It's true - you can catch muskies at any time a year - however, autumn is a magical time for most angler's and is the period where the most serious trophy hunters venture out in search of old esox.

As the water begins to cool and the pleasure boaters slowly begin storing their boats for winter; muskies can be found scattered in both deep and shallow waters.

Here are a few tricks to help you boat a musky this fall.

Where to Catch Fall Muskies

1. Open Water - Although many new musky anglers always associate muskies to weeds, these fish do roam in deeper water. Note though that just because the water is deep, does not guarantee that the fish will be on the bottom. Muskies will chase schools of baitfish (such as mooneye) suspended in deeper water. And these open water fish can be caught by using a variety of methods from trolling crankbaits, casting jerkbaits, or jigging large plastics. When in deeper water I like to look for shoals, reefs and drop offs.
2. Weeds - Many anglers fish the same way year-round. You can frequently contact fish in shallow water even in the fall. Stay away from old dying weed beds and areas that lack oxygen, which makes if difficult for fish to live there. Green weeds are the key to shallow water fall musky angling. When you discover fresh weeds they will be a hiding place for bait, and the muskies will not be far away. Weed beds that are also located in close proximity to deep water are prime areas for the shallow water angler.
3. River/Creek Mouths - I have yet to uncover a lake or river system that didn't have great musky angling in and around a creek or river mouth. Try fishing a color change in the water, where stained water meets clearer water. If there is one, the fish will often be holding close by. Some baitfish spawn in creeks during the fall and loads of food means loads of muskies.
4. Rocky Points - Rocks can be very underrated when it comes to structure. Rocky points can become fish magnets, especially during the fall, and muskies will use them as ambush points as they feed actively on bait such as ciscos.

While muskies are often caught in summer holding areas, often large weed flats in shallow water, I prefer to fish in deeper water. I position my boat in shallow water and cast the reverse of what I would in the summer. I like to work the whole water column as muskies will cruise open water in search for food. They can be caught just below the surface, suspended mid-depth and close to the bottom, so a variety of lures and techniques are required to figure out where they are and what they want to eat.

Musky Lures

Bigger is better when it comes to fall muskies. Diehard anglers use lures in excess of 15". Using large lures requires the proper tackle to ensure successful angling and to make certain you are not going to lose a lure to a fish. I like to use 100-lb braided line with a long 130-lb fluorocarbon leader. When fishing for muskies it is important to have your release tools ready and accessible. Two sets of long needle-nose pliers, hook cutters and jaw spreaders are required as well as a large musky sized landing net. Have your camera ready and keep the fish in the water until you are ready to take a quick photo. Although muskies have a reputation for being one of the meanest freshwater fish, they really are a fragile species and require proper handling to ensure a safe release.

1. Weighted Jerkbaits - A staple in fall musky angling. Jerkbaits - especially those with extra weight - are a mainstay. With a long pull and a slow retrieve, these lures act like a dying baitfish and muskies will often hit them on the pause. I like to tinker with my baits and add extra weight to them by drilling holes in the bottom and gluing them in. This helps the lures suspend longer and stay in the strike zone for an extended period of time. Favorites include the trusty Suick, Double D, Sledge and the Hellhound.
2. Soft Plastics - My favorite way to fish in the fall and there is no wrong way to fish them. You can let these lures hit the bottom and slowly reel them back or work them erratically to the boat. My favorite soft plastic baits are Musky Innovation's Bulldawg, Big Joe, Medussa and Red October Tubes.
3. Crankbaits - There is no better way to fish deeper water or to target fish cruising around schools of bait then to look like the forage they are chasing. Later in the season its time to put away the smaller baits and use large minnow baits. My favorite crankbaits include the Legend Plow and Perchbait, Jake's and Believers.

Summer musky anglers cast and troll fast. A general rule to consider for landing fall musky is to note that as the water temperatures drop, so should your retrieval or trolling speed. In summer months I have caught muskies trolling with speeds over 6 MPH and in late-fall (Late November-December) trolling around 2 MPH seems to be the ticket.

I hope to see many of you on the water this fall and I can't wait to see your photos!

Jamie

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