
Three must-have muskie lures for early summer
As the water warms up in early summer, keep these three styles of muskie baits tied on.

As the water warms up in early summer, keep these three styles of muskie baits tied on.

The scoop on fishing muskies, crappies, walleyes and smallmouth bass these days.

DNR’s 2019 spring survey yielded 266 muskies, with 81% of the fish captured measuring greater than 30 inches. Nearly 10% were larger than 40 inches,with the largest being a 43-inch female.

If you’re looking for something new to cast at the muskies this season, consider one of these overlooked topwaters. It may be difficult to find some of them, but the effort will be worthwhile.

As good as the muskie fishing is, that’s not the only fish anglers target in Thornapple. The lake’s turbid waters also hold excellent numbers of black crappies and good numbers of walleye, perch, and bass.

Combat fishing ain’t easy, but the fish are big

Bucktails and small mid-diving crankbaits in perch or black have worked best. The topwater bite has been pretty decent, too.

Anglers are catching some nice smallmouth bass a few northern pike, and an occasional muskellunge, on the entire length of the Allegheny River.

Many muskie anglers were initially slow to embrace swimbaits, but the lure style that is huge in the bass fishing world is fast becoming an increasingly popular option for long, toothy fish.
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