View Full Version : Muskie attacking Beaver
Russ McCanada
10-05-2002, 11:56 AM
Kids saw a muskie take a small beaver in the river behind my house
and attacked it. They say this fish is very large and I would like to
know the best approach on how to catch this muskie. I am not a muskie fisherman, so I need to know what the best bait would be to catch it.
If you happen to be coming up to Canada (Dryden, Ontario)and would like to try and catch it email me back.This river is unfished and there could be a few more in it. mcrobb@mail.drytel.net
Depressed
10-05-2002, 12:14 PM
Hey Russ.
Burlington, Ontario is quite the hike from Dryden. Probably a good 18 hours anyhow. *sigh* Can you describe some of the details surrounding this fish's habitat...depth, weedy, deep/shallow, still/fast water, are there lots of snags in the area, is the river navigable by boat/canoe etc... mabye I can help you out.
What's the name of the river?? What else swims those waters? Man, I always wanted to make it up to northwestern Ontario.*sigh* I do most of my Muskie fishing in the Kawartha Highlands, Haliburton, and the Bancroft area which is a far cry from Dryden, but I still make out alright.
-Depressed
Jim McCullough
10-05-2002, 12:26 PM
Watch it guys. I know all of the jokes that floated around in my head over this one...;)
Russ McCanada
10-06-2002, 05:07 PM
Depressed thanks for replying to me. The river flows out of Wabigoon Lake. There are two dams that hold this fish there. The dams are only three miles apart if that. The river is three to five feet deep, with an eight foot trough in the middle of it and a few real deep holes. I don’t know what’s in there for vegetation, probably not much. (There are some small walleyes in the river) There is medium current and this fish grabbed the beaver in the middle of the river. The boys said it had that beaver for about a minute and it got away, then it was going around in circles, so it must of hurt him bad. So I’m going to try a large sucker on a bobber and drift with the current. I might get him or do you have any better ideas I’m going for him Oct. 9th what time of day is better morning or evening please give me a few ideas to get him.
Thanks Russ
PS if I get him I will post you a picture.
Musky Mike
10-07-2002, 08:30 AM
Russ:
Low light periods are considered best for catching muskies. Which indicates early morning or late evening just before sundown.. Unless of course it's a cloudy overcast day and then it's anytime from early morning until after dark. If the river really isn't fished much then it probably doesn't really matter all that much.
Depressed
10-07-2002, 11:03 AM
Hi Russ.
If you're not planning on keeping this Muskie I wouldn't suggest a sucker and bobber because the fish will not have very good chance of survival after you catch it.
For my first attempt, I would try using a topwater plug, 30-45 minutes before darkness. Something like a Pop-R or Jitterbug or Chug-a-bug plug. Work it slow and make sure you pause and stop periodically. Change up your tempo (fast, slow and erratic) as well.
If you don't get anything that evening, the next time you return try throwing a Suick and jerk it back in a stop and go motion... you can also try something like a Mepps #5, which you reel in about 2-3 feet below the surface. Those ideas should be a start, but if you don't get anything I've got lot's up my sleeve. This would be my approach anyway. The reason I pick topwater first, is because nothing in the world is better than a huge lunge taking a topwater bait. NOTHING!!
Good Luck and let me know how you make out.
I would try to match the hatch. If you have anything hairy around the house (dogs and cats will do; poodles work the best), tie some hooks to their back and throw them in. If you don't have small animals to use let me know, I have plenty of large rats living in my neiborhood.
Mke