Do you fish spring musky and lack success? There are a few tips to improve the chances people often overlook. Some minor changes in tactics or techniques make an impact in the spring. In reality, there are 3 things that make or break spring musky fishing.
Water Conditions
Find warm water, muskies in warmer water during the spring are more active. Waters with current tend to produce better. These are rivers and flowages also known as reservoirs. Flowing water mixes and warms up faster. Look for shallows on the north shore of lakes and reservoirs. These waters warm up faster also.
In the afternoon or later in the day. The water is warmest from the sun’s effects. Focus on fishing after lunchtime. Look for any advantage this time of the year.
Once you find these conditions. Check for baitfish being present. Muskies eat all year. In the spring, they feed before the spawn and after the spawn. When a musky spawns it does not feed but not all muskies breed at the same time. There is always a hungry fish lurking for a meal. They will be with the baitfish.
If you see minnows at the surface it is a good indicator of warmer water and food being in the area. A musky is likely close by waiting. Work the area with fan-casting hitting all the water. Areas with springtime musky tend to be limited, plus smaller in size. Find a few and work the areas thoroughly. The fish are active by spring standards. You may need to work the lure a few times past a fish in the spring.
Use the Right Lures to Fish Spring Musky
In the spring, when you fish for musky, downsize your lures. The smaller lures catch more fish in the spring. Smaller bucktails, Supershad Raps, and 3-4 inch lipless crankbaits will produce. These work well for muskies in the spring. This time of the year, walleye and bass anglers catch a lot of musky on small lures.
The minnow baits, jigs, and crankbaits used by these anglers fall into the small bait category. At times the small 3-5 inch jerkbaits outperform anything else. The size 5 and 6 spinners are performers at this time of the year too.
Jerkbaits in the 4 to 5-inch range work well also. You can throw the lures on a lighter tackle. A heavy or medium-heavy bass rod works for many spring lures. The small bucktails and spinnerbaits weigh 1/2 to 1 ounce. Rapala husky jerks fall under an ounce for most of them. You do not need to use big lures. It is likely going to cause fewer fish and follows.
The exception to the small bait rule is the following. If you raise a big fish around 38-40 inches or bigger. It is time to try bigger baits.
Follow Up
Following up is when you have seen fish, but they did not hit. There is a reason a fish does not hit a lure. The lure may have been too big, too fast, or the fish is not ready to strike. In many cases, leaving for an hour or two is the best thing to do. You come back later and try a different approach.
If you were using a spinner or crankbait try a slower lure. A jerk or glide bait uses a slower retrieve. This often gets a fish to strike. Downsize the lure size as another option. You may be using the right type of lure, it is too big. Changing from 6-inch to 4-inch bait makes a difference a lot of time. The good thing is if the fish was not ready to strike earlier. Either of these changes will work. Sometimes the fish only needs a little time.
What you do not want to do is keep throwing for 10-15 minutes at the fish. This will spook the fish if something is off. A few casts are fine. But do not think a musky will hit if you keep throwing a lure at it. The fish can be finicky at times. You need to do what the fish wants, not what you want to do.
Conclusion How to Fish Spring Musky
Spring fishing for musky is overlooked by many anglers. If you take the time to scout out areas with the right conditions then downsize lures. You will find success. People tend to use large lures all the time. This hurts your chances in the spring.