Musky - Let's Talk Storms!

[Sam Ubl]

When a storm gets underway, it sometimes seems like a trigger when off in a muskies head that tells them to feed, NOW. Wind and rain disturb the surface enough to disorientate baitfish and exploit them to predators, like muskies. This vulnerability is a prime opportunity for especially larger muskies who want to expend as little energy as possible chasing prey.

Like a lion uses the tall grass to camouflage itself as it slowly stalks its game, in the same way, muskies use the low-light conditions to slink through the weeds, flat against the bottom to close the distance between themselves and the unaware and often times, disoriented baitfish.

This aspect of cold fronts is prime time for those of us who will weather the storm in the hopes of creating a memory that will last a life-time. I believe muskies inherently know that when the storm passes, hunting prey will not be so easy it was during the storm. The old saying, “No one passes on a free meal”, can be slightly altered, “No musky turns down an easy meal”. Or do they?

[magicman54494]

I used to fish muskies a lot when I was in my teens. Whenever a storm was rolling in we always had great action. The fish were agressive and most would pound the bait. We would risk our lives trying to get in as many casts as we could while the black clouds and lightning was far too close for comfort. One thing we always noticed but could never explain was all of a sudden muskies would start rolling on the surface. When this happened it was very hard to get another strike. It was just like someone threw a switch and the bite was done.

[Sam Ubl]

We call that porpoising. Usually when a musky eats, she'll come roll on the surface, which could be why you had trouble getting one to go when they were seemingly all around you - because they were full.

Good observation.