Ice and Ski's

[Dennis Steele]

I have a little lake I like to fish for Ski's late fall, but never tried it through the ice, or for that matter never targeted musky through the ice.

Is it even a good idea to ice fish for musky?

What about patterns? Is there a certain pattern a guy can rely on through out the season? Shallow early? Deep mid season?

How about gear.

What kind of rod and reel is best for iceing some ski, and what is best for lures?

[AWH]

I really don't have a strong opinion either way about fishing muskies through the ice. I've never tried it and I don't know anyone that targets them. But I can tell you that the MN DNR has been talking quite a bit lately about shortening the musky season. (It currently ends in February with everything else) The reason for the talk of ending the season earlier is because of the concern over people targeting muskies through the ice. I guess my point there is to take that bit of information for what it's worth as far as targeting muskies through the ice.

Aaron

[Random guy]

Musky through the ice is a tough trick. When musky are subjected to water cooler then 40* F for a extended period of time their metabalism slows down to the point they are alot like that brother in law you can't get of the sofa after turkey dinner. They do not travel any great distances or go through any great lengths to capture prey. They will take the easy meals and from time to time check out a decoy under a spearhouse. I read once how little they feed but cannot recall the exact amount, but it was very very little in the winter.

[big musk411]

I know of a lake that basically only has muskie and walleye, Its a numbers lake with most fish around 30in. Went ice fishing out there once last year with big shiners. caught two muskies on tip-ups. Yes we targeted and caught muskies through the ice, however this lake is relativly small and has a high density population of mostly smaller fish. I dont know if it would be worth your time on a normal muskie lake. I have seen a few caught on one of thoes wisconsin fishing shows

[big musk411]

Sorry didn't read your entire post. Patterns and equipment. We caught are fish in tip-ups with a large plain hook and steel leader. We were fishing a small lake, so I don't think location was that big of a deal. I figure in a lake that small they kind of roam around so location is not all that important[it wasn't in the summer]. We were going to fish near the deepest spot in the lake but my buddy had problems with his sled and we didn't feel like walking that far in two feet of snow.

[markkstanley]

I've caught muskies while pike fishing thru the ice. Use the same setup and fish the same places you would for pike. Muskies are far less active as Jon pointed out in the winter. They are not a cold water fish like big pike are.

[lots of luck]

Most importantly if you decide to target muskies through the ice, please use a quick strike rig. Single hook rigs will and do kill muskies. Big hooks don't just dissolve.

[MJBo]

Check out the Dec. Musky Hunter (just got mine yesterday). They have an article. I'd be scared to try myself. Seems like getting a good one through the hole would be like getting a camel through the head of a needle.

[mtreno]

we were fishing in wakon bay on mille lacs a few years back for pike and had the camera set up on one of our baits. you could tell well before you sould see the marking on the fish which ones were muskies and which ones were pike. the muskies just kinda hung out for a bit - sometimes would circle the bait for awhile and then leave. never got one but we did hammer some nice pike. we had one huge musky circle the bait for over an hour - i think at one point my sucker took a dump on her head she was so close

[markkstanley]

I actually had a big musky that I simply could not get thru the hole. Ice was about 20" thick and I couldn't get it started up the 8" hole. Might not have fit anyway. Was walleye fishing so I didn't have a massive hook or wire leader so I finally just cut the line. No way was I going to shove my hand down the hole and try to lasso that beast.

[Fishin Beast]

Theres a few lakes around that you get a muskie your 2 on the smaller lakes, but as stated above they are the lakes where there is alot of competition over smaller fish. Most the muskies I have heard caught have been in the 4-6 lb range right where the normal northern haunts are.

Exudedude ended up catching a muskie on one of those zip lures on a Fishing Minnesota Event on Lake Calhoun probably 2-3 years ago.

[MSchmillen]

caught a peanut through the ice a few years back on tonka. That was the only ski that me or any of my friends have caught through the ice. I'd say just fish 'em like you're fishing pike, but for gods sake be careful with them. I'm sure they are even more sensitive now than they are in open water.

[Gus]

I read an article last year that said Musky's only feed once every 20-30 days during the winter months because their metabolisms slow down so much. If I could find the article again I would post it but I have no idea where I read it. If it were me, I woudn't target ski's in the winter. I'd focus on any fish that feeds more often than once a month. But that's just me. Good luck if you try.

[Guest]

Dennis..

Sorry for the late response, but I will add my 2 cents.

I get muskies pretty regularly without targeting them, they just tend to frequent the same areas I fish. I have tried to target them in the past with the same common tecniques ones would use for pike and got minimal results.

What has proven to be successful in the past, and already a few times this winter is standard, to heavy walleye gear. The Mid size(3"?) shiner under a tip up about half way down, to just below the ice has worked ok... but what always seems to trigger them for me is a simple jigging spoon with a fathead(whole) on it.

I have done well on these presentations, and sometimes sight fishing for them works and its a blast.

If you ever want to get out on *my lake* and actually make an effort.. give me a call on a sunny day(good for seeing) and we will see fish for sure, and maybe entice a couple to hit. Sometimes you just have to settle for the fish(most often large) following your lure back up to the hole and looking at you, or deciding to take your transducer instead?

As others have stated, the seem to be pretty lethargic about striking, but they will take small baits(compared to their size) on occasion. There is nothing lethargic about them once you put a hook in them.

[Duffman]

Lost what I'm guessing to be Muskie on a city lake last night. Jigging plastics for crappie on 2 lb test. I've never had a fish on for that long of a time, and foolishly, after about ten minutes I thought I was getting the upper hand. The first run after the hookset was strong and long, take a peak at the spool long. We brawled back and forth a few times but I think I was losing more than I was gaining. Finally, she started coming, felt like I was pulling in a soaked log from fifty feet away, 'cept this log was breathing. Yep, I could feel it each time it took a breath the whole way back towards the hole.

And all this time I was just saying to myself "I just wanna see it, just let me see it", about 8 feet from the hole I felt the head turn.....snip.....#*&%% .... ..... That was fun, knees were quaking and the adrenaline was pumpin. Believe me, I played back the fight in my mind many times last night, but I don't think I could done it any better with the equipment I had.

[Random guy]

Quote:

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That was fun, nees were quaking and the adrenaline was pumpin. Believe me, I played back the fight in my mind many times last night, but I don't think I could done it any better with the equipment I had.

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Thats what it's all about! Sounds big mamma muskie was looking for a snack. Pretty good run for 2lb test and a crappie hook.

[LEECH21]

Sweet! To bad yea didn't get to see her for sure