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Muskellunge - Muskie
The average length of Muskellunge varies by the lake it is found in. Its maximum is usually a little over 5 feet and the weight (also varied by the lake it is found in) can reach up to 70 pounds. It has dark colored bars on a light colored background of silvery green. Common names for Muskellunge are: musky/muskie, maskinonge and leopard muskellunge. It is commonly found in all of the Great Lakes, Lake Of The Woods, Lac Seul and Lake St. Clair, Cedar Lake, Lake Nipissing, Perrault Lake, Minnitaki Lake, Crow (Kakagi) Lake, Rowan Lake, Sturgeon Lake, Lakes Dinorwic and Wabigoon, Rainy Lake, Red Lake, Eagle Lake and Rice Lake.
Popular Baits and Lures For Muskellunge
Most productive lures and baits for the Muskellunge are: spinnerbaits, bucktails, crankbaits. Live bait is generally not a good idea as muskies will swallow the hook and by doing so seal their fate.
Where To Look For Muskellunge
Spring: Weedy bays as well as shorelines are particulary attractive to post-spawn muskies, and most of them will be in relatively shallow waters. Always look for the presence of healthy green weeds in the areas that you are fishing.
Summer: In the summer the muskies move away from the shallows into the deeper water. Larger fish will suspend over very deep water at this time. Look for them off rocky points, over submerged humps and along sharp breaklines.
Fall: This is the best time to fish for the muskies because the bigger fish gorge on the baitfish to put on extra weight for the winter, making them relatively easy to catch at this time of the year. Also look for healthy green weedlines in waters from 6 to 12 feet deep as they will hold the majority of the fish that can be caught by casting. The deeper waters will call for large trolling baits to be dragged in the area.
Summer: In the summer the muskies move away from the shallows into the deeper water. Larger fish will suspend over very deep water at this time. Look for them off rocky points, over submerged humps and along sharp breaklines.
Fall: This is the best time to fish for the muskies because the bigger fish gorge on the baitfish to put on extra weight for the winter, making them relatively easy to catch at this time of the year. Also look for healthy green weedlines in waters from 6 to 12 feet deep as they will hold the majority of the fish that can be caught by casting. The deeper waters will call for large trolling baits to be dragged in the area.
