Musky 360 was able to talk “Jerk Trolling” with Jim Stewart owner of The Musky Shop. Jim and his brother John have a history of success with jerk trolling for muskies and more than their fair share of monsters in the net from their combined efforts. Jim was kind enough to share a few tips for anglers new to this musky trolling tactic that are sure to put them squarely on the path of success.
How you can learn the secrets of one of the best musky anglers in the world
The IC7 from Musky Frenzy Lures is a new player in town, recently introduced and already very popular. Hype for this model began earlier this year where it was branded the "prototype" and the results in field testing were impressive.
This is a automated transcirption of the Musky 360 Podcast Episode "Musky Nerd Talk"
It is undeniable the impact that live imaging has had on modern musky fishing. From the second I heard grumblings about this new technology I was more than intrigued. The ability to see muskies, but more importantly forage and the bait fish in real time was too much for me to resist. As an early adopter of live imaging on my musky boat I have spent countless hours staring at the screen of my Garmin unit. Cast after cast lures come in but every now and again a musky is in hot pursuit of a client’s presentation and the ability to give them a few seconds early warning has become invaluable.
This the transcription of the Musky 360 Podcast Structure Master Class #2.
Southern Musky Fishing | Cold Water Musky Tactics
When my good friend and long time musky hunting partner Mike Richardson and I woke up early on a Sunday morning in late October we knew it was going to be another very cold day on the water! On our muskie hunt the day before the high temperature during the afternoon solar peak had only been 22 degrees and it looked like not much had changed overnight. A thin layer of snow covered the ground and the feeling of winter lay in the air but none the less, we were fired up to hit the frigid waters again to put ourselves in position to score on a trophy musky!
It seems that the days of the coffee table Farmer’s Almanac are quite over and as we surf into the realm of online content, it’s hard to find a one stop shop for musky information. Information has expanded and production is on the rise, but when you want a simple answer, it might allude you completely. So here is a one stop note for new or experience anglers looking for answers. What makes any day a good day for musky fishing? Or any other words, when will muskies be most active.
So many of today's Midwestern musky anglers are diehard casters. Some even consider trolling taboo, but that certainly wouldn’t be me. My fishing education background is principally centered around the foundations of Buck Perry, stressing the basic fact that "the fish are either deep, shallow, or somewhere in between".
As the fishing season is winding down in the North Woods and people turn their attentions to hunting and warm fires, remember to take all of that fantastic gear you bought and store it right! Throwing your pole in the garage is a thing of the past when a nice super reel and rod might cost hundreds of dollars. We need to take the time to winterize our treasured sidearm and keep it in pristine condition for years to come. Here are some inside scoops on preserving your rod and reel with some tips from the Musky Shop!
Seasons change and of course, muskies change. November is a make-or-break time for anglers in all parts of the US. This is the late fall period that might have some anglers pulling their hair out in hopes of landing the fish of a lifetime. Landing a monster musky isn’t something any devoted angler takes lightly, so why aren’t we equally obsessed with putting in the work to find them? November muskies can sometimes feel like the hardest to find and least likely to eat, but starting out each trip in the right direction might help you make shorter work of getting those buggers to eat.
After the kids go back to school and the summer days start to shorten, for most musky anglers there’s only one thing on the brain, “September Transition”. If you are new to angling in the Northern parts of the US, the muskies in these lakes can tell time like no other, and the eons of instinct start to make these massive fish move. September is a special time on the lakes when the work becomes a little easier and the strikes become a little more vicious.
The transition from Summer to Fall can be a confusing time in Musky Fishing especially in colder climates where the transition is quite dramatic. When the fall transition is taking place in the air and landscape around you, imagine the same is taking place subsurface. Fall brings cooler water temps, dying vegetation, lake turnover, and a whole host of changes for underwater habitats. This extreme change can be encompassed into our "Fall Transition".
As we slip into October and November, the inevitable truth becomes clear: Summer is over. The long hot days and balmy nights will soon be replaced by brisk temperatures as our region slowly gives itself over to fall. The South definitely holds the cold at bay far longer than most places, but have no doubt that the change is coming. Fall in the South offers some amazing opportunities for trophy-class musky as long as you don’t get stuck in a summer state of mind.
The very nature of Fall is that of fluctuation and transition, shifting weather patterns are expected but can wreak havoc on our fall musky plans. Cold fronts, heavy rains, and a litany of other fall factors can slow that big bite, so it’s smart to have a backup plan in place. Keep in mind overcoming tough fall conditions isn’t always as simple as changing baits, it takes changing tactics and often a little creativity to put a musky in the net. So, let’s look at an “outside the box” trolling tactic that I turn to when fall conditions are less than stellar.
It has been written by many that experience is the best teacher, and I admit that I refer to past experiences quite often. No matter how much you glean from books, seminars and videos, nothing beats first-hand knowledge in any endeavor. When the subject is late fall muskies specifically, this simple aspect of practical experience can never be overstated.