Visiting Angler = Muskie 1st timer

[syncronized]

Hey guys,

I'm going to be visiting your beautiful state of MN and looking to land a Muskie to cross one off the bucket list...that and to make all the boys at home jealous

My parents-in-law are in the Wyoming area so Forest Lake, Green lake and Chisago look like the closest lakes. Are these lakes stocked with big ol'Muskies?

I'll have access to a boat and I'm pretty heavy into Pike back home, so can I use the same tactics for Pike on Muskies? Any tips from you local pros would be much appreciated.

Cheers!

[M1dwestF1sh]

Its been a hard year for muskie fishing but out of those lakes, Forest will give you the best chance. There's quiet a few muskies in there. Another lake in the area most overlook is clear lake, but its a pretty small lake, still produces nice fish though!

[syncronized]

Thanks for the headsup. I've been reading the forum postings about legal lengths and the possible low #s...but don't worry I'm strictly C&R even back home. In fact I hate the taste of fish :S I'm more of a beef and potatoes kind of guy!

I did see a Youtube link about summer tactics for fishing these beauties...so it looks like I've got some watching to do. I'll post here again if I have some questions or don't quite understand what the 2 guys are talking about in the video.

Cheers!

[CaptainMusky]

Most pike tactics would work work, the question is how big are the lures and how heavy is your tackle?

Do you have an adequate net and hook cutters?

Topwaters can be deadly before a storm comes in our at dusk. Otherwise big rubber and big bucktails.

[syncronized]

Most pike tactics would work work, the question is how big are the lures and how heavy is your tackle?

Do you have an adequate net and hook cutters?

[CaptainMusky]

When I say plastic, I mean lures like a Medussa or a Bulldawg. Your gear may not handle these large baits, at least the big ones. You can find smaller variations though.

Dont worry, your pike stuff will probably get some interest, but you will get more Bass and Pike to hit them that would normally ignore the musky stuff.

Almost all of my personal "bests" have come on musky baits for walleye, bass, pike. Not much of a surprise I guess, but its fun anyway.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

Its been a hard year for muskie fishing but out of those lakes, Forest will give you the best chance. There's quiet a few muskies in there. Another lake in the area most overlook is clear lake, but its a pretty small lake, still produces nice fish though!

Ill clarify things further for OP. of the lakes you named Forest lake is the only lake stocked with muskies. Dont try the others. Other close lakes to that area with good muskie populations worth considering are White Bear Lake and Bald Eagle Lake both are just south on 35E or 61. Clear Lake, near forest lake has tiger muskies and not pure strain. Tigers generally dont grow as big. You MIGHT have a better chance at catching a tiger muskie but it would likely only be in the mid 30" range 40" + are out there just much harder to come by.

Heavy pike gear (heavy action rods, 50 lb braid +, some sort of heavy leader) can handle muskies. Make sure you have release tools like spreaders, long pliers and bolt cutters too.

[syncronized]

Ill clarify things further for OP. of the lakes you named Forest lake is the only lake stocked with muskies. Dont try the others. Other close lakes to that area with good muskie populations worth considering are White Bear Lake and Bald Eagle Lake both are just south on 35E or 61. Clear Lake, near forest lake has tiger muskies and not pure strain. Tigers generally dont grow as big. You MIGHT have a better chance at catching a tiger muskie but it would likely only be in the mid 30" range 40" + are out there just much harder to come by.

Heavy pike gear (heavy action rods, 50 lb braid +, some sort of heavy leader) can handle muskies. Make sure you have release tools like spreaders, long pliers and bolt cutters too.

Thanks for the heads up...I do like the fact that Forest Lake is only a 2 min drive from my parents-in-law so I can stay out on the water a little longer And White Bear Lake isn't too far either.

And I wouldn't mind landing a 30" Tiger Muskie as the more and more I watch Youtube videos, the more and more I keep thinking that my Pike gear just isn't going to cut it!! I'll just have to keep my rod tip up and be spot on with my drag settings. Our largest Pikes here are only 20+lbs and after a quick stop by Cabelas, I could really see the difference in size of Muskie tackle and Pike Tackle, so it looks like I'll need to stop by a local bait shop in Forest Lake to stock up.

And thanks for the reminder on the release tools, looks like I'll be checking in a small tackle box into my luggage. Now I'm just wondering if there's room for my fish finder in the luggage

[delcecchi]

The main reason for the heavier tackle, in my opinion, is to handle those big baits. If you hook a muskie on your pike tackle you can handle it just fine. Guys catch muskies on walleye tackle on occasion here on Vermilion.

Getting them in the boat can be a challenge without one of those bushel sized nets. Too light of tackle is hard on the fish since it has to get very tired and stressed to be landed.

[syncronized]

Just landed and checked out forest lake #1 from the boat launch. Doesn't look like a lot of structures or deep water for muskies to be hanging around...but spoke with one of the young female attendants at the pier and was told to try out forest lake #3 for muskies and will check out the topography maps. Heading to gander for some muskie lures will report back....wish me luck!!

[syncronized]

Well my plans to secure a boat for Forest Lake didn't work out and my son and I feeling the itch to get out on the water, I decided to try my luck at Bald Eagle Lake and rent one of the boats out there....

I got skunked and only caught a few skeeter bites (not a follow or tug the whole morning) but my 3 yr old son caught his first fish...and 2 other little panfish afterwards!! So not a total loss.

I'm going to try my darn'dst to get out on Forest Lake or even Clear Lake before flying home Sunday.

[syncronized]

Well, I'm back home in Canada now and after 2 days of absolutely nothing on 2 different lakes and writing off my year long fishing license purchase for out of state fees... On the last day on the 11th hour we though we'd try clear lake with my father in-law buddy's bass boat...

45 min in landed a small pike, i thought 'hey, i didn't get totally skunked on this trip'....1 hour later got a tug which felt like another little pike stuck in some weeds....

And then it got air born and my heart skipped a beat...

After everything was said and done...roughly 40 inches and topping at 15lbs...I landed my first muskie!!!

And afterwards my first bass @ 5lb2oz lol (we don't get bass out west)

Thanks again to all the tips and helpful comments. I've got bragging rights for the next few months and now I can't wait to visit my parents in-law again...to go fishing hahaahahaha

Cheers guys and happy fishing!

[TurnUpTheFishing]

Congrats, Im happy for you. That is an Impressive tiger muskie. Also, 5 pound bass is brag worthy as well. Very nice firsts for each species.

[Stringerless!]

Great !! Congrats on both nice fish ! I have been beating the water to a froth on both clear and forest . At least 3 to 4 times a week. Results ? One 38 on opening night at forest. Had one follow on bald eagle on Fathers day. Have not seen another fish !! Don't know what to think. Trying everything in my box . Even lures that have not been wet in years. Nothing. Like I said I am puzzled .

[syncronized]

Thanks guys...it was nice to finally get something other than weeds lol

When we got there I was thinking about working the small point which has a steep drop off to 20ft but the boat owner said no...we need to work the shallows parallel to I35...and I thought its his boat so I'm not going to argue. Thank goodness I listened.

So all we did was work that side of the lake and drift up and down while I casted towards shore just outside the weed edge. And when ever the captain told me we were shallow he'd tell me to slow my retrieval so as to not dive my crankbait and when we hit deeper water to hammer my retrieval so as to skim the bottom. And thats all he did...he didnt even really fish, just drove the boat and told me my depths. He might as well have been a paid guide!!

Anyway...I actually used the boat owners rapala jointed crankbait painted like a perch. Maybe half the size of his normal sized muskie sized lures so not that big at all.

Hope that helps.