Grinding Out One More Bite

LIVEBAIT CAN YIELD GREAT FALL FISHING IN RIVERS AS MUSKIES TRANSITION TO THEIR WINTER HOLES

- Luke Swanson

As water temperature drop to the low 50-de-gree threshold, I typically start to see muskies targeting bigger baitfish, especially suckers. In the early part of October, you will find muskies staging in or around the deepest holes in the river, which you’ll find on the outside bends and deep straightaways.

Each river is unique, so you’ll want to target holes that will be in the eight- to 20-foot range. For reference, fish the head of the pool (upstream side) and the tail-out (downstream) of deep pools. These spots can be 20 feet long or over 100 yards long, depending on the conditions and the size of the river.

As you float down, look up and down the river. Watch the bubble line and where those bubbles move to, stack up, or sit dead still. This will give you an idea of what is happening beneath the surface. If the water is swirling, there’s either a deep drop-off, large rockpile, or a tree at the bottom. If there’s a steady bubble line, you will be able to see the location of the seam and drop-off. Paying attention to how these surface bubbles are moving will aid in identifying the structure and how to fish it.

Using electronics like Humminbird’s Mega Side Imaging and Garmin’s LiveScope will help you pinpoint the spot on the spot of where the muskies will be each day. Understand that as fall progresses, each day will be different. You may find the fish becoming more and more concentrated in the deeper part of the holes, and usually they won’t be moving far from these spots.