If you're not fishing for early-season muskies, you’re missing out on a great opportunity—and you're hardly alone. With prime muskie fishing typically pegged for mid-summer and early fall, lots of anglers are unaware of the golden opportunity spring presents for tangling with these elusive giants. Known as the fish of 10,000 casts, muskies can be a challenge, but targeting them early is a surefire way to trim thousands of casts from that daunting figure—giving you the chance to hook into these beasts long before the summer rush. As long as there’s an open season in your area, there’s still plenty of time to get in on the action. Here's everything you need to know.
Cracking the Spring Code for Muskies
With water temperatures still hovering in the 50s and low 60s, early-season musky fishing hinges on finding two key elements: warmer water and an abundant food supply. After spawning, muskies linger in the shallows, taking advantage of the slightly warmer temperatures, speeding up their recovery. While they typically prefer large prey, spring brings a unique opportunity, as muskies focus on smaller baitfish, feeding multiple times throughout the day.
Small Baits, Monster Muskies
During the spring, the "big bait, big fish" mantra gets thrown out the window. Shallow-running lures in the 4- to 6-inch range are more than enough to trigger strikes from 50-inch-fish. With big muskies willing to bite small lures, the early season is the perfect opportunity for anglers who want to sidestep the physical toll of working giant baits that muskie angling often requires later in the year. The right lure choice is crucial in capitalizing on early-season opportunities. Smaller prey means smaller lures, narrowing the selection to just a few effective options. Here’s a breakdown of the top choices.
1. Spinnerbaits
The Mini Boss from Figure 8 Lure Co. is a classic choice. It can be cast into inches of water and retrieved with simple straight reeling. For added effectiveness, try mixing in pauses to let the Mini Boss flutter and, at times, make bottom contact, enticing more strikes.
2. Small Gliders
A 5-inch Smutty Dog bait can be worked erratically, carving a zig-zag path over flats and cover. But be sure to work in long pauses. A balance of chaos and extended hang time is key when working glide baits over spring shallows.
3. Dive-and-Rise Lures
The Livingston Lures Titan Jr. excels in probing emergent shoreline vegetation and timber. Use short taps and jerks to create a darting action, with pauses that allow the lure to float back toward the surface—which is when most strikes will occur.
4. Lipless Crankbaits
Rattling baits like the Bill Lewis Supertrap are highly effective when retrieved quickly through water measured in inches, not feet. Mix things up with a yo-yo technique and rod rips over open water to make the most of their vibration and sound.
5. Small Shallow-Running Crankbaits
Small cranks, like the 5-inch Slammer Minnow, are perfect for coaxing neutral or negative early-season muskies into committing. The key is to bounce the lure in place by using firm downward rod taps with a bit of slack in your line—a technique called slack-line twitching—creating an injured-baitfish presentation that is just about irresistible.
Early-Season Muskie Tackle
When muskies focus on smaller prey, it’s a good idea to downsize your gear. Early-season shallow bays and coves are best fished with shorter rods in the 7- to 8-foot range. These allow for better control, and longer rods may hit the bottom in shallow areas during figure-8s. A 200- or 300-sized baitcasting reel, paired with a shorter rod, gives you better feel and accuracy, especially when using lighter lures. Spool up with 55-pound braided superline. and add a fluorocarbon leader for a muskie-proof setup.
Fine-Tuning for Furious Muskie Action
Although most early-season muskies are found in warm, skinny water, not all shallow areas are created equal. Focus on areas that get ample sunlight throughout the day, as they warm up faster and stay warmer longer. Also, don’t overlook spots where warmer water enters from creeks and streams. These locations often become hot spots, with multiple fish holding close together.
Although spring muskies tend to be shallow, they still instinctively prefer the security of deeper water nearby, so always prioritize warmer shallow areas adjacent to deeper zones. And remember that "deep" is relative; what’s deep in early-season waters may not be the same as later in the year.
Emergent vegetation is a key cover type to look for now, too. Even the smallest patches of greenery can serve as primary attractants for smaller baitfish, such as perch and crappies, and it’s a good bet that a hungry muskie or two will be lurking nearby.
Midday Can Be Magic for Early Muskies
While early mornings are prime during the warmer months, I’ve found early-season success in starting my days later, capitalizing on mid-day feeding windows as more muskies become active during the warmest part of the day. The fish tend to feed in shallow water during daylight hours, but as temperatures drop overnight, they move out. Those who insist on fishing in the early morning often wind up disappointed now. There’s a clear connection between the warmest part of the day and early-season muskie feeding activity, so plan your outings accordingly.
Slow Down, Cast Tight, Keep Them Interested
Two other critical components to early-season muskie success are pinpoint boat positioning and accurate casting. Many anglers burn through areas at warp speed with their trolling motors, but slow, deliberate boat control allows you to maximize every cast. Saturation casting—making consecutive casts just a few feet apart—is critical when working early-season muskies. Making multiple casts from different angles over the same small area can often trigger a muskie into action. So take your time and be thorough.
When you get a follower, keep in mind that muskies will fall for a figure-8 in spring just like in summer, but the shallow water limits the tricks you can employ. Savvy anglers like to vary the depth of their figure-8s, but this time of year, you should be prepared to execute a flat, steady figure-8 during the first moments of boat-side action. If a muskie doesn’t commit, or if the water is very shallow, try walking the fish around the boat to maintain interest. Just make sure your deck is clear to avoid any mishaps.
Make no mistake that muskies can live up to their frustrating reputation any time of year, and persistence is as important in spring as it is in summer. But with hungry fish prowling the shallows now, you don’t want to miss out on this opportunity. Downsize your gear and lures and do a little on-the-water reconnaissance to locate spring hot spots and you’ll be netting giants in no time.
