Northwest Fishing Reports

Does anyone out there know if tiger muskies bite at night? I would appreciate your input.

I see no reason why they wouldn't. Just make sure you've got everything (pliers, net, wire cutters) exactly where you can get to it quickly and safely by keeping the boat organized. If you are new to musky fishing, I would recommend trying it in the daylight first because it can get pretty chaotic when one decides to play. Just my .02

I've heard they don't bite at night. I began experimenting with night fishing many years ago, and have yet to catch one after dark. However, I've heard Curlew has a night bite, although I haven't been able to verify that information. Tiger muskies are primarily sight feeders, so I think they would be less likely to feed at night because it's harder to see the prey.

I would say a large very noisy topwater would do very well at night. probably buzzbaits poppers or big heddon crazy crawlers and jitterbugs. I know bass hit well after dark as well as other fish species so I dont know why tiger muskies wouldnt.

They fish em at night back east.

Newman has a night bite, but like Curlew, you need to know where the tigers are at when you go out. Go fish the spots where you've seen them during the day only shallower. Summer is the best bet on nights with little or no moon. I know that sounds like its wrong because you'd think they could see the bait and all, but it has proven itself to me on multiple occasions. Be on the best spot when the moon is rising, that 1/2 hour before it comes up is the ticket. Big, slow baits too. Stupid bass (sorry bass guys) also hit like crazy on good nights. As soon as the moon is up, it's all done though. That's been my trips anyway, you might have different luck. Bring a really good light, wear your life jacket and go really slow between your spots, safety first.

My advice would be to focus on the different events that take place during a 24 hours period... Sun rise, Sun set - Moon Rise, Moon set. Muskies tend to be most active at these times. Also changes in the weather or barometric pressure will trigger activity as well. The vast majority of the lures used put off plenty of vibration and will attract fish regaurdless of visability. I have caght them at night (which is pretty intense in the total darkness), mid day, pre dawn, twilight, cloudy days, sunny, etc... however I see the most activity during the Sun and Moon events.

I have a guide friend and during the summer time he is on the water every day from 3am till 10am... then off the water till 5-6pm... back on till midnight. http://www.kevincochranguide.com/ Check out his "recent catches" link lots of low light photos!

Kind of tough to fish at night here with Tapps being on lock down after 8pm!

RaMcVey wrote:They fish em at night back east.

That's true, but you're talking about true muskies. Tiger muskies are a different critter. Also, the midwestern night bite (for true muskies) is due to heavy boating traffic and fishing pressure. The fish in those lakes changed their behavior in response to those factors. It doesn't necessarily extrapolate to Washington's tiger muskies.

Don I am going to disagree on your boat traffic theroy. This may be true for a lake like Minnetonka (plenty of fish caught during the day on that lake though) however it does not fit for the lakes up north with strong night bites and minnimal boat traffic/fishing pressure. Also lots of lakes in the MN metro are producing low light/night bite tigers...

Applying the boat traffic theory and it's effect on the bite out on Tapps could be interesting!

If you launch before the ramps close are you able to fish throughout the night?

I would not suggest trying to leave your truck and boat traier in the park all night. I may be wrong but I have heard if it is there after the gate closes it will be towed.