What to throw

[MNBEEF]

I am heading up to northwestern mn to a small (194 acre) lake, the water is very claen and visibility is around 17ft. Is there something that I should be throwing more than others. I know with Muskie fishing it all about the right time, place, bait, ect. but what is the general rule for clean water baits?

THanks Beef

[RawHog]

Thats a good question and I'm interested in what lake your on as I am also in/near northwestern MN. I can say that I prefer to use top oriented baits when it's windy and murky, but I've been fishing a pretty clean lake since opener where I can probably see bottom in 15 ft and whats been working for myself is glide baits and spinnerbaits.

But you're definitely spot on about throwing a specific bait to a specific fish at the perfect time with perfect cast placement... In fairly clear water like you and myself are fishing, I think the best thing to do, regardless of the bait is throw your bait to the most obvious of obvious predator ambush spots. All week I've been pulling fish out of the shallows from behind bullrushes and tight patches of cabbage. It's almost been like bass fishing. I think weed contact has had some importance too in getting one's attention.. thats why spinner baits and not bucktails.

I wish I could tell you something definitive for your question about general clean water bait baits, but I don't know the answer, so I hope you appreciate my advice, Beef.

[Tommy1990]

In my experience on clear water, I have noticed a trend with colors more-so than type of bait. I seem to have better success with natural colors. Things that are walleye colored, crappie colored, or if you know that there's ciscos or tulibees in there, find something that is colored like that.

[BEEFEATER]

i know exactly what lake

[Musky Buck]

That lake was my late 80's through the mid 90's opener lake and it was good for a few weeks after opener, tie on a topwater whenever you have low light and hang on. Realize with pressure now that the lake won't last too long as people are pounding it daily and nightly because it's the surest thing I've seen in musky fishing in 24 years, just a touch too far for me to drive anymore as the ramp is packed and spots are limited and the next lake is a touch to far to go to if that lake is packed, good luck.

[MNBEEF]

Musky Buck Just sent you a PM

[Ridgerunnr]

I fished some clear water in Canada last year. Visibility was 15-20 feet.In 3 days only one lure proved to catch them. Tinsel cowgirl by Bucher. Boated two 48s and a 50.Presenting lure PAST where i thought one might be..(past points and boulders) then retrieve lure thru into the area. The clear water caused them to spook out if you dropped in too close. I learned a lot about figure 8s and enticing strikes watching them in the clear water.

[Ridgerunnr]

The lure ...to be more specific .."Goldie locks" magnum tinsel cowgirl by Bucher

[Musky Buck]

Mag Tinsel by JB and Musky Mayhem Cowgirl, anyway, go with a topwater and a hair assuming you'll be with a buddy, you say clean water so survive the mosquito's and then really get busy with that bucktail in the dark. If your topwater/hair does nothing on several spots when you can see follows, time to tie on a bulldawg and work the edges slowly. You may even want to troll open water, 1 guy with a double ten and another with a deeper running bait, many times early in the year they'll suspend in no mans land, but with water temps rapidly rising that may not be the case this year and as small a water as you're fishing temps should be fairly high by the time you go.