Early Season Musky Tactics
As we start to creep into spring, muskies inevitability head down the path towards the spawn. If you are in an area where lakes ice up, or you have open water year-round it matters not as muskies are making moves in the earliest days of spring. As days grow longer, they bring with them slightly warmer water temperatures. These longer days and warmer water temps are both clues that muskies are in preparatory stages of the spawn.
It should be noted that some states have closed seasons for musky fishing that prohibit fishing for them until spawning has been completed. However, if you are not constrained by regulations pre-spawn can be an unbelievable time to hit the water. With this in mind let’s look at a few basics to help you dial in on pre spawn muskies.
1. Location, Location, Location
Pre-spawn muskies will be near prime spawning real estate long before they slide up into the shallows to reproduce. In the weeks leading up to the spawn special attention should be paid to sections of water that offer both shallow flats and deep-water refuge. Special attention should be paid to identify shallow areas that are exposed to the most sunlight throughout the course of the day and are adjacent to deep water.
2. High Concentration of Baitfish
If you have found multiple areas that are warmer and near deep water start comparing baitfish density. Often it is the case that baitfish in cold water are extremely packed into large schools. These schools tend to travel very little, meaning that other predatory fish and subsequently muskies will be in the area for extended periods of time. With caloric needs at peak levels, pre-spawn muskies will be staged where easy meals are present. Working these areas throughout the entire day with multiple presentations sizes and styles is a solid gameplan as muskies will be present.
3. Big Baits Play Until the Spawn
The knee jerk reaction to early season musky fishing is to throw small lures. While this is the case once muskies have completed spawning, pre-spawn muskies are still more than willing to eat large natural prey. Muskies are generally at their heaviest point during the pre-spawn and won’t waste their time or energy on minnows and the like. Lures like Bulldawgs, large glide baits and Krakens tend to get the most attention from pre-spawn muskies. Casting the extreme outer edges of flats and the adjacent break lines is usually the most productive approach. But a keen eye should be kept on open water especially if baitfish such as shad or ciscos are present. If either baitfish are found on your target body of water casting and trolling the adjacent open water is crucial for consistent success.
While each body of water will differ, Tennessee pre-spawn musky fishing is usually a game of throwing big baits with willingness to wait. Bite windows are narrow and even nonexistent when conditions take a turn for the worse however the pay off can be huge.
I would mention that targeting pre-spawn muskies comes with a bit of personal responsibility from anglers. If you see muskies in the shallows spawning leave them alone. If you catch a female and she starts spewing eggs this is your cue to put the musky gear away. I tend to watch water temperatures for my cue to move onto different waters. When water temps consistently start hitting the low fifties in the shallows it’s a strong indicator to give them a break for the health and safety of the fish and the future.
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