Early season tactics

[SmellEsox]

What are some of you guys' early season tricks. One trick I've had success w/ early is just a Salt Shaker on a bullet jig and just reel it in so the tail is giving off a nice thump.

[50inchpig]

A little early season swimbait action is a good thing.

Last year bucktails, topwaters and cranks all took fish on opener, but temps were a couple weeks ahead of what they are now, we kind of hit the pre summer peak from the get-go.

I'm thinking more about spots than baits. I'm confident from past success on this lake if I find active fish in any of these areas they'll probably eat a variety of things. I've got some shallow areas, some green cabbage spots, some good deeper weed clumps to cast, and will definitely be spending some time in the open water where they were hanging out last year.

[thrax]

Big baits/open water. Muskies in my area have not made a significant move into the shallows yet, been fishing shallow walleyes pretty hard for the last 3 weeks, many years I might see 10-30 muskies in a day by now, so far this year I have seen 1. Been on the water a lot and in "likely" areas, fish just not showing there yet.

Given the right conditions, I will work a Hawg Wobbler in some shallows though for at least a little while!