How to catch a Musky?

Musky are one of the most prominent fish that you will discover in Lake of the Woods, and without any doubt, you might be wondering how to catch a musky. And in order to reply that question, you firstly have to know these fish are exceptionally forceful and savage.

For that reason, catching a musky will require a lot of effort and skills that the angler must have.

However, there are some other aspects you need to consider when catching a musky. That’s why, here at Totem Resorts, we’re giving you a little insight so you can be fully prepared when facing one of these atrocious fish.

Like that, you will be able to learn, without any doubt, how to catch a musky in a proper way.

Knowing the Foe!

Before learning how to catch a musky, it is indispensable to know that these are the most aggressive large predatory freshwater fish in North America. And, in Lake of the Woods, you can find them in various zones. Because of this, they are very strong and powerful, and an encounter with them can come from anywhere.

Moreover, the body plan is typical of ambush predators with an elongated body, flat head, and dorsal, pelvic, and anal fins set far back on the body.

In addition to this, the colors of the fish can be light silver, brown, or green, with dark vertical stripes on the flank, which may tend to break up into spots. In some cases, markings may be absent altogether, especially in fish from turbid waters.

The better the hook, the better the job

The proper hook setting comes with a lot of practice. So, anglers must take this factor into consideration in order for them to enhance their technique.

That being said, the best way of setting the hook varies depending on how hard the musky strikes, the distance from the boat, and the depth in the water.

With that in mind, you must set the hook once, and then reel in fast, keeping tension on the line. Indeed, this is an important aspect to know how to catch a musky.

Setting the hook

Another aspect to consider for learning how to catch a musky is that muskies have strong jaws and the insides of their mouths are quite tough.

Because of this, you want to give yourself a good chance of having the musky get hooked and stay hooked.

For that, it’s important to anticipate in which direction you will be setting the hook. For instance, most right-handed anglers prefer to set the hook toward their right side.

Preserving the musky

In order to protect a healthy population of musky in Lake of the Woods, the practice of catching and releasing all musky is a must. As a matter of fact, this is also specified within the law.

Since we want to preserve the health of the fish, the time in the boat will be short – just enough for quick photos, brief videos and measurements.

With all of these aspects in mind, you will have a clear perspective of knowing how to catch a musky in Lake of the Woods!