Metro Muskies

[Apex]

Has any one noticed most metro lakes and smaller/shallower lakes(as of July) around the state just aren't as good this year? Or let alone fishing in general? We're catching fish, but the number of fish following and in the net have declined from the previous years. The weather has been terrible around the metro and I believe as well as every die hard angler, that the weather and temps have been the problem. Posting this thread to let everyone vent their frustration this year or to talk smack.

[50inchpig]

I'm not too proud to admit it's been slow for me the last 4-5 weeks in the metro, makes it an easier decision to take a break for the last 2 weeks due to water temps. June was lots of fun, otherwise I'd probably be much more antsy, and I think some of the classic early fall action I like so much might be really good this year, kind of skipped right over the 70-60 degree water temp range last fall.

It's a little frustrating, especially with huge fish being caught up north everyday, but we're not even halfway through the season yet.

Pics of 53s" make me want to go musky fishing but I'm still content to wait it out another week or two and keep trying to trench a big dawg flathead before musky fishing gets serious again. Always fun to look at past pics though, so here's a little smack - not even the biggest one we got on opener but my favorite pic ever.

[JRedig]

I do not have the same observation, until the last 10 days of heat, still been putting fish in the boat each outing.

[tonkapat]

I with jredig on this one. I've had to really screw things up not to put 2 or 3 in the net each time in just a few hours. I can see where you are coming from though because the fish are stacked on top of each other, once they start coming they come in bunches. Would be nice to get back at it again. good luck

[Apex]

Sorry didn't realize you guys were bass fishing, 2 to 3 fish an outing, and every outing a fish ha ha!! Get real.

[propster]

Sorry didn't realize you guys were bass fishing, 2 to 3 fish an outing, and every outing a fish ha ha!! Get real.

Now that's talkin' smack. Or maybe just a poor assumption

[Esox_Magnum]

If we were bass fishing to would be 20-30 not 2-3....While I don't know Tonka I have met Jeff and no reason to not belive them...No matter how tough a bite someones always on fish....

[Nick Kuhn]

Having fished Tonka about the only thing guaranteed is you'll see plenty of large brown fish. And by large brown fish I mean mostly carp.

That being said no matter how good of a fisherman you are there are definitely days when fishing is all but futile. I think of the June Jam tourney where only 1 fish was caught on Bone (and Bone has one of the highest fish densities in the entire region, and structurally is one of the easiest lakes you could ever fish). That tells me even the best fisherman in the right place still won't catch anything at the wrong time.

[Seamus]

HA i still havent put a fish in the boat this year

[mainbutter]

50inchpig I LOVE that pic with your dogs, just adorable!

[JRedig]

Yeah....looks like tonkapat and I aren't the only one's who liked july...

http://www.skiepatrol.com/

I still can't figure out why you think the weather has been terrible and the temps have been the problem. I guess i'm just not a "die hard angler". 2-4 days a week on average just isn't enough!

Posts like this, you guys are beating yourselves in your head before you even get to the lake. A muskie eats darn near everyday. Especially with warmer water temps.

[WallyGator12000]

At least half of Hoyer's fish are from up north, not the metro- not a good comparison...and Redig the temps have been a problem, it's been dangerously warm to chase these fish (~80) for at least a month. Congrats on putting fish in the boat, it's quite impressive, but honestly there's no need to make a guy feel worse who has been having some tough time on the water by telling him how great things have been for you instead.

[scsavre]

pretty easy for a guy to come on here and claim to boat a lot of muskies.

They do eat every day, and you need to put a good amount of time on the water to figure this out. If you cant dedicate 4 days a week to fishing. Fishing can seem pretty terrible.

That said I have been surprised in both ways of success and failure this year. I have been out on days where I thought the net would hit the water 5 times only to get skunked. I have also been out on worthless looking days and done quite well. So if you can get out on weekday mornings and avoid the pressure, you have a decent chance. If you dont have the time, it might be a little harder for you. Either way fish are out there to be caught. If you arent doing well on a particular lake or 2. Try a different one. I have found that it is possible to learn a lake so good that you actually learn your way right out of fish. Seems like this year I am having a better follow to catch rate, but less in the boat. I have backed off with these temps too.

[tonkapat]

water temps back under 80 today and really windy. One fish ate came unhooked ate again came unhooked again and still was chasing in the 8 for almost a minute. I missed my opportunity boatside when a nice one just missed the bait in the first turn. Came home a zero not a hero today

[JRedig]

and Redig the temps have been a problem, it's been dangerously warm to chase these fish (~80) for at least a month. Congrats on putting fish in the boat, it's quite impressive, but honestly there's no need to make a guy feel worse who has been having some tough time on the water by telling him how great things have been for you instead.

Let me see if we're on the same page here.

Guy asks if anyone has been seeing ___________ in the metro and here are his observations.

I reply that is not my experience and not in a way to make anyone feel worse, want proof, go reread my first reply. I'm not out here bragging about XYZ pretty much ever.

He replies calling myself and tonka pat liars.

