Here's an article written by Paul which appeared
in the Spring '08 issue of "The Next Bite - Esox" magazine.
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Spring Night Muskies
When most people think of night fishing for muskies, they conjure up visions of wearing shorts and a t-shirt, casting on a hot, muggy summer evening. Even though mid summer is a great time to night fish, the fishing can be just as productive in the early and late seasons as well.
In a three part series, I'm going to convey some night fishing tactics which work well throughout three phases of the season: early season, mid summer through late summer, and early fall through freezeup.
Here in Northern Minnesota, the early season comprises the first month to month and a half of muskie season. During this period, the muskies have come through their annual spawning ritual, and are starting to move into their summer ranges. Surface water temperatures will usually range from the upper 50's to low 60's to start out the season, and escalate into the low to mid 70 degree range as the summer peak approaches. Surface temperatures and down temperatures will vary depending on the depth, amount of daylight, and weather.
The muskies' activity level will vary greatly and will increase substantially as water temperatures increase and the summer peak approaches. Most fishermen will be casting primarily during the daylight and early evening hours, and a lot of them are unaware of the early season night bite. This is based on the premise that the night fishing just isn't productive in early in the season. Let me dispel that myth right now. The muskies are active at night, and can be caught!
LOCATION
Good locations at this time of year generally relate to spawning areas and shallow areas, which are the first to warm.. Emerging beds of cabbage and coontail are prime real estate. Areas with a south and west exposure during the daylight hours are the first to warm because they are taking direct sunlight most of the day, and photosynthesis triggers activity right up the food chain. Muskies are there in the daylight, and they are there in the dark as well, the difference being, in the dark, you stand a very good chance of having the lake to yourself.
Other prime locations are island complexes adjacent to spawning areas and bays. These areas will be some of the first rock structure muskies will frequent regularly, and the fish will be using some sandy areas as well. Again, locations that receiive copious amounts of sunlight during the day, will be the most productive at night as well.
PLOP...PLOP....
The air was seasonably warm, and night had fallen a couple hours earlier. My partner and I were casting an emerging bed of coontail, and as I listened to the hypnotizing plop, plop of my topwater bait, I was amused by the ruckus of a group of mallards off in the darkness. Suddenly, the peaceful evening was interrupted by a loud splash, and a simultaneous thud transmitted through my 8 foot St. Croix. I rocked the boat with a solid hookset, and excitedly announced, "Fish On!"
The battle was punctuated by some frantic topwater headshakes, and the powerful runs characterized by a big fish. A couple times, I moved the fish towards the boat, but she had other intentions! After what seemed like an eternity, but was in reality a short time, I guided the big muskie alongside the Lund, and slid her impressive length into the big net. Sometimes at night, you just don't realize how big they are until you see them up close and personal! She measured out at 54 inches, and after a couple quick photos, I released her unharmed to be caught again another day.
Many fishermen use small bucktails, spinnerbaits, minnowbaits, and bucktails almost exclusively in the early season, and these baits do have their place in your arsenal, especially during the daytime. The school of thought seems to be that topwaters aren't effective until the mid summer period, however over the years I've discovered exactly the opposite to be true, and topwaters have become my go-to bait for early season night fishing.
I lean heavily on prop-style topwaters at this time of year. The tantalizing music of these baits over emerging weeds or shallow rocks is too much for some muskies to resist. They are very productive on cold fronts and some of the cooler nights you're likely to encounter. Some of my favorites are Top Raiders, Tallywackers, Stompers, and Low Riders in darker color patterns.
To a large degree, the efficacy of this presentation will be determined by the rate of retrieve. I work them with a slow to medium retrieve speed, and more often than not, slow works best. The fish seem much more inclined to take a slowly worked bait, than one screamed across the surface. Intermittent increases in speed will trigger some strikes as well.
On a lot of these fish, the strike will be very light, and not accompanied by the loud commotion often associated with topwater muskies. They like to grab the bait and swim with it, and often there will be just a small splash and then slack or slight tension. To achieve better hookups, wait until you feel the weight of the fish, and then set it hard! It's against human nature to wait, but poorly hooked or missed fish will be the result if the hook is set too soon.
Another trick is to swing into an L as the bait approaches the boat, hit free spool and thumb it. it. At the end of the L, gently reverse the direction of the bait, and move it back along the plane of the boat in the other direction. This often results in some bone-jarring strikes from fish that are indiscernible in the darkness.
WALK THIS WAY
This goes against a lot of what's been said, but I've had some night time success on walk-the-dog style topwaters, my favorite being the Giant Jackpot. You sometimes need to walk outside the lines to achieve success!
In daylight hours, I like to use a fast, erratic retrieve, but at night I'll do exactly the opposite. My retrieve is slow and rythmic, and I allow the bait to swing wide to each side, sometimes allowing it to stop at the end of the swing. Adding a split ring to the nose of the bait creates an audible plop when working the Jackpot, and it's really increased my hookups at night.
The muskies hit this style of bait hard, and almost always toward the end of the swing. Again, wait until you feel the weight of the fish and then hit it with a hard hookset!
JEEPERS CREEPERS!
Darkness had fallen several hours previous, and my partner and I were casting a small bay with emerging cabbage weeds. The weather was unusually hot and muggy for the early season, and the breeze was light: ideal conditions for the Creeper he was throwing. The stillness of the night was interrupted only by the peculiar bloop, bloop sound of his Creeper mixed in with the cadence of my Stomper.
Suddenly, the ambience was broken by a huge splash, akin to the sound of a beaver slapping it's tail, only this was no beaver! After a solid hookset on his 7'6" St. Croix, the crazy stuff began! This fish just didn't want to stay in the water, and after some stellar aerial acrobatics, she quickly tired, and he moved her to the side of the boat. He slid her impressive 49 inch length into the Big Kahuna, and we breathed a huge sigh of relief. After a quick photo, he slid her back into the lake, and we exchanged congratulations on the first "nice" muskie of the young season.
Creeper style topwaters are another effective choice for early season night outings. There's something about the deep sound of A Creeper style bait working over a weedbed or rockpile that drives muskies nuts! The warmer and muggier the weather, the better this bait performs.
SPEED THRILLS
A couple of my favorites are the original Creeper, and the Creepin' Tom in darker color patterns. The Creepin' Tom adds a little twist with a small prop near the tail hook. SLOW is the only way to work these baits, and the nature of the winged design makes them difficult to work under choppy conditions. As with the aforementioned baits, always wait until the weight of the fish is felt before setting the hook!
In closing I'll say that there are many topwater brands out there that fall within the styles I've described. The ones I've mentioned are my personal favorites, however, I know many people who've had success with many different brands.
So, in the beginning stages of the new season, when most folks are heading off the water, stick around into the night and snap on some surface seduction. I think you'll find that night time is the right time for early season topwater success!
Paul lives in Virginia, Minnesota. He fishes and guides on Lake Vermilion. His website can be reached at http://pollockguideservice.com.
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