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Steve Heiting

Muskies on the edge of fall; here’s how to catch them

Featured, Features, Fishing, Fishing, Home Page News, Minnesota, National Fishing, Wisconsin /

Morning fog enveloped the lake as we looked down on it from the cabin’s window. Along the shoreline, gold and crimson leaves faded into the mist. The thermometer on the deck read 40 degrees.
Yesterday we’d fished in shorts and T-shirts, but this morning we’d be pulling on all the clothes we’d brought along. A cold front had hit like a sledgehammer, but in our minds conditions couldn’t have been better. Early fall – what some fishermen refer to as the preturnover period – is my favorite time for muskies.

Muskies on the edge of fall; here’s how to catch them Read More »

Brett Strasser tops more than 1,100 anglers at 40th annual Musky Open in Wisconsin

Featured, Fishing, National Fishing, National News, News, Wisconsin /

On a weekend that featured cool, post-frontal weather, Brett Strasser topped the rest of the field to win the National Championship Musky Open in Vilas County.
The 40th annual tournament, held Aug. 20-23 in Eagle River, drew 1,153 anglers from 14 states. It is the largest fundraiser of the year for the Musky Clubs Alliance of Wisconsin.

Brett Strasser tops more than 1,100 anglers at 40th annual Musky Open in Wisconsin Read More »

Wisconsin DNR to stock 98% of 2026 muskie quota

Featured, Fishing, Home Page News, National Fishing, National News, News, Wisconsin /

Wisconsin’s fish hatchery crews plan to stock 98% of their muskie quota in 2026 after receiving approval for supplemental 13.10 funding from the state’s Joint Finance Committee.
With this new funding, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said it now plans to stock 56,503 muskies in inland lakes. Earlier this year, Justine Hasz, the DNR’s fisheries director, said the agency would have to cut muskie stocking by 70%, from a planned 57,520 muskies to 17,000.

Wisconsin DNR to stock 98% of 2026 muskie quota Read More »

Subtle differences can make all the difference when it comes to muskie lures

Featured, Features, Fishing, Fishing, Home Page News, Minnesota, National Fishing, Wisconsin /

Water churned behind Nick’s topwater as it steadily plopped toward the boat. Suddenly, about 20 feet out, the big muskie that was trailing the bait spun off in a giant swirl and retreated back to its lair. In the bright sun, we watched its progress until it faded from view near an island.
“She’s hot, but not yet ready to eat,” I said to Nick and Charlie, my guests for the day. “Let’s leave her alone for an hour and try again.”

Subtle differences can make all the difference when it comes to muskie lures Read More »

Confounded by a cold front? Eight ways to still boat muskies

Featured, Features, Fishing, Home Page News, National Fishing, Wisconsin /

More than 40 years ago when I started fishing for muskies I learned very quickly that some days produced better action than others. Soon I realized it was not simply luck, and that weather usually had the greatest influence on muskie activity.
In most cases, it was post-frontal conditions that turned off muskies. Bright skies with few or no clouds, cool air with little humidity, and wind from the north and eastern sides of the compass are sure signs that a cold front has passed. In the hope of catching muskies more consistently, I learned and developed patterns that often produce in such weather.

Confounded by a cold front? Eight ways to still boat muskies Read More »

Musky Clubs Alliance of Wisconsin to give DNR another $50,000 for muskie stocking

Featured, Fishing, Home Page News, National Fishing, National News, News, Wisconsin /

The Musky Clubs Alliance of Wisconsin (MCAW) will donate $50,000 to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) this year in another attempt to mitigate the agency’s muskie stocking cutbacks.
MCAW President Dave Allen told Wisconsin Outdoor News the money would be split between the Art Oehmcke State Fish Hatchery in Woodruff and the Gov. Tommy G. Thompson Fish Hatchery in Spooner. It is hoped the donation will result in an additional 9,000 muskies being stocked in Wisconsin waters.

Musky Clubs Alliance of Wisconsin to give DNR another $50,000 for muskie stocking Read More »

Three muskie hotspots to target during the early season

Featured, Features, Fishing, Home Page News, National Fishing, Wisconsin /

As friends John and Mike and I headed for our first spot on opening day of the 2025 northern Wisconsin muskie season, I spotted a boat ahead of us scooting toward the same shallow, weedy bay.
“Well, I guess we’ll start on the next spot,” I said, turning the boat to the right toward a steep shoreline that had some fallen trees and wooden docks in the shallows, and a line of weeds out deeper.

Three muskie hotspots to target during the early season Read More »

Wisconsin Musky Clubs Alliance asking where money it donated to DNR went to

Featured, Fishing, Home Page News, National Fishing, National News, News, Wisconsin /

When the Musky Clubs Alliance of Wisconsin (MCAW) gifted $75,000 last year to the state Department of Natural Resources, it was with the intent of helping the agency stock more muskies in northeastern Wisconsin waters. Instead, the alliance got a case of indigestion.
Saying the issue gave him “heartburn,” MCAW President Dave Allen, of Kaukauna, questioned how the DNR spent the donated money during the MCAW’s directors meeting April 11 in Stevens Point.

Wisconsin Musky Clubs Alliance asking where money it donated to DNR went to Read More »

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