The name Muskie (also known as Musky) is derived from the word Muskellunge. Esox Masquinongy is the scientific name of Muskie. The term Muskellunge came from the French word Masgue Alongé, which means “Ugly Pike”. In order to catch one of these top predators, follow our summer muskie fishing tips below.
Muskies have only one species, but found in 6 different patterns that include Clear, Barred, Silver, Pure Leopard, Spotted Black Panther and Spotted Leopard. Spotted Black Panther is one of the rarest patterns and only found in Lac Seul. Pure Leopard is the rarest and only can be seen in few lakes in Ontario.
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Muskie Fishing in Summer
Muskies are greatly affected by climatic changes and usually prefer stable weather. During the summer, Muskies become solitary hunters. They either rest at the bottom, or hide under the weed beds or near rock piles. Once the water temperature hovers around 60 degrees, they start moving towards summer territories.
In early summer Muskies spend most of their time in shallow water feeding on ciscoes and whitefish. Late summer is the best time of the year to catch tiger muskies. They are on the go and generally very active during this period. They tend to react well to fast moving presentations and larger lures.
Selecting the right weed beds is an important factor when looking for summer muskies. They are known to be top of the food chain predators and always looking for prey. That is why you need to choose weed beds which offer plenty of food options and space to move around.
Lure Choices For Catching Musky In The Summer
When choosing the lure, versatility is the key, especially during summer. The main reason behind this is that the Muskie becomes familiar with their surroundings, and more often, with our lure presentations. Trolling or casting bucktails, crankbaits, jerkbaits or large minnow baits are most effective when you are fishing around rock humps as Muskies stay on the shallow water, not far from the spawning area.
Look for the emerging weeds patches, as these are known as musky hotspots. This early season weed growth means rising water temperature and bait fishes, it also offers cover for the muskies to hide in. Good lures to target fish around these early growing weed patches are bucktail spinners and minnow baits, especially in overcast days with little wave movement.
Rods and Reels For Summer Musky Fishing
The growing popularity of musky fishing and technological innovation has created an industry today that produce quality Muskie rods and reels which make your fishing job much easier. Some of the most popular summer Muskie fishing rods include Shimano Compre Muskie Rod, St. Croix Legend Musky Rod, and St. Croix Premier casting series.
The reels that you choose are one of the most important components of your musky tackle, and can make a huge difference between a successful Muskie fishing trip or a disappointing one. Some of the most popular Muskie fishing reels includes Shimano Calcutta D Series, Okuma Isis Round Baitcast Musky Reels, Daiwa Lexa High Capacity Baitcast Reel, and Shimano Corvalus Round Casting Musky Reels.
Other Factors to Consider When Fishing For Muskie In Summer
As the air temperature touches 65 degrees, muskies are scattered all over the lake. You will find them on the rocky piles, island clusters, rocky reefs, and cabbage weed beds near deep water. During peak summer, lake surface temperature hovers above 75 degrees; because of this reason muskies become very active due to high metabolism and feed more often than any other time of the year.
During the day, they stay in deeper water. Trolling with deep running plugs or large bucktails is the most effective way to cover a lot of area. The ideal speed for trolling in the summer should be 6-8 miles per hour. Be sure to use a top electric trolling motor for best results. For a better result you need to troll fast with a long line along the weed beds near deep water. It also helps to use a portable cheap fish finder to determine water depth and temperature.
With rising water temperatures, evening and early morning is the perfect time for fishing as deep water muskies move towards shallow water weed beds to feed on the baitfish. Night fishing with large spinnerbaits or top water lures can give you the desired result. Warm surface temperatures, strong winds, and sunny days make the summer most productive time to fish Muskie.
If ice fishing is more your thing, be sure to check out our post on picking the best ice shanty.
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