Northwest Fishing Reports

Went out to Newman to fish for the first time. Only other place I have fished for muskies is Silver. BIG difference in the two lakes. I thought it was definately tougher than silver. The really dark water didn't help, visability was poor. Didn't see a muskie the whole time we were out there. Not sure if I was doing it all wrong or if the weather has 'em off their game. I know the fishing around the lake for all species was rather poor today. Heard of a couple small bass caught but not much else. I would definately like to give Newman another try but not without a little more info on the lake and how to catch the muskies. A lot more shoreline made it difficult to determine where to start. I any of you muskie masters have any tips for newman I would appreciate it. I would love to hook into one of their giants.

Ya know how everyone always tells ya to figure 8 after every cast but most folks don't? Well, it's even more important in dark or colored water.
I usually work into an 'L' coming into the boat which usually gives me time to go right into an 8 or circle or down the side of the boat if I see something coming.
In dark water or even clear water early or late in the day it's really important to make the 8. You don't usually see em coming in this situation but they're actually more apt to come all the way to the boat and strike because they can't spook if they can't see the boat.
Keep at it. It's still early in the year. They'll get alot more aggressive as the waters warm up.

Yeah I have learned the importance of the figure 8 the hard way! At Silver I have had three fish follow to the boat but, no figure 8 led to no fish. 1 of those was this friday and he was mouth open going for it but I didn't see him till my lure was out of the water.

So I got that part now. Figure 8, Figure 8, Figure 8!

Now I need the where to find what to throw at newman

Thanks D.E.M.

Hey deadeye.... that's quite the bucket mouth you have on your avitar...... what did that puppy weigh? =p~

9-11 and no, it wasn't off a bed. Fishing a creature bait down some drop offs. Caught an 8-2 doin the same thing a week prior.
CPR'd of course. Got all the measurements laying right here next to the computer. Maybe some day when I've got nothing else to do with $300.

Would it be any less of a fish if you caught it on a bed?

Hey guys,
Deadeye told me the other day thats not a real fish! Really...He said it was one of those pillow fish. Bought it at Sportsmans Warehouse...$24.99...Was supposed to be a Mothers' Day gift...!! True story... I have NEVER seen a Wisconsinite ever catch a Largey like that...EVER! See yah!

Oh yeah,
What the heck are ya doin puttin a picture with ya anda fake largey in a Musky forum anyway..Way to go!! See yah!! Thats the reason you got negative points! HA HA !!

Wilkstr wrote:Hey deadeye.... that's quite the bucket mouth you have on your avitar...... what did that puppy weigh? =p~

Wilkstr, I've caught a few off beds and it's not always that easy to do but for the most part I'm not for it but I certainly do not want to start a hot topic here about that.
When the bass are moving up in the spring and I see small males and once in a while a larger female cruising shallow, I back out and fish the first drop off adjacent to the spawning areas. That's where the bigger females will be untill they're coaxed to a bed. When they get on the beds, I go musky fishing. After the spawn it's a tough bite for a couple weeks so I just stay with the muskies.

Oh yeah Todd, funny. Real funny.

I think its more exciting when they crush my lure on the retrive. I'd rather not do the L, figure 8 or whatever at the side of the boat, just doesn't seem that challanging and not as fun to fight a fish with only a few feet of line out. However I did have one fish this year come flying out of the water right next to my boat, smacking its jaws trying to get my lure when I lifted it out of the water, that was exciting!

Gone Fishin in colored water I would be using black bucktail spinners with brass blades or a big black plastics, a worm or something like this 5" reaper:

Be sure to slow down your presentation.

Todd, does it play the Bill Dance song and wiggle side to side, too?

Thanks Hook... How do you fish the worm for muskie?

Yup Kup it does, then it trips over some line on the deck of the boat and it ends up falling back into the drink! He He !! Spit ding !!