My "Desert Island" Lure for Fall Muskies Part 1
The period of fall has many bonus rewards for the angler willing to put in the time, and effort, to find and catch fish. It has proven itself to be the best time of year to do battle with the mighty muskie, and in terms of quantity and quality, this is definitely the time to begin your search.
Although there are literally dozens of styles of baits to choose from when it comes to muskie fishing, the fall period simplifies the decision greatly. If I have to put my money on one lure that will consistently catch muskies during the fall, the choice would be easy; the jerkbait would get the nod every day of the week.
Follow these tips and techniques in your search for this "elusive" fish, and, whether you're looking for your first fish, or your one hundredth, the results will certainly amaze you.
The Lure
As the water in the fall cools, an impulse is triggered in the muskie to start feeding heavily in order to store reserves to get through the cold winter months. Muskies feed voraciously at this time, yet, as the water cools, the fishes metabolism slows down, which means they will not chase a fast moving bait as they would in the summer. This is where the choice of a jerkbait really shines through.
A jerkbait is a wood or plastic lure that relies on the angler to impart the bait's action through the use of "sweeps" or "jerks" on the rod. This motion causes the bait to dive down and then slowly rise back up. It mimics a wounded baitfish precisely, and also has the correct speed and tempo that causes the opportunistic muskie to strike.
Tackle store shelves are filled with a large assortment of different styles and types of jerkbaits, but if I could bring only one to my "desert island", it would have to be the ten- inch Suick.
After spending many days during the fall chasing the mighty muskie, it has occurred to me that approximately 90% percent of my casting is done with a Suick, and for good reason.
The lure has a big profile in the water that attracts the attention of hungry fish, yet is thinner than many other jerkbaits which ensure a good hook set. It has a bendable tailpiece that can be used to modify the diving depth, and also sports three large and sturdy trebles that hook and hold extremely well.
Under most conditions the Suick will dive to a depth of three to four-feet, and will slowly rise back to the surface. The trick here is to keep it in the two to four-foot depth at all times, as this will make sure it is in the strike zone of the fish at all times.
There are many different colors of Suicks available to the public, yet I find its best to stick with the basics. Black, perch and sucker finish have produced best for me, and definitely get the nod during clear water conditions. If the water is stained or murky, then you may get a better response to a brighter lure. Choose two or three lures in different colors and see which ones work best on your body of water.
By Justin Hoffman
return to articles main page.