What do you think the key to success is to consistently catch (as much as anyone can be consistent catching these things) muskies throughout the season?

I think being versatile in your techniques is a key factor more and more every year. (at least for me)

Fishermen that incorporate many different presentations, techniques seem to score opener to ice up.

I know of a lot of guys that like to throw hair, or jerks, etc. but don't vary a lot, and maybe don't vary a lot on depth of structure they fish as well.

Try something different this year, like deep-water trolling/casting,
jig-fishing, try trolling spinnerbaits around the whole lake in 6-8 feet, troll jerk-baits etc.

Any other ideas to up your catch rates?

JS

I totally agree that being versatile is the way to becoming more consistent. Having a number of techniques and trying different areas really helps. Having "go to" techniques for cold front conditions can make the difference between good days and not seeing any fish at all.

What has worked best for me is to have a game plan before we even get on the water. I like to plan out the primary and secondary spots as well as lure choices the night before the outing. I watch the wind directions for a couple of days before hitting the water and then take into account the expected weather conditions, knowledge of the lake, and other factors like fishing pressure and boating traffic to develop the plan.

Its just fishing, but a little planning and study can help a lot.

Take the Pressure off yourself and NEVER stop learning and enjoying the day for what it is.
:)
Day in day out, one must change or adapt to what is ALWAYS chaging around you.
Looks fishy, fish it for sure.
BUT!
Knowing or learning the lakes you fish better or how to read NEW water is key.
Fun and interesting too.
Love learning to read what's under the surface and why a Musky or BIG Pike would want to hang around any given place at any given time?
That can be really fun, it's different every spot you pull up to and you can fish the whole time.
Remembering Where to be when, using what, and why is also a fun egg to crack.
Clouds, wind, moon rise and set, the whole solar and weather thing play a large part also.

Pressure from other fishermen on the Lake never bothers me much.
Have been known to put undue pressure on myself though.
When I feel this happening or am told to loosen up a bit, I can just have a sandwich and a cool pop, relax and move to some other area or find something NEW to work over.
Or, simply strip and jump in the lake for a bit!
LOL
Changing and challenging what we do throughout the day can be very rewarding and fun at the same time.
Works for me anyway, but I'm way out there I been told.
Just ask someone who met me or sent some time in my rig?
They will either smile and laugh or simply turn pale, make a nasty face and run away from you.
:)

Mixing things up a bit each day works.
Trying to learn something NEW each time out and trying NEW things on old spots with things we had to have, but really never gave a chance to work for us.
Like the 25 lures or so I bought that are just so pretty, but caught only my eye, then my wallet!
I bet you have some of these too?
LOL
Ya just never know what you will find or experience out on the water from day to day.
Fish don't really talk, or do they?
Have met some cool people this last winter that see things I see and can hear what the fish are saying and what Mother Nature is laying out there for all to see.
Way cool.
So in a sence, I guess Fish can talk.
We all know Mother Nature can speak softly at times, but she can also become very LOUD, very Fast.
Beware, as this is when everything gets really, really fun.

Having my Bonnie with me and a few good dogs in the boat is always a plus.
:)


T.



I'm Bad and I'm Nation wide!

Hi All,
I never go out on the water, with any pre conceived notions, about what going to work that day.
I have ideas but I let the fish tell me what the want and where the want it.

First of all, I stay as far away from Tommy as I can get. :) He's always on me trying to learn where I fish. I just finally had to go fishing with him, and take him to a few of my pike spots. :)
Poor guy, he can't hardly tell the difference between a pike and a muskie.

I think Homer actually catches most of the fish when they go out, he really knows how to work those jerkbaits. :)

I just wait until Tommy's cooking, or standing on his head somewhere and ask Homer for a few tips. I'm glad Homer J dosen't have a boat of his own, because he'd put us all out of business. :)

In my opion the most important thing is having a Positive Fishing Attitude. If you expect to catch fish on every outing you probably will most of the time. :-)

I agree on all that has been written on this subject especially on the PMA. How many times have we all been out there and really thought that the fish just were not going to move, only to be wacked by a nice fish out of nowhere next to the boat. Awesome!! It never helps to think "hmmm, I just don't think I'm going to catch anything today...it's too hot; might as well go in" Any moments we have on the water are precious, make the most of them.
Anyway, I think one of the best keys to success is having a fishing partner that understands and embraces the concept of TEAM. When my partner and I fish, we usually are throwing different lures in different directions and depths until we run into a fish. I remember that I used to not like to be the one that had the duty of casting out away from the weeds over deep water while my partner pitched into what we thought were the prime areas. Well, after seeing/catching some of my biggest fish from the deep end, now I would rather cast out there instead. If your partner wants to try a technique or a lure that totally is against what you think would put a fish in the boat, do not always rule out his/her gut feeling. I remember about 5-6 years ago when my partner started casting this huge chunk of rubber called a bulldawg- I laughed at him and told him he'd flipped his lid. Well, we all know the outcome of this story. I probably spend 3/4 of my lure dollars on them now.

I would add to that the "aggressive" aspect of the attitude of working a bait methodically, yet violently enough to provoke that violent fish. Stay focused on the action of the lure, even at slower retreive speeds, and know when to use each specific bait. Tight lines! Pat

I guess my favorite statement says it all...."treat each cast as if it is the 9,999th."

If we're doing that, we're doing nearly all the things posted.

MLK

JS,

Being versitile is the key and not being affraid to change things up and go against the NORM, trying new techniques will help you score fish.

One of the most important things is "TIME ON THE WATER", with this you will attain knowledge about a body of water that will help you put more and more fish in the boat every year.

