Muskie Fishing 101...

Every trip is different. Sometimes people come out and don't care about anything other than catching a fish or two. Other times folks just want to learn more about the sport so that they may some day do it on their own. Either way, it always makes for an enjoyable experience on the water. This morning it was a tutorial. Pat Hart has been in contact with me for the past several months. Pat is not a newcomer to fishing by any means, but rather focusing his efforts on getting his family involved in fishing. This spring we went shopping together and picked out some lures and equipment to get him started on the right foot. A few tips along with his new collection of gear got him going for the metro bass and walleyes. That was only the start. Muskies were next on his list.

A few phone calls got him some new baits and a new attitude to approach the mighty muskellunge. This morning we were on a mission to better understand everything happening under the waters surface. Our goal was to disect the different ways to use baits of each kind and in different situations. If something were to latch onto the bait while doing this, that would be ok too. We started out by working a topwater presentation. This resulted in two of the infamous "wakes behind the bait" and one strike. The fish failed to eat, but that was ok. The lesson was how to react when that specific situaiton happened. Pat got an "A" in that course.

Next we were off to try some different bucktail presentations. I wanted to keep it simple, but also explain the different ways that it can be used. Pat started as an instant expert at that getting another "A" for the course and landed the first fish of the morning. A beautiful 44 incher that got him shaking like a leaf. I love that part. His grade of an "A" was soon dropped to a "C" when my favorite part of the morning ensued. Upon moving his feet on the casting deck, momma muskie lurched on his bait, and the off balanced fisherman set the hook while falling to the bottom of the boat. Funny? Maybe a little, but the fish did get away, leaving him with an overall "B" for the course.

After that experience it was on to trolling. A method that he feels he can use while his wife jumps aboard. She has shown some interest in the beastly fish, and he wants to make her dreams a reality. We tried fruitlessly with this, but the course was observed and Pat got another "A." To finish out our day we went back to one of the original fish from earlier. The goal was to see if she would now be willing to do battle. Upon our first casts on the spot the battle ensued about half way to the boat. The lesson here was for Pat to pass the course of "net man!" haha! He got an "A" in that as well. Our second and final muskie for the morning posed for a picture perfect photograph with a camera that I forgot to turn the flash on. Oh well, it's all part of the drama of muskie fishin'. Another morning on the water that never gets old. Until Next Time, Keep on Livin' the dream!

Travis Frank - Travis@mnbound.com