First-time for Mille Lacs 'skies!!!!!

[jiggin' fool]

I have a few questions, (okay a 100, but I will keep it down), so hang with me if you would be so kind.

I am fishing ML for the 1st-time for 'skies. I am staying at Twin Pines, near Garrison. I have purchased the NW quadrant ReelBottom map, and have loaded some waypoints in the GPS, (flats for a little 'eye fishing as a break from tossing baits), and some rockpiles to hit for both 'eyes and ski's.

So what's the questions. Here goes:

1. Looking at the ReelBottom map, it appears that most of the bays, (and therefore the vegetation), is south of me. Am I wrong to work that NW corner for skies??? I have heard that the sand holds a lot of skies in that area, and am thinking that may not be a bad idea, to avoid "conditioned" fish. Or does the Garrison area get pounded pretty hard too for Muskies??????

2. Are there skies that suspend on those famous mudflats, and if so, how hard are these fish 'hit' by muskie fisherman???

3. Lastly, bucktails and top-waters are always my 'go-to' lures, but I am reluctant to do that, due to all the pressure. (A post on here deals with that very thing). Would you still toss Jackpots, Top-Raiders and bucktails if you were me????????

I am NOT looking for anyone to tell me to fish this rock-pile, or that bar/reef, etc. I am looking for very general info. And in closing, I would much prefer working areas that others are not, targeting fewer fish, but hoping those fish would be less conditioned, and more inclined to EAT!!!

The trip begins on July 24th.

I truly appreciate any advice you can offer.

And if I can be of any assistance, for anything from fishing the Mississippi river for 'eyes in SE MN, to joining me for a little honker hunting here in Rochester, in exchange for some help, don't hesitate to ask in your reply.

Thanks..., and tight lines to all!!!!!

[mudman]

Your spot is just fine. Work from garrison north all the way down to at least anglers Inn on the north side. There are tons of cabbage patches and small rock piles along the way. Dont be afraid to hit some of the bigger reef along the way either.

Its hard to beat bucktail burning for searching and covering water. if you want to key in on some spot that you think looks like a winner you could go to a jig with a 6-10 plastic off the back and swim it or pump it in allowing you to work edges and pockets.Another good option if you get tired of casting and need a break is a live bait rig. Nothing funner than a clicker or big float going off and down!

the whole lake has been pounded in the last 4 years or so and will continue to be and once the record comes out, look out!! then you will see pressure!

[bigbritt]

DO NOT USE LIVE BAIT RIGS. These rigs don’t do anything but hurt or more likely kill the fish. Bad advice given, that is really not a kosher thing to do, especially when out on the pond. The only kind of bait rig is the quick strike rigs, and even they are frowned upon by most muskie anglers. Don’t worry about what baits to use, it always depends on the situation anyway, you will have to see what the water is like. The weather and water conditions will tell you what to use, and bucktails have always worked well.

[jiggin' fool]

Mudmann and bigbritt,

Thanks for the advice guys. I really appreciate it. I am certainly pumped. Sharpened lots of hooks.., the Big Kahuna is ready.., bolt-cutters, jaw-spreader, pliers, camera. (Probably will still all be ready when I return.., heh-heh!!! That's muskie fishing, especially first time on a lake!!!!).

Biggbritt, I have to comment on your adament dislike of live-bait. (Nope, don't use it myself.., so I am not trying to make an argument here). I think the whole concept has gotten a bad rap by folks that don't use the rigs correctly. Anyone that can't bring themselves to nail the fish on the take, gambles that the fish won't swallow it. Realistically, if you strike on the take, and you are using the correct size minnow, it should have absolutely no bearing on gut-hooking the fish. A large ski will suck in a smaller lure, just as quick, (if not quicker), than he would a large sucker. You have no control over how deep a muskie inhales a 10-inch Believer.., just as you have no control over how far that same fish sucks in a 12-inch sucker. You are gonna cross his eyes as soon as he nails that Believer, or that bucktail.., just like the folks that use live-bait quick-strike rigs would.., IF.., they use them correctly.

If they bait up with a smallish sucker, say 6-inches.., and let the fish run and run with it before they hit him.., then YES.., they are looking for trouble.

But the responsible fisherman, that uses a large sucker, and drives the hooks home the minute that fish nails his bait, is NOT going to have those hooks in that fish any deeper then someone tossing baits.

I do hear you, loud and clear. But keep in mind, many fish, especially in the fall.., are caught using quick-strike rigs.., and those fish are no more injured by the hooks than if they hit a lure.

In the hands of a knowledgeable fisherman.., they are just another tool.

In the hand of a Putz.., they are dangerous to the fish.

Tight-lines guys.

Have a great summer.

[buzzsaw]

Good post Jiggin! I agree 100% with what you said re: quick strike. I've never fished for Ski's this way but I've certainly seen it being done.

I'm pretty certain ice fisherman who have tip ups let the fish run, munch and then set the hook on the second run right... how many times does this hurt the fish??? just a thought.

[RK]

Hiya,

About live bait rigs...

Whether or not they're harmful is completely a matter of method. With quick strike rigs and an *immediate* hookset, live bait can be extremely fish-friendly. With two trebles and no bulky bait to get leverage on, there's usually far, far less hook damage than you'd see from something like a 10" Jake or a Suick (I like suicks, but I seldom use them anymore because I hate what they can do to fish - I have a friend that calls it Suickcide...). Whether it's muskies or pike through the ice, I've caught an awful lot of fish on quickstrikes in the last 20 years, and I can't think of one that was released with serious hooking injury, provided the hookset was immediate.

Waiting to set the hook, whether it's with a single hook rig or a QS rig, is another matter entirely. It's a fish killer. Period. The old theory that you can cut the line and they'll be ok has been disproven time and again. In one study on ice pike caught with 'swedish' pike hooks, mortality within 48 hours of release was over 30%. Results of muskies caught with single hook wait and swallow sucker rigs were even more dramatic. Mortality after 6 months was near total. The idea that it takes a fish several minutes to swallow large prey is absolute nonsense. A few weeks ago I watched a 43" muskie gulp down an 18" pike. I wathed the whole episode, from the fish grabbing the pike and shaking it, to turning it head first and swallowing it. It went from crossways in the fish's mouth to swallowed to the point where all I could see were the tips of the tail in the corners of the muskie's mouth in about 20 seconds.

Point is, live bait isn't inherently good or bad. It's what methods are used. Immediate hooksets are a must.

Cheers,

RK

[mudman]

I agree 100% with the live bait rigging too. I wasn't going to say anything cuz a lot of people get bent out of shape over nothing. instant hook set and your good to go!