‘The fish of 10,000 casts’: Anglers begin pursuit of the elusive musky

This Saturday, May 25, is the opening day of musky season in Northern Zone which includes the Northwoods.

For some anglers, this weekend is even bigger than the opening of game fish season as the “fish of 10,000 casts,” puts up a fight unlike any other, making bagging a trophy all the more satisfying.

According to local guide and seasoned musky angler Jeff Van Remortel, this year’s opener is shaping up to be one that will bring good success to anglers. By the time opening day dawns, most lakes will have completed their spawns, he noted. The only exceptions would be the biggest, deepest lakes with the coldest water.

“People should concentrate on those systems that are farthest along, where fish are farthest post-spawn,” he recommended. He also said this season was setting up to be exactly what it should be — most fish will be post-spawn far long enough by this weekend that they will be looking to eat again. Smaller, shallower lakes that warm first will be the best targets for anglers looking to haul in one of these elusive fish on opening weekend.

“You want to look at the smaller, shallow systems just because, one they do warm up more quickly, but more importantly is, the true reason why those things are better early season choices is because the fish are father past the spawn,” he explained. 

He also suggested anglers look for the warmest water and lakes that have the most weed growth. While some spots in some lakes may have better weed growth than others, and those spots could produce more than other spots, the lakes with the best overall weed growth early on are the best bet for early season musky anglers. However, simply because there is good weed growth on a lake does not necessarily mean the fish are through the spawning process. That is where the smaller, shallower lakes come into play as being more productive for the opener.

As far as baits, Van Remortel said, small jerk baits and small bucktails, typical early season baits, are likely to produce well. However, anglers should not necessarily shy away from larger baits for opening weekend, either. 

In the week prior to opening weekend, he said he had seen musky after walleye and bass, biting off crank baits and feeding fairly aggressively. This is a clue that normal-sized musky baits, or even magnum-sized presentations may work well for anglers who are looking to hook into a big fish on opening weekend. Rubber baits in the medium to larger size may bring good results, too. Normal-sized blades and things such as 10” Suicks or regular and magnum Bull Dawgs or 8-10” tubes, anything an angler might equate with the second or third week of June might be good bets as well.

“However, myself, I’ll most likely be throwing normal to upsized baits right off the bat on opener, because we’re going to have a lot of these fish in that post-spawn feeding period and well recovered or in the process of recovering from the spawn,” he said. In years such as this with early ice out, the fish get through the spawn and their post-spawn funk before opening weekend and are ready to eat again by the time the season opens, he explained.

On many lakes, anglers would not be wrong to treat musky fishing as they might normally in the middle of June in small and medium size systems. In larger systems, and systems with bull rush stands where muskies hang around in the spring, there will likely still be some fish found with the spawning mentality and behavior in play. 

Anglers should also look for areas with spawning suckers. That spawn usually takes place close to the same time or just after musky spawn in most systems. Van Remortel has been seeing muskies cruising in the same places where suckers and crappies will be, or are, spawning.

Van Remortel said the fairly stable weather the week leading up to the opener should help. He said anglers should also pay attention to the moon phases and any incoming weather that pairs up with those phases.

As always, nothing compares to local knowledge. 

For anglers who have yet to hit the water, a stop at the local tackle shop can be most helpful in choosing a lake and getting a better idea of where to start to look for these mighty fish. Anglers should also be aware that fishing regulations can change from year to year, so they will want to know the length limits for musky on the lake they intend to hit on opening weekend. 

Anglers who are successful boating a musky on opening weekend, or at any time during the season, are encouraged to send a photo to the Times at [email protected]

Beckie Gaskill may be reached via email at [email protected].