Well, as predicted we are having a nice night bite with the warm weather. Air and water temps are soaring, and night time is really the only comfortable/safe time to be fishing. I can’t stress enough how careful you must be with muskies when the water is warm like this. Fish should only be out of the water for a couple of seconds to take a quick pic. They should be netted and unhooked in the water quickly, then left with there head in the water (still in the net) while you get your camera ready. A very quick pic and then back in the drink. Make sure your fishing partner knows how to operate your camera too…. a little camera 101 at the boach launch before fishing can save you from a sticky situation with a large fish in hand. If anyone has any questions on handling fish properly don’t hesitate to contact me. I am always happy to pass on helpful tips to help preserve our fisheries…
With all that said, the bite has been great. We have had multiple fish outings almost every night with back to back 3 fish nights. Most of the fish have been in the mid 40″ range. They have been eating double bladed bucktails like windowmakers and cowgirls. Blade sizes 10 and 9 have been best. We have also been catching a few on big rubber. Double dawgs worked back to the boat in a straight retrieve have been best.
It has been a bit of a timing thing out there. It seems to be that small windows of time seem to open up where the fish will start opening their mouths and you can get a couple in the net in very short order. So if you contact a fish, there is a good chance there are others in the area as well. Work slow through areas with both your boat and your bait.
Night fishing is a different animal if you’re not used to. It can be frusterating at times. Try to stay patient and fish slow. I don’t run and gun to nearly as many spots as I do in the daylight hours. I will fish areas with good deep weeds and bait fish. In most cases it will just be a matter of time if you find those two key ingredients. Muskies don’t bite from sundown to sun-up so stick with and find out when they are biting between those two key points and the rewards can be huge!
Great Report Ryan
Nice Fish
Thanks Joe… Another great night last night. 3 more in the boat, including 2 45 inchers. Lost a couple others too. It’s on fire…
I have some open dates this week too in case any body wants to tangle with a few muskies….
At least someone is on fish. This year has been rough for me. Currently between work and my motor in the shop I haven’t been able to get out.
Awesome report Ryan, and a new wrinkle. I guess not being a muskie fisherman, I tended to think that most guys out at night for the big fish were trolling.
Thanks for sharing, and good luck/continued-success out there!
Joel
Your right Joel, trolling is a popular method at night. I much prefer the stealth approach of picking apart deep weeds or weed lines by casting. Also it would be nearly impossible to troll double blades as slow as we are retrieving them. Pretty much the same for the big plastics.
Matt, give me a jingle if your stuck on dry land this summer… I’ll get ya on some fish…
Just to clarify… Casting is the best technique in this case because with this particluar pattern we were on, the fish were low and liked the bait slow. With most conventional trolling baits with lips on them, you have to speed up to get them down there. Obviously with big blades and rubber the slower you go the lower you go… Simple concept but just figured I would add this to my last comment…
Thanks Ryan. I think me and my buddy are gonna set up a guide trip this fall. You fished with him this last Monday night
Oh yeah, Poor Brad! he was about two nights too late… They sprayed the lake and it’s been tough ever since. I’m gettin Brad a nice fish once they start biting again. Plus the water has been way too hot!!
That sounds great. Let me know for the fall, Sept. is starting to fill up but still have dates open.