Productive areas or “musky magnets” during the earlier part of the season can vary considerably from one body of water to another. Muskies are bound to show up in a variety of spots throughout the early part of the season as spring transitions to summer. Additionally, individual muskies are apt to be present yet lethargic on one spot, yet turned on somewhere else. The simplest reason this happens has a lot to do with sun angles, cloud cover, water temperatures and weather conditions at any given time and place.
For example, a shallow north eastern bay might have a water temperature of no more than 55 - 60 degrees or so on any given morning. However, if the skies are relatively clear on that day allowing a lot of sunlight penetration, and the wind direction is northerly, this same bay is apt to warm up by as much as ten degrees by late afternoon. This northern exposure rule works to a “t” whenever there is ample sunlight and a lack of cold wind and wave action. Any musky inhabiting this bay would most likely be non-active early in the day, yet cranked up and ready to chomp by late afternoon .
A periodic check of such a northern bay throughout your day of fishing often reveals startling developments when the conditions are right. This same bay, dead and lifeless in the morning, may now have minnows cruising the warmed surface waters. It might also have a few some bass, crappies and perch chasing these minnows causing a noticeable visible surface disturbance. All of this, in turn, attracts the larger predators such as pike and muskies, as well.
Newly emerging sun baked weeds on flats and shallow underwater points are also among the best early season musky magnets. Lakes that lack classic bays, and channels usually still have a shallow flat or two. Flats are nothing more than gradual tapering extensions of land. On some featureless lakes, these flats are key musky magnets early particularly if they get ample sunlight. On some waters, these flats contain bullrushes or reeds. On others, they have the first weed growth. Sunken brush, timber and stump fields are also on many flats in a reservoir system. All of them can be musky magnets including a naked flat with no cover at all.
One of my all time favorite spring early summer musky magnets is a large shallow bar structure that extends off a land point. These spots are rarely a secret to the locals, but nonetheless, never underestimate their early season potential. The substrate and cover on any large shallow bar is bound to vary a lot between various lakes and flowages. On one piece of water, it could be a large sandy point with sections of gravel and a few weeds. Yet, it could be nothing more than a rock bar on the next lake. A clean sand bar with dark patches of short growing grass might be the hotspot, too. The key here is simple — locate the single largest underwater point bar on any given lake. That’s it. It is bound to have several muskies using it.
All of the musky magnets mentioned are easily fished with classic lures such as topwater baits, in-line bucktail spinners, and jerkbaits. Initially, I recommend covering lots and lots of water quickly in order to efficiently locate an active musky or two. This might be all that is needed for a score on really good outings. When the fish appear to be less cooperative, slowing down and re-fishing spots with jerkbaits is usually recommended.
Perhaps the most under utilized lure in this case is a crankbait. I particularly like lipless rattling versions in the four inch range when cover is minimal. Lipless cranks can cover a ton of water very quickly and cast a country mile. They also cut thru even the worst wind gusts on those cold front days. But don’t overlook a floating diver minnow bait either for this situation. I catch a lunker or two every season running a jointed shallow diver tight to grassy bottoms, slithering it thru clumps of cabbage weeds, and bouncing it over rocks.
Finally, keep an eye on both local weather conditions as well as wind and wave action during this time of year. A dead spot or one with a sluggish lazy follower can suddenly light up with a subtle change in cloud cover, or a wind switch. Speaking of clouds, this is one time of year that overcast is often overrated as a muskie action producer. Bright sun, particularly on deeply stained lakes often fires up early season muskies. The same can be said about wave action. Coves and bays with wind and wave action can cool down water temperatures in the early season and push fish out. Yet, a quiet bay that is getting sun-soaked might heat up with musky action as the day wears on.
The only way to know for sure what is activating muskies on any given day is to keep an open mind and stay mobile. Keep the bait wet, and cover lots of water. Once you score on a muskie, analyze the conditions quickly and then attempt to duplicate it elsewhere. But, before you leave the spot that just produced results, give that area a few more casts. Don’t be surprised if another musky is close by.