Let me start by reminding everyone that the fishing page on ALLNORTHWOODS.COM was started mostly for anglers new to fishing, or just folks that fish a few times a year to help them catch more fish. At the same time, I try to keep articles simple while still explaining different techniques. If I didn’t explain something enough or someone would like to add to the article, please do so. That being said, this is the basic 101 of finding and catching post spawn muskies.

Even though fall is considered the best time of the year to land a musky, catching post spawn muskies is still realistic. So, where to start when musky season starts? That question can be difficult to answer for a few reasons. The biggest reason being, we won’t know what the water temperatures will be when the season opens, and this is a big factor. Knowing gin clear lakes warm the slowest, but that warmth will be is evenly distributed and stained lakes or water with dark bottoms will warm faster will help locate post spawn muskies. But remember, cold fronts can change everything.

Once musky spawn, they need to recuperate but will not travel far from their spawning locations for two reasons. They are stressed from spawning and can usually be found recovering in similar areas near their spawning shorelines, but slightly deeper. These locations can be the edges of deeper weed beds on the north side of the lakes, shallow bays or even shorelines with rock bottoms. The other reason muskies stay in shallow water is because food is there.  Being that some species (panfish) spawn in the same areas, time and water temperatures, muskies don’t have to travel far to eat, so why would they leave.

Also, while they are recovering, musky will be less aggressive but if you keep putting bait in their face, you can agitate them to the point of taking that bait. As muskies become less sluggish but are still in the recover mood, it’s a proven fact that slowing down your retrieve and downsizing (live or artificial) bait will give you the best chance of them taking your offering. And most of the time, these muskies will take the bait on a pause rather than fast start retrieve.

Some might say these fish are hungry and want to eat bigger forage. At this time of year, you MIGHT get a musky to follow bigger bait, but they will actually commit to smaller live baits or (6” soft plastic) lures and match the color of the prey they have been eating. So, when should anglers go with bigger baits? I was always told, when muskies start attacking larger perch or walleyes you hooked, is the time to switch to bigger bait/lures. I hope this information helps beginners understand post season musky fishing.

MUSKY SEASON NORTH OF HIGHWAY 10 STARTS MAY 24th AND WIS/MICH BOUNDARY WATERS JUNE 1st