There are dates that incite excitement by their mere mention: Christmas Eve and Day, a child's birthday, the end of school - and of course there's the opening of musky season! This Saturday, May 26th marks the opening day of musky season here in Wisconsin for those bodies of water North of Hwy 10. For the musky angler, this is one of the greatest times of year, regardless of the weather; as of this writing, the forecast for the opener appears to be a bit cooler and rainier than normal for the end of May. Here are a few early season strategies to help you score on the king of freshwater this weekend despite the cooler weather.
There is not a musky angler alive who does not have a selection of bucktails in their arsenal, and for good reason: they're productive, easy to use, and have a high hooking percentage. Traditionally, smaller bucktails have been touted as key tools in the quest for early season musky. Lures such as the Mini Buchertail and Mepps Musky Killer are solid choices for early season muskies, and a staple in the serious angler's box. "Hybrid" spinners such as the Musky Thing are those that have a rubber skirt or dressing in place of hair, and are excellent lure choices in May and June as well. One of the best areas to begin fishing with these lures is the newly emerging weed beds. A good plan of attack is to begin by looking for the fullest and greenest areas, especially those with some proximity to deeper water. Begin by working the weed edges, both shallow and deep; it's important to make the occasional cast out to "no man's land" as muskies will often suspend off key structural elements, even early in the season.
Twitching is a presentation that involves working a crankbait in an erratic matter in an effort to simulate a wounded or dying baitfish. While this technique works wonders all year long, it can be absolutely deadly in the springtime. A variety of lures and lure sizes work well for twitching, with 6"-8" models seemingly the most productive in the cooler water. I prefer to use a fluorocarbon leader, such as those manufactured by Musky Innovations, as they tend to be lighter than conventional wire thus allowing the bait to perform more realistically. While early emerging weed beds are fine places to do some twitching, wood is perhaps one of the more over-looked this time of year. Locate areas of downed trees, stumps, and large brush piles, especially those that have shown to hold panfish. Erratically work a lure such as a Bucher Baby Shallowraider or Baby Depthraider alongside the snag or blow-down. Make repeated casts to structure you are fishing and make contact when possible as it is often the trigger that will provoke a strike.
More often than not, rubber baits are thought of as summer lures for cold fronts or late fall fishing; they are excellent options for opening weekend muskies too! Some of the more reliable and productive choices include Fluttertails, Kill'r Eels, and Swim'n Joes; work these lures on a longer, heavier action rod to help alleviate casting fatigue while also maximizing hook setting power. This family of fishing lures excels along weed edges and in open water, but also when fishing shallower rocks. Rocky areas whether humps, shorelines, or ridges are often the targets of musky anglers during the autumn months, but often overlooked in the springtime. Work a swimbait along and through rocky areas by reeling just fast enough for the lure to occasionally ricochet off the stray boulder. This presentation is especially effective during mid-day hours accompanied by a colder weather pattern.
Whichever tactic you choose to employ your next opening weekend, make sure your equipment is up to par. Have new line spooled on your reels, replace bent or rusty hooks and keep them razor sharp with a file. Keep the proper release tools on hand to help ensure the safety of both the fish and the angler. Remember, let em go and let em grow we'll see you on the water!