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By Rich Buchinski
How many casts does it take to catch a musky? 100? 1,000? 10,000? This old saying scares most fishermen from even attempting to target musky for an entire fishing trip. Fishless hours, days, and even weeks are common for some anglers trying to catch a musky. It doesn’t have to be this way. We have one of the best musky fisheries in our backyard! No need to travel to Wisconsin or Canada to catch one of these mysterious fish. With a little homework and preparation an angler can very well have a good chance of catching a musky every fishing trip on the Susquehanna River.
Keep in mind that a musky is one of the top predators in the food chain. This means that they are not as plentiful as bass or walleye. But just like any other fish, they must eat to survive. Any serious musky angler knows to expect days without catching a fish, but they also know there will be days of catching multiple fish. There are basically three key factors an angler needs to be aware of to catch a musky: #1 Location, #2 Presentation, and #3 Timing.
First, Location- The location of musky on a river system such as the Susquehanna River seems overwhelming at first. Not so. They are much easier to pinpoint than a lake-dwelling musky. The most important aspect of locating musky is by far current. Muskies do not like current, but remember current is a relative term here. Unlike smallmouth bass which may hold in rapids, musky shy away from rapids or high current areas. Look for areas of slack water, such as bridge pilings, the backside of an island, downed timber, wing dams, or feeder streams entering the main river. When the river rises, fish move to the banks to escape the current, when it falls, they move towards the main channel to avoid being trapped in backwater areas. Any object that creates a break in the main flow of the river can be considered a current break and a possible ambush spot for these predators. Another key factor when looking for current breaks is depth. My rule is that if you can see the bottom, it usually is not a good spot as if you can see the fish they surely can see you. Plus, big fish tend to stay close to areas where they can retreat to deeper water and escape danger quickly.
Second, Presentation- Just like fishing for any other species, such as bass, walleye, etc., lure selection and presentation is important. Big fish eat big baits, so you must upgrade your equipment, using bigger lures and tackle. Muskies are predators and strike lures hard, even in cold water with the right presentation. Some days it takes a slower moving bait to provoke a strike, other days it takes a fast moving bait to get a reaction from the fish. Musky tend to be moody and may become very picky at times. When nothing’s working, don’t be afraid to experiment and think outside the box.
Third, Timing- Timing is everything when it comes to musky. I can’t tell you how many times I have fished a particular spot all morning with nothing to show for it, only to come back in the afternoon and catch multiple fish in the exact same spot. Were the fish holding there the entire time? Did the fish move into that area in the afternoon? It’s hard to say, but what I can tell you that if you fish a spot and see a musky follow your lure to the boat that doesn’t strike, you need to have a plan. Quickly change a lure, whether it be the color or a different lure entirely and make a few more accurate casts to the area where the fish was last seen. Nothing? Next thing to do, leave! I know it’s hard to leave an area after you have searched for hours to locate a fish but do it. You have just succeeded at the hardest part of musky fishing, finding one. The worst thing you can do is camp in that spot and pressure the fish by making repeated casts in the area. You now have two choices: you can return in a half hour or my favorite, wait until something changes. It may be as subtle as the wind shifting directions or a few clouds rolling in that makes the day a little cloudy. In the fall it may be the water temperature warming from the midday sun. This is when the fish you have seen earlier may be ready to eat and all of your hard works pays off!
Just remember, if you’re brave enough to fish for musky, be prepared. Once you meet one of these mysterious predators up close and personal, you may never be the same. Some call it a disease, some call it an addiction; either way you look at it you will find yourself buying more and more lures, new fishing rods and reels, and constantly thinking about your next visit to the river. Remember to always release the king of the river to fight another day so we can all have an opportunity to share and experience the mystique of the musky.
Rich Buchinski is a fully licensed Pennsylvania Fishing guide specializing in musky on the North Branch of the Susquehanna River.
Angelo Cristofolo with a Susquehanna Musky!
