Wixom lake muskies

[whitetailmonster]

I live on wixom lake and have got bass, carp, pike, pan fish, catfish... But i'd really like to get a muskie!!! THere is like two caught per year but i think that is because not many people fish for them. Does anybody have any ideas on where to go on Wixom and what to use???

[Brian]

We caught one a couple weeks ago on the tobacco river side... just south of the Dale Road bridge. We were trolling rapalas at various depths looking for pike/walleye and this thing hammered it. Picture is in my avatar. It was just under legal size, but it still made my day!

[whitetailmonster]

I'm sure it did... I never said being a keeper was a requirement for me. I would release it anyways... Picture is good enough. Nice catch! What size raps were you using? Did you hook into any eyes?

[Brian]

Nope, no eyes. I sure wish I could figure out how to consistantly catch them in wixom. We were using size 11's and 13's rapalas, all different kinds. This one hit the clown color.

[whitetailmonster]

I was hoping you said the clown... That is in my mind the best for walleye and I have a lot of them. I have seen people jigging for eyes across the DNR launch and they had two that were like 25 -27" but that was only once.

[redear]

dont know much about wixom but i would throw a double bladed bucktail along weed lines concentraiting on points and inside turns.

[Duke]

The problem with Wixom is it has too much great structure and habitat, especially for low density muskies. Its a good problem to have, but like was mentioned already, like using your good bass sense- concentrate on the best looking breaklines, points, and cuts with shallow weeds with close access to deep water. Speed is a good trigger for muskies, so trolling is a great option if you don't have beefed up reels that can crank in big lures fast. Bucktails are always # 1 for shallow, active muskies but anything with good size, flash & vibration will work. They will move up especially under low light conditions, but will hold in good weed growth when its bright out too. If you are a pike veteran out there you probably have the necessary tools & tackle (steel leaders & hook-out pliers etc.). Good luck!

[Steelmon]

Whatever lures you use, make them big! You can't buy a lure that's too big for a Muskie and big fish like big baits. One option is big soft plastic jerk baits that can be rigged weedless. Check you local, well equipped tackle shop and have them show you how to rig these. You can pull them right through the weed beds with very liltte trouble. You fish them by twitching your rod tip on the retrieve. the lure will dart from side to side in 1 to 1 1/2 ft sweeps. These things are deadly in salt and fresh water. They are inexpensive too. As someone else said look for grassy points, with close access to deep water. The fish like to be able to get to deep water easily. The windy side of the lake is usually best [I hate that]. It sitrs up plankton, which draws bait fish, which draws bigger fish, which draws Muskie. Do not forget the figure 8. If a fish follows your lure to the boat, but doesn't take it, leave it in the water and start making big figure eights with it, next to the boat. This is very successful in getting those followers to hit. Muskies aren't afraid of boats.