Fishing: 11th Hour Muskies

by Whitewater 19 Nov 18:49 UTC

Eleventh Hour Skis

Take advantage of the gap between fall and ice fishing season to stalk the biggest muskies of the year.

By Jay Anglin

Muskie fishermen are at the very least super focused on their quest to hook and land a giant, and truth be known, most are obsessed with it. Why else would somebody dedicate nearly every angling second in pursuit of these Jurassic-sized freshwater fish?

Muskie fishing is hardly a high-volume ordeal, and the old saying yes, the ten thousand cast one, well it often rings true. But these fish keep numbers of anglers coming back for more punishment season after season. You could even call muskie fishing a lifestyle for many anglers. Naturally, some are just better at it than others.

One such angler is Lee Tauchen of Madison, Wisconsin. He has spent countless hours hammering away for the next big tug at the end of the line.

Fall muskie fishing is a grand finale for those who revel in their annual quest for fishing glory. Its the BIG BOOM. This is when massive skis put on the feedbag and forage with a fair amount of consistency, which is a welcome departure from their incredibly reliable propensity to make even the most battle-worn anglers question whether these mythical beasts exist. Fall, and during warm years such as this, early winter as well, are periods that increase the odds of breaking personal bests and landing a true record class fish.

Recently, Whitewater field staff and muskie expert, Lee Tauchen who along with Robbie Jarnigo host the popular YouTube Channel Todays Angler shares tips and tactics for fall muskies

Question: First, lets establish your credentials. How long have been muskie fishing and where do you fish the most?

Tauchen - I have been muskie fishing for forty years on waters all over Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Michigan, and Ontario. Twenty-seven of those years were spent as a fulltime fishing guide in Madison, WI, as well as on many of the big waters of Minnesota, such as Mille Lacs Lake.

Question: Fall is obviously a great time to hook big muskies what are the basics?

Tauchen - Fall muskie fishing is based on food and comfort, so concentrate on main lake breaklines that offer a slower drop than nearby shallow waters. Depths can vary greatly, but most target depths are 10-25 feet. Hard bottom structure, including main-lake points, mid-lake reefs, and deep shorelines concentrate bait, which also concentrates fall muskies. And never rule out fishing weed beds if other structure is not abundantly available.

Question: Ideal conditions: Weather, water temps, time of day, and moon phase?

Tauchen Look for cold fronts and northwest winds to elevate muskie activity. Cloud cover becomes less important compared to the summer months when muskies seem to prefer overcast conditions. In fact, as fall water cools, many of our biggest fish come during the heat of the day. We also pay close attention to moonrise and moonset times every day (when big muskie are more apt to eat).

Question: What lures are your favorite and which sizes do you prefer for fall muskies.

Tauchen - Our most effective fall muskie lures are large rubber baits such as the Chaos Tackle Medusa in regular to monster sizes fished with a pull/pause retrieve. These baits allow you to maintain the desired depth, which are often deeper or bottom related. We will also use big swimbaits and jerkbaits as an alternative presentation.

Live suckers also become very productive during the fall period. In Wisconsins barred (tiger) muskie waters, live bait often draws the only action a high percentage of the time, so we often have one sucker straight over the side, and one back on a float while we cast lures. Often, the casting will draw fish in, then they take the sucker instead.

Question: What is your preferred gearwhich rod and what kind of line do you use?

Tauchen - Most of the time we use 9' XH/XXH Chaos Assault Stick Rods paired with Shimano Tranx 400 and 500 sized reels spooled with 80-100lb braid.

Question: Recently, electronics have become an increasingly controversial topic. How do you take advantage of these high-tech angler assets when fishing for muskies?

Tauchen - Electronics of course play an important role, and more so in fall given the average fish depth being deeper than summertime. We do not promote the sniping of muskie with live sonar, which is when an angler drives around looking for a specific muskie to cast to. To each their own, but we prefer to cast to find fish. So, while we do use live sonar in conjunction with DI (down imaging) and side sonar, we fish the same as we always have and only use the live to see when we have a follow, for example.

Tauchens Bonus Pro Tip: One interesting thing to consider is the difference between spotted versus barred muskie behavior. Spotted muskies seem more willing to chase artificial presentations later in the season, while Wisconsin barred muskie seem to not chase artificials once water temperatures drop below the 45-degree range. Also, spotted muskie can be found quite shallow during late season, while the barred muskies seem to prefer much deeper water.

The Bottomline: Its easy to become distracted away from muskie this time of year with other fishing and hunting options, but if youre truly committed to catching a giant and having a replica made to display over the mantle, this is the best time of year to do it. While hiring a guide helps anglers zero-in on their quest, many freelance anglers prefer to do it on their own.

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