Tennessee Musky Fishing: Top Summer Tactics & Best Lures
Summer in Tennessee arrives quickly, and the muskies that call the Volunteer State home know it. Before the confetti can even be cleaned up from their annual spawning party, water temperatures soar, and muskies shift into summer patterns long before most anglers take notice.
Whether you’re chasing Tennessee musky fishing success or searching for where to find musky in Tennessee, these top strategies and best lures will help you land more fish during the summer months.
One should note that fishing for musky in the South requires careful attention to water temperatures. Plainly put, muskies should not be targeted or fished for when water temps approach the 80-degree mark. For the sustainability of our native musky populations here in Tennessee, anglers need to give them a break when water temperature becomes an issue.
Where to Find Musky in Tennessee During Summer
While the musky spawn is rightly associated with shallow water, this trend continues into the early days of summer. This is especially true when early mornings are cool. These cooler mornings draw muskies into shallow zones during the first light hours.
As the sun begins to cut a path overhead, muskies move toward mid-depth and deeper haunts. The "where" and "when" of these daily movements are heavily influenced by weather and water conditions, but the amount of light hitting the water’s surface should also be considered.
In the same way that cloud cover can reduce light and keep muskies in shallow zones, other factors like chop, turbidity, and current can produce similar effects. This leaves Tennessee musky anglers needing to "season to taste" each day, adjusting their approach by considering how real-time factors influence the staging of bait-fish and muskies.
When summer temperatures soar and the water’s surface temperatures follow suit, muskies drop back to the first breaks and slightly deeper edges even during low light periods.
The Best Lures for Summer Tennessee Musky Fishing
With the spawn in the rear view mirror, muskies are now seeking prey with greater caloric value than the panfish and minnows they snacked on during their post-nuptial recovery.
While some anglers might associate lures in the eight- to ten-inch class only with fall and winter, they’re missing out on serious action during early summer. With muskies hunting for substantial meals and ample large forage available, this is the time to put away the post-spawn, snack-sized offerings and switch to some of the best musky lures.
The Magnus from Livingston Lures checks in just under ten inches and features an adjustable weighting system. I like using the Magnus throughout the post-spawn period and well into summer, as it consistently moves muskies—whether they intend to eat or not. I recommend colors like Disco Shad and Great White in Tennessee waters.
The Pounder from Livingston Lures is a great deeper-running crank-bait that shines during midday hours, pulling muskies up from breaks and edges. This is my go-to presentation when skies are high and bright. Worked in a jerk-bait manner the Pounder can de deadly on brealines and near cover.
Spinnerbaits like the Figure 8 Lure Co. Boss and Steve’s Meat Grinder excel in the vegetation that takes hold during the summer months. While most anglers target only the edges of vegetation, they’re missing strikes by not casting into the thick stuff.
Using the Meat Grinder to maintain sustained contact with dense vegetation is deadly when conditions are less than favorable.
Musky Trolling Tennessee: Summer Strategies
Precision trolling can be highly effective when muskies are staged on first or secondary breaklines or holding on deep points. While many anglers feel overwhelmed by the thought of trolling—often due to a lack of experience—musky trolling Tennessee in summer is far from complicated.
You can increase the number of muskies hitting your net by simply adding some trolling time during midday hours. It can be as straightforward as hand-holding your rod.
The Musky 360 app provides musky anglers with highly detailed trolling charts to eliminate any guess work. These charts allow trollers to know exactly how deep their lures are running based on specific line lengths and speeds—essential for targeting Tennessee’s deeper musky haunts.
Lures like Jakes and Grandmas are great for covering these areas. However, during the summer months, I tend to prefer the Squeaky Pete from Livingston Lures. Its thin body gives it a unique wobble when trolled, which seems to trigger more strikes compared to the previously mentioned options as water temperatures trend upward.
Summer trolling is yet another opportunity to utilize the Pounder, as its jointed body and slow rate of rise make it perfect for ticking and clicking off rocks and timber. A pro tip: when structural or cover contact is made while trolling with a Pounder, throttle down momentarily to create a brief lure hang after contact before advancing. This can be the key to triggering strikes on days when nothing else seems to work.
Summary
Mastering summer musky fishing in Tennessee comes down to timing, lure selection, and adaptability. There is more than ample opportunity to succeed, and if you put in the time using some of the best lures and tactics mentioned above, you will definitely land more muskies.
Be mindful of water temperatures and ensure you handle fish quickly and safely, as hot days and high air temperatures greatly increase stress on the fish.
While weather and water conditions are always factors in the South, focusing on structural elements and expanding your approach to musky fishing—beyond simply casting endlessly at a shoreline—will set you on the path to continued success.
Cheers,
Steven Paul
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