Musky Hunter Magazine - October/November 2019

In this issue

Get ready for a fall giant with Musky Hunter's October/November issue. This issue is packed with information for your last big push of the musky season.

Feature articles in this issue include:
"Clearly A Time For Livebait" by Ryan McMahon — Livebait may be your best bet to catch a wary clear water lunker.
"The Fall Of Giants" by Mike Hulbert — If you're ready for Lake St. Clair's weather rollercoaster, massive muskies await.
"Research Corner: The Dirt On Trolling" by Jordan Weeks — Creel census surveys reveal no difference in the catch rates of casters and trollers.

Musky Hunter continues its new, focused columns to help you in your pursuit of muskies. In a new column entitled Time On The Water, Gregg Thomas describes how he customizes his hooks for an effective live bait rig. Continuing columns in this issue are: Industry Profile about Chaos Tackle; Angler Spotlight with Jon Bondy; Bucher Tales by Joe Bucher; Muskies On A Budget by Vance Kaloz; Getting Terminal by John Bette; Reel Matters by Mat Hegy; The Flow by Nick Erickson; Bait Builders by Joe Peterson; The Shield by Ben Beattie; Muskies On The Fly by Luke Swanson; Ladies First by Bri Herman; Young Anglers by Jason Smith; Choose Your Ride by Ben Michlig; Rigged Right by Doug Wegner; Reservoir Dogs byScott Salchli; Keep It Simple by Joel DeBoer; Musky Hunter Ambassadors; From The Other Boat; Pattern of Interest: on the hunt with rubber; Region to Region; Photo Tip about weight systems for soft plastics; Competitors' Corner; Musky Gear with the latest in tackle, PMTT Tournament Coverage; and The Last Cast by Tony Grant.

In The Breakdown, a lake map of Wisconsin's Green Bay is provided by Lakemaster and Humminbird, and features fishing tips from top local guides.

Add in musky news, Gregg Thomas' editorial, Joe Bucher's Moon Secrets for October and November, and readers' photos, and everything you need for fall is in this issue

Chaos Tackle Continues Expanding Product Lineup

It’s the long, wiggling tails which muskies find hard to resist that give the Medussa its name.

3 mins

Increase Your Hang Time & Catch More Fall Muskies

A prolonged pause by Joe with his GlideRaider over a sunken tree was the hang time needed to draw a response from the cover-tight fall musky.

2 mins

Cheap Musky Gear Costs More In The Long Run

“Muskies on a Budget” might seem like an oxy-moron. We know that musky fishing requires more investment than many sports. Nevertheless, there are options to avoid breaking the bank (or losing your mind).

3 mins

Flow. Fall. Fish.

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.

2 mins

Picking The Brain Of Andrew Gardner Of Melosh Lures

During the recent ICAST show I was able to catch up with one of the best (in my opinion) bait builders in the world, Andrew Gardner. I am betting that a lot of you have not heard much about Andrew, who is the mastermind behind Melosh Fishing Lures. Do yourself a favor and Google that right now ... you’ll be stoked you did!

3 mins

Pushing Late Season Limits On Lac Seul

The allure of pursuing late season giants on northwest-ern Ontario’s Lac Seul has a unique risk to reward fac-tor. This sprawling lake is vast and remote. Cell service is gone before you even reach the Deception Bay boat launch.

4 mins

Add A Fly Rod To Your Fall Arsenal

When you start transitioning your gear to fall baits, heavier rods, sucker rigs and trolling gear, one thing you don’t want to leave behind is a fly rod. Interest in musky fly fishing has skyrocketed in recent years. You can go all-in and fly fish the entire day, or you can use it as a tool when you find an active fish that just won’t commit.

3 mins

Stay Comfortable When Fishing In The Cold

As many of us musky fishing women know, fall fishing can be one of the most rewarding times because it’s when the “big girls” bite. The rewards of heavy hawgs of fall come with a price — cold, wet and windy weather.

2 mins

Chasing Giants With Kids In Fall

When the leaves turn in Octo-ber and the water temperature drops below 60 degrees, it’s the right time to get my kids out and put them on a few muskies. Just like adults, kids can catch lots of muskies while casting baits and utilizing suckers with quick-set rigs. Sucker fishing has been a traditional tactic for many musky anglers in Wisconsin.

2 mins

Small Boats Can Work To A Musky Angler's Advantage

My boat is perfect for me. She’s the ideal craft for the northern Wisconsin lakes region I fish. My favorite lakes tend to be off the beaten path with tough access.

3 mins

Fall Fishing On Kentucky's Cave Run Lake

Football is in full swing and basketball is just around the corner. The beautiful oaks, poplars and other hardwoods are showing off their robust colors and muskies are on the prowl at Cave Run Lake. It’s fall in the Bluegrass State.

3 mins

Cold Weather Considerations

Musky hunting in the fall is some of the best and most exciting fishing that exists. Although the temperatures are dropping, the potential for catching a true giant are not. For anglers, there is a bit of an adjustment period, coming from a summer of comfortable fishing in tolerable temperatures. The reality is the weather is what you make of it. Being prepared for all weather conditions is paramount to being able to stay on the water for that next cast.

3 mins

On The Hunt With Soft Plastics (a.k.a. ‘Rubber')

Go steep & deep

2 mins

The Dirt On Trolling

TROLLING HAS BEEN HOTLY DEBATED IN WISCONSIN FOR YEARS. RECENT CREEL CENSUS INTERVIEWS REVEAL NO DIFFERENCE IN CATCH RATES BETWEEN MUSKY TROLLERS AND CASTERS.

4 mins

Clearly A Time For Livebait

Livebait may be your best bet to catch a finicky giant from ultra-clear water.

6 mins

The Fall Of Giants

BE READY FOR THE FALL WEATHER ROLLERCOASTER ON LAKE ST. CLAIR AND YOU MAY CATCH A MONSTER OF YOUR OWN.

6 mins

Read all stories from Musky Hunter

Musky Hunter Magazine Description:

Musky Hunter has been North America’s musky authority since 1989. Published bi-monthly, Musky Hunter offers articles on every aspect of North America’s premier freshwater gamefish. Musky Hunter covers muskies and musky fishing wherever they are found, from Washington to Maine and Canada to New Mexico, with articles written by the best musky fisherman alive today. Feature article topics include the latest techniques to catch muskies, lake profiles, interviews with top musky anglers, proper release techniques, musky fishing history, biology and research. Musky Hunter is packed with tackle tips, insightful editorials, reader input, musky news, hot waters and product information. Knowledge is power and Musky Hunter is the key to catching and releasing more muskies.