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The fall muskie frenzy: Here’s how to catch them on some of Iowa’s top waters

Iowa fishing guide Shane Akin holds his best-ever trophy muskie, a 52-incher. (Contributed photo)

They once were called the “fish of 10,000 casts”…the muskellunge. As fishing techniques have advanced and improved, so have the catch rates to the point that on a given day, especially during the fall, multiple muskies can be boated. Here in Iowa, stocking programs have increased the opportunity for anglers to catch a trophy muskie on several bodies of water.
Two areas in northern Iowa offer quality trophy muskie fishing: the Iowa Great Lakes chain of Big Spirit, East Okoboji and West Okoboji and Clear Lake. Other potential muskie lakes include Brushy Creek (Webster County), Lake McBride (Johnson County) Pleasant Creek (Linn County) and Black Hawk Lake (Sac County).
As with any type of fishing, there is a learning curve, which includes an understanding of the fishery, the fish and equipment.

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