Sawyer Co. Moose Lake Muskie Report

Mike C and I had a great 2.5 days on the water chasing Muskie during a yearly small company tournament October 12-14. We did not bring any monsters to the boat but plenty of respectable Muskie made for an exciting and memorable trip. We only get out after Muskie once or sometimes twice a year and every time we do we wish there was a way to do it more often. The aggressiveness a Muskie has this time of year makes for some heart pounding action. For those of you that have not given Muskie a try this time of year, you are missing out on a cardiovascular work out of the best kind.

I would also like to note: any blood you see in the pictures, it is coming form Mike or myself except for the fish I caught on top water. That Muskie some how nicked his side during the battle, I’m thinking when he was under the boat, otherwise we were the ones that ended up with most of the battle scars and the fish were released unharmed.

Day 1; October 12th we woke up to a brisk 33 degree air temperature and a falling Barometer, the day did warm up to 44 degrees. There was a North to Northeast wind blowing from 3-5mph and it was a mostly cloudy day. It felt like Muskie weather to Mike and I from the word get go We fished steep shore lines that immediately dropped into 5-8fow scattered with stumps and downed timber. Boat control was done with oars so we could drag suckers on the no troll lake.

The first fish that was mad enough at a 14+ inch sucker to hammer it and not just chase it around came at 11:00am, hooked up with a home made quick strike rig (which had a lot of thought put into it) Up to this point we had some nice fish that left big swirls and hurt suckers without holding on. It makes you feel alive when these fish are playing The second fish was on at 11:38, it slammed a sucker also without playing around

We fished hard without even seeing a fish until 1:12pm when Mike C was slammed on a 8” Real Perch Reef Hog. This made for his first Muskie ever caught on a artificial bait. Just after the release the next fish was enticed by a sucker and boat side at 1:20pm. That was the end of it but what a day. Any day a friend has a first is just way cool

Day 2; October 13th we were greeted with a colder morning at 30 degrees and frost everywhere. The lake looked like glass and there was no wind in the early morning. The Muskie bite was a little tougher being it was mostly sunny out with the temperature climbing to 55 degrees and a rising barometer. The first fish to be caught was at 9:07am, this is my first top water Muskie (the only top water Muskie this trip) and what a show. This fish torpedoed out of the water from a dense fog unable to ignore a Firetiger in color, Muskie Buster “Stomper” being jerk across the top leaving a bubble trail and making a lot of racket. The commotion being made on the top of the water caught Mike’s attention immediately

It was a while after that fish before we seen action again. Things did turn around for us and the action improved some when a North to Northwest wind started to kick up at 8mph. We also made a move to 10-15fow concentrating on the edge of shallow flats looking for some large marks on the locator. As soon as we seen the first big marks Mike nailed his second Muskie to hit artificial for him, the fish was taken on a Deep Twitch Darter, black/gold tiger in color. After a few more intense moments with the suckers we boated are last fish at 5:15.

Another first and another day between friends in the book

Day 3; October 14th was the best looking Muskie weather on the trip and we had to get off the water around 10:00am. It was proving to be the day to fish Mr. Toothy with an air temp of 35 degrees a Northeast wind and a heavy cloud cover threatening rain. This morning we were focusing our efforts on rock points that started in 5fow and ended in 15fow. There were fish willing to make sure we had a few more exciting moments before we had to load up and leave. Nothing on artificial baits on this morning but the Muskie sure kept our heart beats going surfacing and swirling while teasing the suckers. We were able to boat one more fish at 8:37am this trip before having to call it quits.

We never landed the monster this trip but Mike and I each had a first in our life time catch plus boated some nice Muskie.

There were fish caught in the 40-47 inch range by others on the lake this weekend. If you have never caught a Muskie and want to put success in your favor your first trip out, hit Moose Lake!………..Note; not for the faint of heart

If it sounds like a trip you would be interested in shoot Mike C or myself a PM. We will steer you in the right direction

Good luck on the water people.

Bret