Most of the time when fishing for Muskies our lure speed ranges from moderate
to fast. Yet slower presentations are often more effective, especially in the fall. But
most lures simply won't function well at slow speeds.
A slow presentation will sometimes produce fish in the cold waters of late fall when
nothing else seems to work. How slow is "slow"? I mean so slow it would drive
the normal "run and gun" fisherman crazy. A slow lure retrieve has produced some
big Muskies for me when all else fails. But. . . let me get a bit more specific.
BIG JERKBAITS = BIG FISH
Jerkbaits specifically can produce big fish action in the fall. But many popular
jerkbaits are too buoyant and therefore need to be retrieved too quickly. Less buoyant
models that "hang" during the pause between jerks are usually much more
effective. The very best jerkbait will rise very slowly after being jerked down to depth.
You can slow down the
rise of these buoyant baits by either adding lead weight or soaking them in water. When
adding weight to your lures, take into consideration the fact that they often take on
water as you fish them and will get heavier. This natural water logging decreases the
overall buoyancy and rise of the bait. Baits should be weighted so they rise slowly in a
slightly nose down attitude. Usually, if you drill a hole just in front or back of the
front hook hanger and add the weight, your modification will be successful. Some anglers
simply pound in or glue a large egg sinker into the drilled
hole. Others pour melted lead into the spot. When melting lead, heat it just to its
melting temperature, and no more. Drip the lead slowly but evenly into the hole. This
prevents wood burning. When the hole is filled with molten lead, lightly tap it just as it
hardens with the round end of a ball peen hammer. This compresses the lead in the drilled
hole so it won't fall out. It also makes for a nice looking modification, when finished.
Hangin' jerkbaits is a presentation that requires more concentration. You will
often detect a strike by line movement or might even see a surface boil as a Musky takes
the bait before you even feel it. keep your hooks extra sharp to insure hookups at these
Start your retrieve by making 3 or 4 pulls to get the bait down as deep as it will go.
Then, depending on how fast the bait rises, give a long pause as the bait rises. Before
the bait breaks the surface, jerk it back down again with a series of 3 or 4 jerks. Some
jerkbaits respond better and dive deeper with a series of short soft pulls rather than
sharp jerks, so experiment to get the best action and deepest dive. A Musky will almost
always strike as the bait nears the surface on the rise.
You won't cover a lot of water with this presentation, so use it in high
percentage areas where a big fish's location is fairly certain. Areas like inside turns or
the tips of bars with steep breaks into deep water are typically good high percentage
areas especially if there are schools of baitfish present. Also try hangin' a jerkbait
over areas where you have seen a big fish or have consistently seen Muskies. Don't be
afraid to throw a jerkbait over deeper water just outside these areas, too. I have
occasionally caught some nice Muskies over 20 to 30 feet of water just outside these high
Try hangin' jerkbaits this fall. It just might catch a really big Musky.