Early Oct Muskies

It’s Oct 4th and there is a huge cold front coming thru Minnesota. The muskies I have run into since mid-Sept have been in 5 ft of water or less, and chasing spinners and bucktails. Summer’s over for sure now. I see this as a defining weather change that will take us into fall patterns.

Should a person slow it down and switch more to cranks as we progress into the season? Deeper? I still think weeds are a good area to spend most of the time (south/metro). My gut tells me to shut up and fish – let the fish tell me what to do. I am inexperienced with the muskies and I am wondering what others think?

it’s been my experience that when the water goes colder go with large jerkbaits on weedlines if they are still somewhat green. Suicks 9″ or better. tough to beat a large sucker set up on quick strike rig. bulldawgs fished off deep breaks can be good also

Until water temps are in the 50s keep doing what you have been. As weeds die down muskies will move to deeper structure following the baitfish. Then you can troll cranks or big spinnerbaits. Jerkbaits and gliders on the weed edge/dropoffs will also produce. You can do a combo approach and troll a big suick. Saves some wear and tear on you versus casting and you cover a lot of water. In fall the big muskies want big lures. I know guys who troll lures that are 18″ to 20″. I prefer big jakes and grandmas myself.

MMmmmmmm, gotta love the taste of cold water musky.

Well said guys!

With the fall patern coming into play, don’t travel to far from those shallow weeds. Look for your first primary drop off from those weeds. Work the edges with jerks and spinnerbaits. Also, troll along those weedlines with the bigger cranks when the water temps fall.

Good Info. In the fall right up until freeze up, I find fish very shallow. The green weeds are starting to brown up, as long as those weeds are still standing and don’t fall, fish will continue to use them. In the fall the bulk of fish that I see and target are usually in 8 feet of water or less. LESS being the key word. As strange as it may seem I have got a number of fish to come out from under docks and floating rafts that are in 3 feet of water. With the water starting to clear up it is key to make sure that you are watching where your shadows are casting. I have spooked a number of fish by not paying attention to my shadows, as well as the shadow of the boat. When working very shallow water this plays a major factor, and could be the difference between having pictures to share or a story to tell about a big fish that you spooked away. As far as baits go, I am a jerkbait junkie in the fall. Dunwright jerkbaits and phantoms are my two favorites. I like to use pearl white on overcast days, and when it is sunny I have a few jerks that are a walleye color and they have produced very well over the last few falls. Good luck to all this fall, lets hope that this weather gets these big gals going.