The ice has finally retreated. Cabin fever has peaked. Hardcore muskie fisherman are preparing for another season chasing these elusive goliaths. Muskie fishing, or should I say hunting, during the early Spring can be extremely productive, provided that anglers are able to understand how to locate this top-end predator.
Many states have no closed season for muskies. Most muskie anglers who catch them, especially during the pre-spawn, will practice catch and release to ensure the egg laden females can still perform their annual spawning ritual.
First, let’s discuss early spring locations. Although categorized as a warm-water fish, muskies prefer the cooler end of the temperature spectrum. Ideally, temperatures in the middle 40’s are best. Since many waters in the Northeast typically range in the mid to upper 40’s during early-spring, muskies are attracted to shallow water areas with direct sunlight. Shallow areas, especially those with a dark bottom, warm more quickly during sunny days. Conversely, as evening temperatures cool during April and May, muskies tend to seek deeper water as their shallow daytime haunts cool quickly. Although, muskies tend to be somewhat easier to catch during the early part of the spring, anglers can still expect to work overtime as attempting to put a pattern in place when targeting muskies during the early spring can be frustrating.
As early spring snow pack melts, run-off entering lakes and rivers begins to increase water temperatures in many spawning bays. Warmer water in spawning bays also attracts a variety of baitfish. Muskies head for those areas and will soon begin the spawning ritual. Muskies prefer water temperatures ranging from 52-57 degrees for spawning. Fifty-five degrees is optimal. As a female drop her eggs, the male counterpart pummels her with his body in an attempt to fertilize the eggs. This is extremely grueling and stressful for the female, so much that it occasionally results in her death.
Late spring corresponds with the post-spawn
period, and post-spawn muskie fishing may the toughest two to four weeks of the
entire season. At least seven to ten days is required for the female to recover
from the rigor of the spawn. Fishing is difficult during this recovery because
most females will not feed often. Therefore numbers of “catchable” fish are
quite low. There is a ray of hope. As post-spawn fish retreat from spawning
areas, new spawning fish take their places. Locate and target areas near
emerging vegetation where water temperatures are warmest. 
Equipment and Tackle selections:
I prefer 7’6”-8’6” rods rated for ¾ to 3oz. baits rigged with St. Croix AC300A reels spooled with 65-80 lb. test braided line. When downsizing lures during the Spring, attaching a leader to prevent bite-offs is highly recommended. Fluorocarbon leaders are preferred not only during Spring but throughout the entire season. Fluorocarbon material is invisible under water and is abrasion resistant. There is a huge benefit in using a non-wire leader. If a large muskie rolls up your line, fluorocarbon will not cut and injure the fish as will wire leaders. Eighty lb. test leaders are preferred for smaller lures, however increasing the leader diameter to 130 and 200lb. for larger crankbaits, bucktails and heavier jerkbaits is recommended.
Muskies can eat prey up to 20 inches long, and they’ll occasionally try their luck with prey larger than that! A single meal consumed by a 50-inch musky can easily exceed 5 pounds! Professional guides and muskie anglers across the Eastern and Mid-West portion of the country prefer downsizing their offerings during early spring due to the muskies’ decreased metabolism. Rubber swimbaits such as the Curly Sue or Swimmin’ Joe can be deadly. Smaller minnow baits like the Bomber Long-A Magnum or the Rapala Husky Jerk have accounted for hundreds of Spring-time musky catches. If you prefer baits with blades, the Mepps #5 in-line spinner or even large bass safety pin-style spinnerbaits can get their attention. And we can grab a technique from Southern Reservoir muskie hunters, since they have perfected the use of smaller rattle baits and deep diving “bass” crankbaits.
Water clarity is a major factor when selecting lures. Although targeting warmer spawning bays during April and May will increase the chances for catching and quickly releasing a trophy muskie, spawning areas in lakes and reservoirs will have reduced water clarity from spring run-off. When water is stained, it is important to use lures that can be “noticed”. Upsize offerings and use noisy lures or lures that provide ample vibration. Fish can detect and track noisy lures much more easily when water is muddy.
Since
all muskies do not spawn at once, fishing various depths in spawning areas is
also a key component. While many fish can be located in depths ranging from one
to five feet, low nighttime air temperatures during the early spring cool
shallow water very quickly. For this reason, muskies will position themselves
on the first major drop-off. Fishing this first drop-off or primary break line
during early morning is essential.
Understanding lure speed and retreival is another piece of the puzzle for springtime success. It is best to experiment each day with our retrieval speed, for fish will dictate what they want. On some days, fishing faster (especially during mid to late afternoon) is the ticket. A muskie’s metabolism will increase during the height of daily warmth due to the “re-charging” effect of the sun. Frequently muskies can be observed just under the surface in any water depth “sunning” themselves in the bright afternoon sunlight. Fish are cold-blooded creatures and are continually seeking optimal water temperatures so there metabolic processes can function at the highest level. Locations on lakes or rivers where water temperatures warm just a single degree will often attract muskies and other baitfish.
Early and mid-spring cold frontal passages are quite common, and with them anglers can expect cold wind, rain, and even snow. During these conditions, fish may re-locate from their shallow water haunts to deeper, warmer water. Some fish may suspend in main lake areas or in bays while river fish head for the main river channel. During post-cold frontal conditions, anglers should try to locate schools of bait as muskies may follow the food source. Cast deeper diving crankbaits below bait pods or cast and count down small rubber swim baits, allowing the lure to fall into the fish zone prior to retrieval. Remember, fish are negatively affected by falling water temperatures, so slow down the retrieval speed and toss smaller presentations for better results. Trolling “prop wash” baits in the 5-7 inch range can be a sure option during these conditions.
One huge advantage when fishing during early spring is the lack of competition from other anglers. Plus, baitfish populations have been thinned out during the previous winter so there is less natural bait for fish to prey upon. Food is scarce which may allow the selected lure to appear more enticing to hungry predators.
Hunting and catching the king of freshwater fish is never an easy proposition. If it were, everyone would be doing it!. Serious muskie anglers must devote countless hours on the water as well as reading about muskie behavior. Increased understanding of these awesome fish will greatly influenced ones success. Knowing the reasons why muskies do what they do can greatly shorten your learning curve and increase your odds, most notably during the spring.
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Red Childress owns and operates Allegheny Guide Service located in Northwest PA along the beautiful Allegheny River. He and his guides provide fishing trips on the Allegheny River and Chautauqua Lake, NY.
Email address is: musky@westpa.net
Phone: 814-688-2309
Web site URL is: http://www.alleghenyguideservice.com