Flow. Fall. Fish.
Musky Hunter|October/November 2019
It’s upon us, that much anticipated turn of the calendar that cues the end of the season for paddleboarders and wakesurfers alike. That time of year when outdoorsmen are rewarded for months sharing woods and water. The days get shorter, the leaves oblige, and the muskies get hungrier. It’s fall in musky county.
Nick Erickson
Flow. Fall. Fish.

In northern Wisconsin, we are blessed with some of the most beautiful lakes in the whole musky range. But there is something no lake, no matter how hard you look, can offer — flow. Here are some of my reasons I prefer to target muskies in rivers versus lakes late in the season.

Turnover

During the summer months, lakes stratify with warm, oxygen-rich water staying near the surface. Meanwhile, separated by the thermocline, cold, oxygen-deficient water sits below the warm water. The presence or absence of oxygen dictates where muskies will be located during the summer months. As we get later in the year and days get cooler, this upper layer of warm water will cool, increasing its density, and will sink and mix with the cold water below. The thermocline vanishes and equal parts oxygen and temperature can be found throughout the water. Lake turnover occurs in most lakes when surface temperatures dip below the 55-degree mark. This event is characterized by no-fish outings and frustrated fishermen.

This story is from the October/November 2019 edition of Musky Hunter.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the October/November 2019 edition of Musky Hunter.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM MUSKY HUNTERView All
What can Current Do For You?
Musky Hunter

What can Current Do For You?

WATER FLOW IN LAKES IS SUBTLE AND OFTEN OVERLOOKED. BUT MUSKIES USE IT, SO WHY SHOULDN’T YOU?

time-read
3 mins  |
February/March 2021
Mountain State Muskies In Spring
Musky Hunter

Mountain State Muskies In Spring

CATCH MUSKIES DURING TIMES WHEN NOTHING IS PREDICTABLE

time-read
4 mins  |
February/March 2021
Winter Presentations For Southern Rivers
Musky Hunter

Winter Presentations For Southern Rivers

Winter has arrived, yet in the South it’s still mild enough to keep fishing with the exception of maybe a week or two of an Arctic front.

time-read
3 mins  |
February/March 2021
Tune Up For The Season Ahead
Musky Hunter

Tune Up For The Season Ahead

Have you started making your plans for the upcoming fishing year?

time-read
3 mins  |
February/March 2021
Rob Manthei
Musky Hunter

Rob Manthei

Guide Rob Manthei’s love for the Vilas/Oneida County region of northern Wisconsin is deeply rooted. His father and grandfather started taking him there on fishing trips when he was just two years old, and he began guiding full-time at the age of 25.

time-read
6 mins  |
February/March 2021
Find The Right Structure In Deep, Clear Water
Musky Hunter

Find The Right Structure In Deep, Clear Water

With breathtaking scenery, vast amounts of water, and complex and diverse structure, clear water Canadian Shield lakes offer some of the most sought-after musky fishing in the world. A bucket-list destination for the passionate and determined angler, there’s something truly special about being in the sanctuary of the great Canadian Shield lakes.

time-read
4 mins  |
February/March 2021
Multi-Species Or Bay Boat ... You Make The Choice
Musky Hunter

Multi-Species Or Bay Boat ... You Make The Choice

Is there really such a thing as a perfect musky boat? There are so many variables to choose from in the market today. Do I want a casting or trolling boat? Aluminum or fiberglass? Welded or riveted? Do I want a tiller, side console, dual console, or full windshield?

time-read
4 mins  |
February/March 2021
Region To Region
Musky Hunter

Region To Region

Region To Region

time-read
10+ mins  |
February/March 2021
Genetic Study Yields Answers
Musky Hunter

Genetic Study Yields Answers

STUDY SUGGESTS LEECH STRAIN IS NOT THE ‘SILVER BULLET’ FOR WISCONSIN MUSKY WATERS

time-read
6 mins  |
February/March 2021
Crawling Crankbaits To Catch Cold Water Muskies
Musky Hunter

Crawling Crankbaits To Catch Cold Water Muskies

Crankbaits catch plenty of muskies during spring, summer and fall, but the key to catching ’skies in the very early cold water season on these lures involves some special tricks.

time-read
3 mins  |
February/March 2021