I'm sure a few French Braod Muskies have found their way up there. The walleyes sure have. It's the only fishery where I won't eat em.
Muskie fishing just requires that confidence factor. You have to KNOW they're there. That's the only thing that will keep you casting 10 hours straight just for a bite.
The shoals are great, but they'd definitely always be smallie heaven. Man those deep flats though. It's harder to catch smallies in there, so I often bypass them. If Muskies were abundant, that's the only water I'd target.
I get frustrated with Muskie rivers with fish that no one can reach safely. This entire river is accessible with Ramps, but you gotta use canoes and rafts/drifters, paddleboards etc to use it. No Jets would also kinda be nice to keep fish from getting pounded in small habitat like we now see in the Collins.
Hiwasse would be interesting, but your trout guides may object. And the TN river convergence may not be where TWRA wants Muskies to wind up.