muskies can consume a fish nearly half the size of it's own body.

The best time to fish for muskies is shortly before it gets dark. They are a low light fish and prefer dark, overcast conditions with a little chop on the water. You will develop your own style and favorite conditions to fish for muskies with experience.