Season's Eatings

- Mark Modoski

DURING THIS transitional time of year, it’s not uncommon for one day of lights-out action to be followed by a total skunking. Even traditional methods of predicting fish behavior like tracking fronts, weather, and pressure changes don’t always help you get on the bite now. There is no question that every species of fish needs to pack on weight for the long winter. Despite this fact, species like muskies, smallmouths, trout, and crappies can be reluctant to hit artificial lures as the waters cool in autumn. The solution? Ditch the plastic and go all in with live bait. These four presentations will get mouths open when every hard bait produces nothing but hard luck.

MUSKIES

THE SUCKER PUNCH