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We are going on our 2nd annual muskie trip up to the lake this weekend and need a little assistance. Last year were completely blanked on the muskies, this year we were looking to improve a little. Not looking for exact spots, but where are the muskies now and how are you fishing for them. Last year we tried finding schools of baitfish and trolling and also casting the shallower flats. Are we going about this wrong? What kind of depths and what approaches should we use etc...or are we doing ok? Thanks for any help.

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I am going to give it a try tomorrow morning. This time of year I usually stick to trolling the drops next to cabbage - there are lots of good trolling areas just like that. Try to get the bait down a little deeper - believers & jakes/grandmas work real well for me. I troll pretty slow as well - usually under 3 - but don't be afraid to speed it up a little and vary the speed to see what works.

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Now G-man, why do you have to be like that? Is it because I was only one to catch a muskie or was it because of my unusual tactics?

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A snag doesn't count as a catch. Anyway, it was my great guide service, any (Contact Us Please) can catch a fish with a guide as good as me!

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Thanks clueless. I kinda thought that casting might be a little past its prime now. By deeper do you mean something like 25-30 feet, or are you talking a little shallower?

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I actually like to troll a zig zag - it helps work over the depths - I will go as shallow as about 13 feet and as deep as 30. 13-15 I usually hit weeds/bottom - but fish can be hovering off in deeper water off the cover.

By the way - it was miserable Tuesday in the rain. I didn't try too long - I was by myself and it's hard to keep motivated when it's crappy out. I did have one nice fish on for a brief moment, but must not have got a good enough hook set as it came off on it's first good shake.

Good luck out there & stay warm - it's gonna get cold.

If you use the hwy 2 launch - be very careful - there is literally only a couple inches of water over the gravel pile pushed up by the motors.

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Thanks again. Our plans (as well as the weather) fell through, so I will be chasing deer this weekend. I'm gonna have to make for sure next fall.

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