Stay In Your Lane: Canoe Control Is A Key To Rivers

The author caught this late season musky from the current break in the background. He and his partner steered the canoe through the rapids and then approached the targeted area from downstream.

- Ace Sommerfeld

Musky hunters fishing small rivers have a lot going on. We’re trying to cast and paddle at the same time. S a f e t y often trumps casting as we steer around trouble. Through it all we try to keep the canoe in the best position to work a stretch of promising water. Canoe control is a key element to success all year, but it gets critical in autumn. Stay in the casting zone longer and you’ll move more fish.

Chances are good the rivers are running low this time of year. On the downside, the water is clear and muskies can see you; on the upside, fish are forced to hole up and are easier to find. You’ll probably notice the approach you took in summer will have to be tweaked a little. A general rule is that fish use the middle of the river when it’s low, and the shoreline when it’s normal or high. Watch for subtle changes as the year progresses. Keeping the canoe in at least 18 inches of water is crucial for netting big fish.