Muskies from a yak....Northern Wisc??? anyone doing it?

[richg99]

Thinking about taking a drive later this summer to Northern Wisc. and trying for muskies from a yak. Anyone here doing that now? Rich

[ecu daniel 14]

that sounds freakin awesome

[Turtle135]

I spent two season focusing on muskies out of the kayak about a decade ago. Once they get to a certain size handling them safely becomes a two man job.

Now I run into them by accident while bass fishing.



If you are looking to target the fun sized ones (25" to 35") a spinnerbait and a Rapala Tail Dancer (perch is good color) is a good place to start.

[richg99]

Thanks...that is what I was looking for.

Lots of guys in TX are going a few hundred yards offshore and catching three and four foot long black-tip sharks and big (40/50 inch) redfish. I have yet to do it. We shall see.

Rich

[KbowersRiverBum]

Dang Dave where are you targeting those muskies around here?

[Turtle135]

Dang Dave where are you targeting those muskies around here?

the upper Potomac has a great population of true strain and Little Seneca Lake has tigers

[singingdog]

Not in Northern Wisconsin, but there are plenty of yak-musky fisherman here in Ontario. (Probably because the bass season is so short ) I have landed several in the mid to upper 40" size. The 50" mark has been broken at least 3 times that I know of by yakfishers in Ontario.

For many reasons, I think a yak is the ideal craft for pursuing musky. It certainly allows you to pursue them without having to use such heavy equipment, especially when trolling. The fact that the yak "gives" means that your equipment isn't getting beat up as much.

I threw "musky" lures - huge stick baits and massive inlines - for a couple of years. After catching most of my musky incidentally on bass lures, I have settled on spinnerbaits (slightly larger than typical bass spinnerbaits) and 4-5" plastic swimbaits as my preferred presentations. They are much easier to throw all day, don't require a broomstick rod, and have the added benefit of catching bass and walleye when the musky aren't hitting.

[Mr_Scrogg]

I've always wondered. What happens if you accidently catch a bass out of season, while fishing for another species? And a warden or game official catches you.

[MidTNKayakAngler]

We have a guide here in Tennessee that has been trying to get me to go with him. Here is one of his fairly common fish. Last year I thing he had several 50"+ fish. He is not a kayak angler he is a Musky Angler, guides from boat and kayak.

[singingdog]

I've always wondered. What happens if you accidently catch a bass out of season, while fishing for another species? And a warden or game official catches you.

If it's accidental, it's not a big deal. If you are obviously targeting them, then they can get nervous. As long as you release OOS fish with minimal handling they are usually cool with it. I get stopped occasionally because I do a lot of jig flipping for Musky. The COs sometimes think I'm targeting bass, until they see the steel leader and the jig with the 7/0 hook.