The Critter: Steve’s Mods from Factory Deadly to Guide Dialed
As a lure designer, I am constantly at odds with my instincts as an angler and guide and the expectations of the mass market. The battleground is rarely something superficial like cosmetics. It almost always comes down to weighting.
Execute The Perfect | Comeback When A Musky Follows, What Should I Do Next?
Execute The Perfect Comeback
How Muskie Hunt
How Muskies Hunt
Big Fish Battle Tactics
Musky battle tactics and the actual sequence of rod movements one should execute during a musky battle are rarely discussed inside the pages of an article even though this often has a bearing on both keeping the fish hooked as well as getting it in easy net range.
Southern Muskies and Cold Water January and February Muskie Fishing
Southern Muskies and Cold Water
Hang-Time Muskies
The term “hang-time” has been used in the sport of football most often, and it usually refers to how long a punt or kick hangs in the air from the moment the player kicks or punts the ball until a receiver catches it. Generally speaking, a longer hang time is preferable to kickers/punters because it allows defenders ample time to run down field to intercept the ball carrier before he has had a chance to advance very far. The same term applies to angling, but is used in a different fashion.
The Treble Trick-Out Musky Lure Tweak
Most hard-bait muskie lures are fish catchers right out of the box, but there are going to be certain times and situations where some simple minor tweaks make them far more effective for specific applications. Let’s focus on one of them here — reducing buoyancy to create more “hang time” and even attain neutral buoyancy suspension.
Winter Musky Fishing Rivers | Tips
Winter Musky Fishing Rivers
Winter Musky Fishing Equals Broken Gear.
While musky fishing in January and February might seem like a foreign concept to some, it is a welcomed perk of living in the south. Admittedly the winters in the muskies southern habitat range are generally mild, some years are simply brutal. So far 2024 is not pulling any punches when it comes to bone chilling temps, howling winds and subsequently broken musky gear. So, for the few, the brave, the musky mentally ill crazy enough to be on the water during gale force winds, snow and all-around gnarly conditions let’s look at a few tips to help save your musky gear from damage and most importantly your personal safety on the water.
Winterizing & Protecting Your Musky Fishing Rods/Reels!
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!
Muskie Strategy: How to Create a Better Game Plan
Muskie Strategy and Tactics
Moon Phase and NEW Moon Phase by Location
App Update
Jigging Winter Muskies
Cold Weather Equals Vertical Jigging
Tweaking Big Rubber Musky Lures
Tweaking Big Rubber Musky Lures
Fall Trolling Basics
As we venture further into the crisp sunrises and sunsets of fall, one thing comes to my obsessive muskie mind…Trolling. While fall casting can be fantastic, those in the know are already starting to dial in their fall trolling patterns and gearing up for the super bites that happen the further, we edge towards winter’s grasp. I have said it before and will say it yet again, if trolling isn’t a part of your musky game plan you are an incomplete angler. If you fall into the camp of those that don’t troll, put down the casting rod for just a bit as we explore some of the basics of what you need to start dialing in on fall musky trolling.
Fall Transition and Lake Turnover EXPLAINED
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".
Musky Structure Fishing: Getting Dailed In
Truly understanding structure and how muskies relate to it is a pivotal moment in any angler’s journey. Your career on the water is always filled with a few moments of enlightenment here and there—but when structure fishing clicks in your brain, it’s a true Eureka moment. While I delve deep into the matter of muskies and structure in Next Level Musky Fishing, what follows here is a crash course designed to point musky anglers in the right direction—or help you get dialed back in for the 2025 musky season.
Mid-Summer Muskies | Deep Weed Edge Pattern Basics
As we venture into the heart of musky season most anglers dream of whizzing bucktails and topwaters from the moment they launch till they are back at the docks. Warmer weather and substantial weed growth seems to drawl your average musky angler into the shallows like a moth to a flame. However, as we creep into the beginning of July savvy musky anglers and experienced guides start pushing back from the shallows and start targeting one of the most substantial summer patterns, muskies on deep weed edges.
Muskie Fishing The Canadian Shield Lakes: Breaking Down the Big Three
Muskie Fishing The Canadian Shield Lakes: Breaking Down the Big Three