Now you feel the need to comment to me? HE ASKED IF ANYONE ELSE HAD BEEN SEEING THE SAME THING AND THAT HAS NOT BEEN MY EXPERIENCE. I didn't claim to be any kind of a fishing god, I didn't quote numbers or size, just what has been happening FACTUALLY. I have plenty of friends on here who can confirm that has been the experience.

And FWIW, water temps haven't been that warm for as long as you say. Until 12-13 days ago, surface temps dropped well under 80 on the lakes i've been fishing very quickly after sundown. In the mornings they were closer to 75.

Good fishing guys, the bite is on everyday, don't over think these fish and don't think yourself out of them.

[WallyGator12000]

Redig, I'm not interested in getting in a ________ match with you, matter of fact we have never met but we run in some of the same circles and I know you're a very good musky fisherman.

My simple point is that you didn't need to react. You're correct, the first post you made was simple and to the point, but then you continued to react, when it just wasn't needed. And you reacted on more than one HSOforum. I understand that you may even have been called out a bit, but what's the point?

Everyone has been struggling this summer, including some of the best. It's ridiculous to act like that never happens to you, or that you put fish in your boat EVERY outing. Hoppe doesn't do that, neither do Hamernick, Hoyer, Trav Frank or Cochran. And certainly not on metro water. I believe that you catch a lot of fish, but to claim that it happens every outing (based on your statement of 2-4 times a week) is simply not possible, and I think that is what caused the disbelief from others here on the board. I understand that it is part-hyperbole, but some others here might not. That's where the problem comes in, not that you have been doing well recently, but that some of your posts make it sound like you ALWAYS do well, that you'd have to be an [PoorWordUsage] to not be putting fish in the boat right now (or any other time for that matter).

That said, I believe that you have a caught a lot of fish this summer, and that you personally have done well during some of these past "tougher" weeks (frankly, I've heard as much from sources I trust). Keep on it. I wasn't trying to start a fight, and never meant any of my statements to be taken as a personal attack on your credibility. No worries.

[JRedig]

Redig, I'm not interested in getting in a ________ match with you, matter of fact we have never met but we run in some of the same circles and I know you're a very good musky fisherman.

My simple point is that you didn't need to react. You're correct, the first post you made was simple and to the point, but then you continued to react, when it just wasn't needed. And you reacted on more than one HSOforum. I understand that you may even have been called out a bit, but what's the point?

Everyone has been struggling this summer, including some of the best. It's ridiculous to act like that never happens to you, or that you put fish in your boat EVERY outing. Hoppe doesn't do that, neither do Hamernick, Hoyer, Trav Frank or Cochran. And certainly not on metro water. I believe that you catch a lot of fish, but to claim that it happens every outing (based on your statement of 2-4 times a week) is simply not possible, and I think that is what caused the disbelief from others here on the board. I understand that it is part-hyperbole, but some others here might not. That's where the problem comes in, not that you have been doing well recently, but that some of your posts make it sound like you ALWAYS do well, that you'd have to be an [PoorWordUsage] to not be putting fish in the boat right now (or any other time for that matter).

That said, I believe that you have a caught a lot of fish this summer, and that you personally have done well during some of these past "tougher" weeks (frankly, I've heard as much from sources I trust). Keep on it. I wasn't trying to start a fight, and never meant any of my statements to be taken as a personal attack on your credibility. No worries.

I appreciate you taking the time for a well thought out post, sorry I took your post as a personal attack, it wasn't directed so much at you, I apologize for that.

FWIW, for the time discussed here (july) my statement about a fish in the boat per outing stands. I didn't say I don't struggle at times, I just stated what has happened recently since someone asked. When I do struggle, remembering things like "muskies eat everyday" is what gets me out of them, hence why you see a lot of my posts they way you describe them. Those are the facts, day in and day out.

[BEEFEATER]

lol

[WallyGator12000]

Like I said, no worries. Heck, I'd rather share a boat sometime and experience your hot streak than argue on a message board!

[Castinski]

Sounds like most of these guides have been hammering them around the metro. This article also makes it sound like they were pounding them during the heat wave last week. Hopefully they are a bit more responsible than that.

SC times article

[BEEFEATER]

They have the right to fish when ever they want!!! A guy in the star trib a couple weeks ago was begging for people not to fish muskies, maybe he should tell me who to vote for president next time...

[WallyGator12000]

That may be the most uniformed and ignorant point of view I have seen in awhile. If we don't protect the resource its going to be gone. Just because you have the right doesn't mean you don't have a responsibility to the fish, and frankly to other musky anglers as well.

[propster]

Well said Wally. Beef should have no beef with people asking or even expecting others to act responsibly, but based on some of his previous posts...

[scsavre]

Seems like some anglers need to be more responsible and respectful. I still feel bad about times, years ago when I was beginner and fished in conditions that were not ideal for a healthy release. Seems crazy that people have to catch so many fish in a year that they cant take a few weeks off, or at least switch to night fishing. It really surprising me how many guides hit the water every day in extreme conditions. I guess its thier job though.

[Apex]

jredig you are the epitome of a fisherman!! wallygator and 50inchpig your on the money in my book. 20 fish in the boat and 4 over 50 w/ me and my buddy. This is musky fishing and recently it has sucked.