Muskie Waters!!!

[Fish'n guy]

I know it is a little early to be thinking about the muskie opener but what would be the best muskie waters to hit on the opener between southern minnesota and mille lacs. I ws thinking Mille lacs but I am not sure. I am new at the sport of muskie fishing and am not looking for a trophy (although I won't have any ojections if one shows up in my boat ) but just a lake with the best odds of catching a muskie. Thanks to any help!!!GOOD FISHIN!!!!!!!!!!!

[RuKiddingMe]

Kind of a weather dependant decision for me, if it's a cool spring like last year I would look at the smaller lakes, the Metro area offers quite a few choices. On the other hand if it's a warmer spring by all means hit Mille Lacs, Leech, Cass anyone of those. To be honest, it's tough to pass up the oppurtunity to hit any of the bigger waters no matter what the weather. Funny thing about Musky fishing is that it can happen at any given moment.

Good Luck this year.

[dsludge]

Lake Minnetonka gets my vote.

I'm biased. I live close to Lake Minnetonka, about 5 minutes or less from half-a-dozen boat launches. I have fished muskies on 'tonka for just 4 years. Even though I am a relative newbie to muskie fishing, I have not yet been skunked on opening weekend fishing 'skies on Minnetonka.

I have fished only two other nearby lakes for muskies - Waconia and Independence. Opener would likely be better on Independence; it is smaller and seems darker (warmer). It is a "numbers" lake with a better chance to catch a muskie on opener.

It's hard to beat Minnetonka though. The lake has plenty of early season muskie territory. It may also hold a new state record, check the DNR stocking data. There are many 50 inch and bigger fish caught here every year. I have one inch to go. I've been trying to beat 49" since September, 2002.

In addition, Minnetonka is surprisingly "underfished" relative to its size because of the heavy recreational water traffic. Some of the best spots are even dangerous to fish in a small boat (like my 14' Lund) on a sunny summer afternoon.

Opener, seems like it will never get here, this warm weather doesn't help. Can't wait.

Just One More Cast,

dsludge

[Fish'n guy]

Thanks guys I really appreciate the info. I know what you mean the opener seems lke it will never come but when it does I will be really excited!!!!!! GOOD FISHIN!!!!!

[garytheguide]

mille lacs or long lake would probably be good...but of course bald eagle or white bear...set that hook!!!

[TBone1]

Seems to me that I had seen more Ski fishing on Tonka than ever before, and in factI thinkthe majority of the fishing I saw on Tonka was for Ski's!-my .02

[dsludge]

This summer I went fishing on Tonka with a bass pro I met through work. I brought one of my "big bass-catching" muskie rigs with me - AG C46500, 7'6" MH St. Croix, with a 6" fire-tiger Hawg-Wobbler. We caught a couple of small bass and fishing was tough. I started throwing the wobbler after about 5 hours and - I hadn't caught a single fish - he did't have a net for the 38" muskie!

It was kind of funny, "Keep that [bass-eating] thing out of my boat!", he warned me. Right afterwards we went into shore. He never invited me out fishing again, oh well.

CPR,

dsludge

P.S. Is it just me, or are the "water-skiers" getting out earlier and shallower each year?

[TBone1]

Yeah Tonka seems to get hit harder every year by Water Skiers also. I wonder how that Milfoil feels on a persons body when you take a spill in it, seems to me it would be a little itchy.

[Tonka Boy]

dsludge,

I agree with you that Tonka is a good place to go for early muskies, or any point in the season. However I'm surprised you said that Tonka gets little muskie pressure. I've been fishing the lake for a number of years and within the past 2 all I see is muskie guys. It's almost rare to see bass guys any more, which is what you'd expect for this lake.

I don't think it is so much lake specific. I see that just about everywhere I go these days. It just goes to show musie fishing is really taking off.

Any how, look me up come muskie season. Maybe we can get out and share some knowledge. I'm chomping at the bit already!

[dsludge]

Tonka Boy,

I'm up for fishing muskies any time. I'll be out this weekend for the last hurrah of game fishing season. I had a better walleye season on ice than my luck with muskies on open water this season for the first time.

I think the sport of muskie fishing is really taking off. I also think that there may be less pressure on tonka than on other muskie waters because the heavy recreational traffic limits the amount of fishing that can be done. Other lakes may have much less recreational pressure allowing for more fishing pressure.

Am I crazy, or is it just me?

dsludge