Early Season Lake of the Woods Muskies
By Joe Cooper
The 2025 musky season is off to a roaring start on Lake of the Woods, and if you’re not out there already, now’s the time. I’ve been on the water daily and recently caught up with guide Danny Herbeck to talk early patterns, feeding windows, and what baits are putting big fish in the net. The bite’s not always easy—but it’s consistent, and if you dial into the conditions, you’re in for some of the best action of the season.
Scattered Fish, Shifting Patterns
Right now, muskies on Lake of the Woods are spread out and doing a bit of everything. We’re seeing fish on shallow sand, tucked into cabbage beds, hanging just off rock points, and even suspended over deeper water. It’s that classic early season shuffle—fish transitioning from spawn to full summer behavior, and not quite locked into one zone.
Water temps are ranging from the upper 60s into the low 70s depending on time of day and location. Midday highs are touching 72°F in calm, sunny bays, but drop back under 70°F when the sun fades or wind moves in. That temp swing means muskies haven’t fully committed to summer structure, and they’re still hunting the shallows during warm-up periods.
One key observation: quality fish are starting to show up in the weeds again. Earlier in the season, many of the better muskies were hanging deeper or in limbo post-spawn. Now, with rising surface temps, they’re filtering back into traditional ambush spots—shallow weed edges, rock transitions, and isolated clumps of cabbage.
Mayfly Madness
Lake of the Woods is currently in the thick of a major mayfly hatch. It’s one of the biggest factors affecting the bite right now. When there’s that much natural food available, muskies can afford to be selective—or downright lazy.
The northwest angle is nearing the tail end of the hatch, but other areas are still seeing dense concentrations of larvae and adult flies. Cabbage lines and muddy-bottomed weed flats are especially loaded with activity. Muskies and walleyes alike are using these zones to snack on the endless buffet of mayflies. Fishing near those zones can be frustrating but also rewarding—if you time it right and put the right bait in front of them.
The key is locating the more aggressive fish that are still willing to strike despite the abundance of food. That means moving quickly and targeting structure that borders feeding zones—especially weed-to-rock transitions, slight breaks, or isolated humps.
Baits That Are Producing
Bucktails are still top of the heap. A #6 blade with a green blade/black skirt combo and single treble with a curly tail has been a steady producer. But when the fish get sluggish or you need to trigger a big one in neutral mode, it’s time to go to work with a couple standout baits from Livingston Lures:
Livingston Titan
The Titan is a dive-and-rise lure with a slow, hanging rise that makes it deadly on pressured or inactive fish. I’ve been working it over weed tops and along shallow breaks with a pull-pause rhythm—let it dive, then rise on slack line. That slow ascend and built-in EBS (Electronic Baitfish Sound) is a one-two punch that triggers reaction strikes. Especially effective when the bite slows in midday heat.
Livingston Magnus
The Magnus is a large, hard-thumping swimbait that tracks true and stays in the strike zone longer than most. It’s become a go-to for covering water and contacting aggressive fish on the move. I’ve been throwing it over shallow sand, sparse cabbage, and inside rock turns. It’s got just enough flash and sound to get attention, even during bug-heavy periods.
Other baits like prop-style topwaters and traditional gliders are still moving fish, but the Titan and Magnus have been stealing the show on my boat.
Strategy and Spot Selection
With boats scattered across the lake, don’t be afraid to fish near pressure—but fish differently. Everyone works structure their own way. I’ve had success on spots others just vacated, simply by slowing down and changing cadence. Many fish are showing up in surprisingly shallow water—especially on calm, sunny days. Weed flats, sand edges, and inside turns are all producing.
I also make a point to hit new spots every day. If it looks good—weed, rock, current, or some subtle mix—fish it. Many muskies don’t live on maps, and Lake of the Woods has no shortage of untouched water.
Minor and major feeding windows are still critical. Today, the hot bite was from 8:30–10:00 AM, with a flurry around 2:00 PM. If your fish aren’t committing, keep them in mind for later. Mark them and swing back during a window.
What’s Next
We’re entering full summer pattern mode, with water temps stabilizing around the 70°F mark. Expect muskies to start locking into more consistent locations—main lake rock, outside weed edges, island clusters, and saddle zones.
This is the time to speed up. Burn bucktails, crash topwaters over cabbage, and probe deeper edges with the Titan when they don’t want to chase. When things heat up, the Magnus is perfect for covering water and pulling up active fish you didn’t know were there.
Lake of the Woods is alive with activity, and muskies are on the move. Stay flexible, fish confidently, and don’t be afraid to grind when the bite gets tough. The Livingston Lures Titan and Magnus have both earned a permanent spot in my rotation—and they should be in yours, too.