Advice for a beginner

[fishfun67]

I have muskie fished twice before but always was with someone else and used there equipment, now i finally have my own and will be out on my own and wanted to advice on where to start. I will probably fish the metro Indy, Bald Eagle, Waconia etc. What kind of structure should i be looking for weeds breaks rocks etc. When is the best time to try early am, afternoon night, baits etc. Just looking for any advice to start with as I'm a newbie still and not sure where to start or what to look for.

[50inchpig]

anyone who says "always" or "never" in our sport is a liar and shouldn't be trusted

keep meeting and fishing with other people, even though you have your own stuff. joining muskies inc is a great way to network with other guys who fish the same lakes you do.

practice so you can become efficient at running your boat half a cast off the deep weededge and casting back over the milfoil edge. milfoil is the main metro structure you'll fish, outside edge, inside edge, and over the top of it.

low light/darkness is generally a better time to fish, but read the first line of my reply again.

[DaveZman14q]

When you see a boat with a couple guys who seem to know what they are doing, quickly cut 30 yards in front of them and finish fishing their piece of structure! Only in the metro!

[KING]

as simple as it sounds...just fish...dont complicate it too much. i've caught muskies at every right time and every wrong time.

and as stated in every new musky fishing thread...make sure to have proper release tools...for YOUR and the fishes safety.

if you get tired or frustrated casting throw out a spinnerbait and troll, regroup...

As a basic plan of attack pick a few different types of structure...fish each type and see if you move fish, if yes look for more similar areas, if no modify the plan...dont get stuck in a rut.

patterning fish is difficult...sometimes the best days to get bit are the days you rarely see fish follow, other days are opposite.

keep notes or a log book so that you can kind of revisit thoughts.

[fishfun67]

Thanks guys, so do you think fishing the weeds and sharp breaks is a good place to start?

[Yooperguy]

Yes, flats are good in the summer too. Also make sure to have all the proper release tools .

[DaveZman14q]

Get as far out of the metro as possible... otherwise try your best to fish weekdays. I catch most mine in the evening, but if you have to fish weekends in the metro, make sure your lure is the first they see!

[Feathers Rainin]

Get as far out of the metro as possible... otherwise try your best to fish weekdays. I catch most mine in the evening, but if you have to fish weekends in the metro, make sure your lure is the first they see!

Or you could just fish areas that don't get pounded as much. Tonka is a big lake and it can't all be fished every day. Instead of going to spots that will obviously be targeted find a bay that is out of the way that doesn't look all that special and work the weedlines. Both times I have hit tonka (on the weekend) we did that and never saw another musky boat and contacted fish both times. We almost got run over by a few yachts...but didn't have to compete for fish. Fishing at night would also be a good option but not the easiest thing to do for a beginner, or even the experienced. Good luck and welcome to the world of hunting fish!

[fishfun67]

I want to make it to tonka sometime but the pure size and not having a great idea on where to even start on that lake scares me off till i get more comfortable on some smaller lakes on what to look for

[mrklean]

never hurts to try a few of those smaller lakes or even try a weaver lake that has tigers in there get comfortable with what to look for. If you ever want to go out let me know.

[urban cowboy]

Keep it simple. You don't have to run all over the lake. Start with one small section of the lake and learn where and how to fish curtain spots. Once you learn that section move on to the next. Eventually you will put together a solid milk run. Eventually as in weeks/months... Good luck.

[Zelmsdawg]

The sportsmans Minnesota Muskie Fishing map guide is where I started. Sure, they're all community spots but you get the map and some spots to start out with and can branch out slowly on your own as you get the feel for it

[mrklean]

I always wondered about that Muskie fishing map ive looked though it a few times and most of the stuff seems so basic, fish these rocks, fish these weeds, look for the sharp break. But i figure it should be nice for a starter on what to look for, could find a worse way to spend $20