I’m thinking that if we musky guys post some pics/ methods/ time of year all in one place here, it might give someone beginning or fresh to the sport, an idea of what we are doing and when. Kinda of a logbook of sorts….what do you guys think? I am fairly new to the digital age but I do think I have an old scanned 35mm I’ll try to post.
Early July, Black/orange blade Topper Stopper, shallow river, 45″. Way back in like 96′
Great idea! I got this one in The longville area last opener, 41.5 in on a red&white Jack Pot
Here’s my first one from this year. 1-6-07 on Lake Harriet which had open water for a few days at the begining of the year. Not big by any means but quite an anomaly for that time o’ year.
One of our favorite early season techniques is topwaters in the shallow wood. It gets even better when the ducks are bringing off their first hatch!!!
The other decent tactic this early is to fish with larger chubs (4″-5″) on jigs. Many walleye fisherman catch incidental muskies and this happens to bring a little bigger bait into the fore.
Mark
Here is an opener fish off of a BubbleGum (I call it pink) 6″ phantom. Gliders are a great choice for our mid-Minnesota waters at opener.
That is a sweet looking Ski Gary! 
That one is one of my favorites. She had beautiful colors. I had about 5 twitches into the glider when she crashed it in about 3 fow.
The true thing to keep in mind, come opener around the metro muskie lakes, is that the water temps are “up”. 65-70 degree water is the “norm”.
Now, go to LOTW, Leech, Cass, even Mille Lacs……we would LOVE to have that water temp. Because we don’t, we generaly use completely different tactics for opener than we would on metro waters or “southern” waters.
Point is, is be aware of your lake, the water conditions and status of the cycle year. Just because it is “opener”, doesn’t mean you should stick your head in a little “box” and toss little baits.
Last year on the Croix for ski opener, with my head in the “box”, I watched 2 guys speed trolling cranks. Thinking “huh?”…….and POW, they connected with a big fish right in front of my eyes. I would have never thought about speed trolling big cranks on the Croix in the last week of May…….but it works!
The fish are stupid. Don’t force them into trying to take your bait. Give them the bait they want! 
Here is one that was most likely a Minnesota state record if it hadn’t been released!
The guys very first ‘ski too! 
Plus he caught it on his 8th cast. 55.5″ x 26.5″!
Wow that’s a great fish.
I have NO idea what this fish was thinking
47.5 on a 3.5 inch tube late July on Mille Lacs:
How about this one from my dad?
Or this one by my brother, caught right after my dad’s.
B Curtis,
Careful with those vertical holds! 
Just kidding.
Don’t forget to add your presentation and time of year for the logbook 
Sorry, I forgot. We were in 10 fow using slip-bobbers and a leech. Isn’t that a common presentation for Muskies? 
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Sorry, I forgot. We were in 10 fow using slip-bobbers and a leech. Isn’t that a common presentation for Muskies?
It is on French lake in Faribault!
I still swear to this day, if you want to catch muskies fast, run a jig/minnow on 4lb test for crappies!
HAHA! I’ll second that one! Everytime I fish for smaller fish they tend to hook up!
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Sorry, I forgot. We were in 10 fow using slip-bobbers and a leech. Isn’t that a common presentation for Muskies?
It is on French lake in Faribault!
I still swear to this day, if you want to catch muskies fast, run a jig/minnow on 4lb test for crappies!
I moved here last year and would like to give Iowa Muskies a try. Does anyone have ideas about what are the best lakes? Lures? Tactics? I understand that they stocked or continue to stock Tigers. Do you know what lakes? Thanks for the input!
October
Slooooow twitching a Mr. Automatic custom painted by yours truely.
September
Pumping a 6″ Walleye pattern phantom
I know that lake. I know the background and have caught fish there. Does it start w/ a “P”?
September
Burning a Chartruese and black Innihilator From Kline tackle company in 1″ waves. 4 foot of water with heavy weed cover.
Tiger Musky, I had a 9 fish day on that lake last year. How many did you boat out there last year? 
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Tiger Musky, I had a 9 fish day on that lake last year. How many did you boat out there last year?
Slow don’t hold back man, let’s see some of those fish!! 
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Tiger Musky, I had a 9 fish day on that lake last year. How many did you boat out there last year?
I dont think we are talking about the same lake 
If we are talking about the Snot Rocket, it doesn’t start with a “P”.
Duck Opener
Overcast – Unsure of water temp
5 Feet of water, weed bed next to deep water, adjesent to reeds/lilly pads.
Black/Orange Poes Awaker. 
Last Saturday, My buddy
June – Blue Bird skies 10:00am – 67 degree water temp
8 feet of water on a weed edge next to 16 feet of water.
Smallmouth color 6″ Manta
August
Clouds rolling in – Storm approaching
Water temp – Hot
2 Feet of water – Sand bottom
Pearch colored Jackpot 
October 31st – Different fishing buddy
Partly cloudy – Water temp unknown- Air Temp mid 50’s
Shallow Weed bed – next to 20 foot drop off
17″ live sucker minnow
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