But what if you don't have much time on the water? What if you're lucky to get out once during the week after work for a couple hours and for maybe four or five hours on Saturday morning?

Thats what my fishing time is like. Most weeks I only get out once and my fishing outings average about three hours. That changes things greatly for a person and has forced me to learn how to pre-fish without fishing. I find that watching the weather patterns, moon phases, and having a well thought out game plan makes all the difference. I can't spend two hours finding the fish because that is often all the time I have. So, I must locate fish quickly and have good lures selected to even have a chance of landing a Muskie.

My method of fishing did pay off last year. I had four multi-fish days when I had two or less hours to fish and averaged a Muskie about every five hours on the water. To top it off, I was spending much of my fishing time on lakes new to me and was all to often fishing post-frontal conditions.

I would approach things much differently if I had more time on the water, but one does what one has to.

Herb

I agree that being versatile and being able to adapt to changing conditions are 2 important ways of improving consistency. One other thing that I think would help newer people to the sport would be to concentrate on 1 or 2 bodies of water. Get to know them, where fish hang out, and what kind of conditions turn on the bite. If you are lucky enough to have both types of water, make one a trout water lake and one a meso lake. Once you get to know these lakes intimately, then you can transfer what you know to other lakes.

hey i wonder if homer j. has any time to take me out this summer. bet he's cheaper than some in his boat.

i think the key to success is a combination of having a plan but be flexible to weather ,pressure and unknown things that come up.

kinda like coaching a football game. i go in with a plan defensively but what if the offense turns it over 2-3 times right away? i think i'd change my plan and blitz more trying to shift the momentum back in our favor.
same with fishing. i had a plan once to fish an oppsite side of a lake from the boat launch with a friend. we launched the boat and eased out with electric motor cause it was shallow and hazardous. as we got ready to start gas motor, i stood up to pull in electric when the sun got covered by a dark cloud and at that instance i looked out about 50 yards and saw a large school of small bass and bluegill jump and run real fast. i looked at my buddy and smiled. "bet you a case of bud-light there is a large musky or northern chasing those fish. he didn't know what i met until i put the troller back on and started casting toward where i had seen the school. a few minutes later i could see a high 40's musky in the middle of a boat sized bed of milfoil. i said da-- i think she saw us as she eased outa there. i told him we'd makee another pass in a few minutes. there was a whole bunch of bass and gills in the area.

the clouds kicked in a stronger breeze and we started casting a mepps #5 and a spoon into the milfoil again. when boom. partner let me know he had one. probly the musky we had seen came charging toward the boat. and dove down at the motor when snap she hit the line on a sharp piece of the prop and she swam away real slow with a mepps #5 hooked on her upper lip. my partner wanted to cry. i felt terrible cause i should have lifted the motor all the way out of the water but it happened too fast. sometimes i leave part of the motor down to aid in steering the troller. it acts like a rudder. probly not the first person this happened to but a lesson well learned.
so i made a mountain out of my point-sorry-BE FLEXIBLE AND READ WHATS HAPPENNING.


dannyboy

A really good set of binoculars !! Too see what MuskyTom and
Guideman are throwin'

Seriously, plain ol' versatility. Always be willing to change
what your doing, no matter how confident you are in your spot,
bait, time of day or weather.
The fish don't think or care, they just do what they need to exist.


Mother

I'd say three things come to mind:

1. Location

2. Versatility

3. Not being afraid to be innovative


Steve Wickens

Just like anything else one whant,s to become good at ......practice ...practice .....practice! MuskeeMike

Also, study, study, study. One can learn a lot off the water too. Videos, books, seminars, and magazines can all help a great deal and can help a person become much more efficient on the water.

I agree with all thats been said and would add one more thing that my dad said when I was young and would get bored not catching anything. He would say "Bob, you can"t catch anything if your bait isn"t in the water". I.E. the more time spent fishing the greater the rewards. I would add, find a bait you like and "keep it in the water". Thanks Dad

"Let it go."

Even the big ones boys,

Lathoto

You can only serve 1 master. If you want to master muskies, do all of the above. Read, study, talk, watch video etc. Don't force the issue, with pre-consceived notions, be versatile and don't be afraid to go with your gut instinct. Don't be a complete follower, but don't buck obvious trends, you'll always lose. Keep an open mind and be all means think for yourself. Have confidence in your game plan and don't be a quitter, be willing to pay your dues. .02Line ain't thru all my guides!

Hunts

I agree with Musky fever when he said TIME ON THE WATER. We didnt get to go much last year as we were building a Lure company and it showed in our numbers. This year we FISH. Knowing something about every lake you fish before you get there the first time helps a ton. Nothing beats Knowing the water. Like most of the others have said being versatile is a must especially with pressured fish. Dont be afraid to go from little bitty spinnerbaits up to 12 or more inches of whoppin cedar wood. We normally split our trips up into half casting and half trolling. Good luck, Kingfisher

Time on the water is great, but what if you don't have much time on the water? A person has to do things within their own constraints and I believe one can offset limited time on the water with being versatile, studying, and having a well thought-out game plan before you even get on the water. The game plan usually needs to be versatile to be affective.

How many people don't even look at a map before they hit the water? How many people don't even think about what lures to use until they look into the box when they are on the water? How many people don't pay attention to the weather conditions?

There are many things one can do before one gets on the water to increase one's chances and ultimately put more fish in the boat.

have fun, respect others on the water trying to do the same thing.

I love your screen name! Your suggestion wsan't bad either!

Look in the water and let the fish tell you what to do. And all that other stuff too.

Regards,

Bill
Weedman

I guess I wouldn't believe in anything if it wasn't for my lucky mood ring.