Have made a few short trips the past 2 months on morning getaways to seek an elusive musky bite.
As Autumn has progressed, the water is getting clearer, and the fish are getting more aggressive and finally making some appearances.
Several weeks back, hiked aways upstream from the house, exploring a gorge where I know some muskies are swimming. No takers, but gorgeous scenery. Several topwater busts, but only from fiesty smallies slapping at the Super Spook.
Next outing...Sycamore leaves everywhere. Had an aggressive follow with multiple turns on the figure 8, soon followed by a good hookup and loss of antoher fish on a custom spinnerbait.
Couple weeks later: Late morning start, just 2 hrs to fish:
I know this water has to be holding some monsters. Great depth and cover everywhere. No sightings...but I'll be back when the water clears up more.
Picked this guy up off the water. Used to love catching these snakes when I was a kid.
Cool morning yesterday. The early dawn, crisp cold start I was hoping for. Fishing stretches water that I was very doubtful about, a history of upstream fish kills...been zeroed here several times.
Started the morning with a great scarf of a huge white mouth and teeth that appeared in the shadows of a logjam. Fought a beautifully striped mid 40's fish for a while, but he launched straight toward the boat, and I couldn't keep the line tight. He came back up for a few turns after I let him rest, but he was wise to the fly.
Drifted to some more timber. Raised a very hot fish from the depths, (almost a twin of the one I just lost...but different markings). He stayed on the fly over and over as I figure 8'ed him on both sides of the bow in Huge wide turns. He pursued faster and faster, and about the 10th turn (arms quivering) SLAM! He engulfs the fly and turns to me broadside. Some great headshakes, but I goofed and pulled sideways from his jaw instead of backwards towards his tail. Yanked the fly right out of his mouth. Aaaaaggghhh!
It was so cool with the water gin clear. Rose about 10 more follows, spotting fish in lies that I never would imagine a musky would hold--plain, structureless shallow banks that I would never cast to.
Then I saw HER. I noticed a gulp and some large bubbles emerging, similar to a mature tarpon. As she descended, I watched a massive tail sweep the surface side to side in the downstream glare. As my boat slowly drifted, I countered my fly across stream in the fish's path, and nervously began stripping. As the fly neared the boat, this FAT monster of a musky was following in. She gave one lazy turn but wouldn't commit to eat. I watched this Goliath 50+" girl swim under the boat, and continue upstream across the leafy bottom in the clear sun. Now I'm haunted more than ever.
Scenery and solitude couldn't be better:
This cold weather is getting these fish active, and the clear water is a confidence booster, as I can finally spot fish instead of wondering if anyone's home.
Got some more river holes on the "to Fish" list. I hope it doesn't flood before I get there.
Travis
Topic: Fall Musky River Chasing (Read 1413 times)