Cold Water Equals Crankbaits
There is no doubt that winter muskies can be finicky. Cold conditions lead to short bite windows meaning musky anglers will face long periods with little to no activity. With little to no feedback on an average day of winter musky fishing, it can be hard for anglers to know what lures to throw. While during summer months anglers can rely on bucktails as a baseline presentation, often cold water and winter conditions leave many scratching their heads.
While glidebaits and big rubber presentations can be viable, crankbaits seem to be the most consistently productive lure class as water temperatures creep into the forties and lower. So, if you find yourself searching for a way to get started or need to dial in on cold water and winter muskies, dust off your crankbaits and start chucking. With this in mind let’s look at a few different musky crankbaits and how they can help you put cold water muskies in your net.
1. Livingston Lures Pounder
More often if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck…it’s a duck. But as much as the Livingston Lures Pounder looks like a JBO jointed Depthraider these two lures defiantly quack a little different.
The Livingston Lures Pounder differentiates itself from other lures primarily with its running depth and subsequently its slower rate of rise. The Pounder easily hit depths of ten to twelve feet on average length casts, making it perfect for hitting mid-depth and deep break lines. With all of the weight inside of the Pounder located in the front section of the lure, the Pounder can be worked extremely slowly. Having a deep dive curve and an exciting action at slow speeds make this lure a great option for cold water muskies. The Pounder is a must for when muskies are holding bottom tight and moving slow during winter months.
2. Joe Bucher Jointed Depthraider
Lures become classics for one reason, they catch muskies and the Jointed Depthraider is no exception. The Jointed Depthraider is simple to use, throw it and turn the handle and eventually a muskie will be in your net. However, if you want to get the most out of your Jointed Depthraiders adding a bit extra action is highly beneficial. While the Jointed Depthraider usually runs around five to six feet deep, adding in hard downward rips and cause this lure to plunge even deeper. When allowing for moments of pause after rips the Jointed Depthraider can be used to create a highly erratic yet slow retrieve during winter months.
3. Big Fork Reef Digger Jointed
This handmade custom lure is unique as it features a metal lip. Making the Big Fork Reef Digger Jointed model a superb choice for deep clicking and ticking of rocks during winter months. Muskies take advantage of the cover and the slight temperature change that rocky areas provide. While mass produced plastic lipped lures can handle contacting rocks, metal lips will not chip or potentially break. The metal lip of the Big Fork Reef Digger also helps create louder contact when hitting these kinds of cover. If you are fishing rocks or man-made concrete structures a metal lip can make the difference.
Winter muskies often require accurate and slow presentations. Taking advantage of the running depth and subtle action of crankbaits when temperatures plummet is a great way to start putting cold water muskies in your net.
Cheers,
Steven Paul Tennessee Musky Guides
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