You simply can’t catch fish where they don’t live. Early-season musky fishing is an interesting case in point.
For years, it was generally accepted that North Country musky don’t start biting until the Fourth of July, as summer heatwaves signal the movement of musky to classic shallow-water rock piles and weed beds.
So where were these fish before the fireworks? Twenty-five to forty-pound fish still have to eat! 
In the past several years, several musky fanatics and guides have started to unlock the early-season habits of massive toothy critters… For starters, they’re suspended in what appears to be no-man’s-land…
Seems a little bit like “zombie fishing” at first – with little or no logic to it – just go out into the center of the lake over deep water and cast or troll… But the truth is, big fish don’t wander anywhere. They’re on a figurative blood trail, following the best food available.
Now it’s time for “the rest of the story” on early-season musky.
Hone in on an active food web in deep-water basins, exposing a bread-line of zooplankton, ciscoes whitefish, and giant predators in for the feed.
Putting all the variables in their favor, Jim and Josh follow the bait right to a big suspended musky – while exploring the importance of specific hard-to-soft bottom transitions.
Sure, for decades muskie anglers have randomly caught early-season ‘skis over deep water, but what you’re about to see starts to explain the how, why, when, and where of it all.
Mysterious early-season musky can be caught by matching the right presentations to suspended, deep-water fish.
In this article, we will be discussing the concept of the “magical switch” when it comes to muskie fishing. Is there a specific time when muskies are more likely to bite? Let’s dive into this intriguing topic and explore the experiences of seasoned anglers.
The Magical Switch For Suspended Musky
When it comes to muskie fishing, there is a long-standing debate about whether there is a “magical switch” that determines when muskies are actively feeding.
Some anglers believe that there are certain times when muskies are more likely to bite, while others argue that it’s all about using the right techniques and lures.
As an angler gains more experience and becomes more versatile with their techniques, they may start to believe that muskies are always biting, but you just need to have the right bait on.
However, after years of fishing, some anglers come full circle and believe that there is indeed a switch that determines when muskies are actively feeding. In this video, the angler explains that he often guides people who have a hard time believing in the concept of the “magical switch.” He tries to convince them that they are fishing over muskies all day and that there is a specific time when they are more likely to bite. To prove his point, he mentions muskie tournaments where instead of live weigh-ins, they have a judge boat format.
Anglers have a Marine Band radio in their boat and when they catch a fish, they have to call a judge to their boat. The angler explains that during these tournaments, there is a clear switch when the bite turns on and anglers start catching fish.
He describes how the radio chatter goes from silence to multiple anglers calling for a judge. He also mentions that the switch can be influenced by environmental conditions such as moonrise or a storm front rolling in.
The angler goes on to explain that in most tournaments, there is a window in the morning where the bite is hot for about 45 minutes. After that, it becomes radio silence for about six hours.
He emphasizes that during this time, it doesn’t matter who you are or what you’re doing, the switch is off and the muskies are not biting. He mentions that in these tournaments, there are anglers fishing in various ways, including open water, shallow, deep, and using different lures such as jigs, topwater, jerkbaits, and trolling. Despite the variety of techniques being used, the switch remains off.
The angler also discusses the importance of changing environmental conditions, such as wind and moonrise, in triggering the switch. He shares a personal experience where he had a great day of fishing when a storm front rolled in simultaneously with moonrise. He caught multiple fish in a short period of time, highlighting the impact of these changing conditions on the muskie bite.
The angler concludes by emphasizing the importance of understanding what muskies are feeding on. He mentions that figuring out the muskies’ preferred prey is crucial for successful fishing.
In open water muskie fishing, trolling is often the starting point as it allows anglers to cover a lot of water efficiently and search for hard to soft bottom transitions and baitfish. Trolling also helps anglers identify areas where there is a concentration of baitfish, which is often where muskies will be found.
The angler suggests that if a fish is caught while trolling, it might be worth dropping the trolling motor and making casts in that area, as there could be more fish nearby.
The angler then discusses the timing of the muskie season and how it affects their behavior. He explains that shortly after spawning, muskies swim out to open water and target their primary forage, which are tullibees and whitefish.
This pattern is not unique to Lake Vermilion, where the angler is fishing, but is also observed in many other lakes in Minnesota. He mentions that trolling crankbaits, particularly magnum-sized ones, is a popular technique for early season open water muskie fishing.
The angler provides details about the gear he uses, including Saint Croix trolling rods, Daiwa line counter reels, and offshore planer boards.
The angler also briefly touches on casting in shallow areas, mentioning that soft baits, jerkbaits, and crankbaits can be effective when muskies are feeding near the surface.
He shares that during their two-day trip to Lake Vermilion, they had four follows but no fish while casting. However, a few days later, he had a successful trolling trip with three muskies caught, including a 56-inch and a 54-inch fish.
In conclusion, the concept of the “magical switch” in muskie fishing is a topic of debate among anglers. While some believe that muskies are always biting and it’s just a matter of using the right techniques and lures, others argue that there is a specific time when muskies are more likely to be actively feeding.
The angler in this video shares his experiences and observations, including the existence of a clear switch during muskie tournaments and the impact of changing environmental conditions on the muskie bite. He also emphasizes the importance of understanding what muskies are feeding on and the effectiveness of trolling as a starting point for open water muskie fishing.
Overall, the angler’s insights provide valuable information for anglers looking to improve their muskie fishing skills.
To learn more about muskie fishing and plan a memorable fishing vacation, you can visit Lake Vermilion Resorts online. Whether you’re interested in muskies, crappies, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, or walleye, Lake Vermilion offers fantastic fishing opportunities. So, grab your gear and get ready for a great fishing season!
