Get a jump start on Spring with Steve Genson
Early season muskies can be a challenge, but can still produce some of the best fishing of the year. Here are a couple tips to get you started chasing some early season esox. Choose your water wisely. Find the warm water. Think erratic.
I usually start my season on darker water and smaller lakes. These types of systems typically get fired up faster which makes them a good choice for starting your season. Darker water lakes will generally warm up faster making the muskies spawn sooner and start feeding sooner. Now this is a general rule! There are years when the clear water and larger systems can get going good by the opener. This is especially true in warmer than normal springs.
Finding the warmest water can be very important. I am always paying attention to my temp gauge this time of year. Even a couple degree difference can be significant in finding actively feeding muskies. No matter what type of system you choose to fish pay attention to finding the warmest water. Shallow bays, shallow flats, northern exposed shorelines, and anywhere streams, creeks, or rivers are entering can be slightly warmer. Spend lots of time in these areas.
In general I throw a lot of erratic lures during early season. Muskies can often be lethargic this time of year, especially following the spawn. Try to trigger reaction strikes by throwing smaller jerk baits, glide baits, and twitch baits. Some of my favorites for starting the season include Squirrelly hellhounds, Hellpuppies, 6” Phantom Softtails, and 5” Slammers. Just remember to work these baits erratically with lots of pauses. Once the water warms to the mid 60’s we start to mix in some Rabid Squirrel and Jack Rabbit spinners, TopRaiders and Fat Bastards, and bigger rubber like Magnum Bulldawgs. Good luck this season and get started early!!
To learn more about Steve Genson and his Guide Service click HERE.
To listen to Steve on the Back Lash Podcast click HERE.
Hall of Fame Angler Mike Lazarus on Back Lash Podcast
This week we talk to musky guru Mike Lazarus. Mike has a passion for musky like no other. He's also no stranger to big fish with many many giants hitting his net every year. We touch on a variety of topics in this one and hope to continue this conversation at a later date. Look for new episodes of the podcast every Wednesday morning. Thank you all for listening and good luck fishing.
Click Here to Listen and Subscribe
New from Bite Back Bait Company is the Mag Double 8's
This bait from Bite Back Bait Company isn't new to fishing just new to our website. This workhorse should be a must have in your tackle box this season. Find them right HERE
Back Lash Podcast Episode 55 - Talking Boats
This week on the podcast the 3 of us talk about boats. We had a few people interested in some lesser talked about topics so we will discuss those topics in a few podcasts. We plan to return next week with a special guest but will pick this up another week. In this podcast we compare and contrast fiberglass and aluminum boats. We also talk about things to consider when fishing in the front or back of the boat. Look for new episodes of Back Lash Podcast every Wednesday. If you need gear for the new year visit Team Rhino Outdoors (www.teamrhinooutdoors.com) and Musky Mayhem Tackle (www.muskymayhemtackle.com)
Click Here to Listen to this weeks podcast
How to Work a Bulldawg - Video
This week Steve Genson with Genson's Fish Hunts (https://fishhunts.com) talks about how he works a Bulldawg during the different parts of a musky season. If you are looking for an amazing selection of Bulldawgs visit www.teamrhinooutdoors.com
A little bit about what we plan to do for YouTube for this season
I'll let the video do the work so here it goes...
New Videos coming to YouTube this Spring.
For 2018 we plan to focus more attention on our YouTube channel and providing fresh new content. On the water action and product reviews will be the basis for our channel. We hope to provide content that is both educational and entertaining. Consider subscribing today so you don't miss a video.
Find our YouTube channel HERE
View a sample video below
Great new Crank from Leo Lures
Here is a great new trolling or casting option from Leo Lures. The MoJoe Shad has a great shimmy to really drive the big musky crazy. Available in 17 color options. Check them out HERE and view the video below.
New Products from Drifter Tackle
We are always trying to expand our lineup and give musky anglers what they need and want to help put more and bigger fish in the net. We recently add a few new products and colors from Drifter Tackle to the website. Now available in exclusive Team Rhino Outdoors custom colors are the 10" Straight Believers, 10" Hell Hounds, 12" Super Believers, and 9" Super Believers. We also added new colors in the 20" Squirrely Jake and 12" Super Stalker. Those are all great products to help you have more success musky fishing this fall. Good Luck on the water.
Kevin Pischke talks on and off the water tips
We asked Kevin Pischke with Lay in a Line Guide Service (1) What is something you do off the water to help catch more fish? and (2) When your on the water and not contacting muskies what is 1 change you'll make. Below you'll the answers to these questions.
If you’re not contacting fish on the water what’s the one adjustment you make?
Boat position:
Where are the fish in relationship to the area / structure you are fishing? If it’s a spot that regularly holds and produces fish I’ll change my boat position before I do anything else. Has something like wind, current, sun, clouds, bait location or boat traffic caused them to change their position? Do I need to work the deepest edge off of a weed bed because high blue skis have pushed them deep? Do I need to cast parallel to a weed edge or rock bar because a wind driven current has them positioned in a different direction nosed into the current? Do I need to get up tight in the weeds or on a bar because heavy boat pressure has pushed fish into the areas? Maybe it’s as simple as the fish have seen baits being retrieved in the same manner all day and by working it deep to shallow versus shallow to deep is the simple change that will initiate a strike.
What is something you do off the water to help you succeed
Maintain and organize fishing records.
I keep detailed records of my fishing and on my off time I will compile that data to track day to day fishing and also trends and results drawn out over a season. This can also be taken a step further to compare trends over several seasons. This helps you fine tune your fishing efforts to specific weather, season, and regional patterns. A good example would be tracking a change in fish behavior for a season with slow warming water temperatures that inhibited weed growth on a body of water that fish are heavily weed related because of a lack of other types of structure. A simpler day to day example of records would be how a certain direction wind affects the fish on a specific body of water.