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Fall Muskie Tactics in Central Illinois

By: Colby Simms

Central Illinois is a great place to be if you're a muskie fisherman, and Fall is the best time of year to be on the water chasing these elusive and powerful beasts. There are many muskie waters in the region and plenty of opportunities to get in on a good bite. A few of the best waters in Central Illinois include Spring Lake, McMaster Lake, Lake Shelbyville, Storey, Evergreen, and Banner Marsh.

•Location:

Fall muskie location can vary a bit in different bodies of water, but the one thing that remains constant is the predator/prey relationship. Apex predators like muskies are at the top of the food chain and live and hunt wherever they want. You can bet that muskie locations won't be far from their primary food source, and active muskies will be shadowing schools of their unsuspecting prey. Find the bait and you'll find the muskies.

During Fall, many pelagic baitfish species such as shad migrate into tributary arms, bays, and coves in large numbers, and the predators won't be far behind. Bass, walleyes, stripers, and of course muskies will follow their prey into these areas to feed. Fall is a time when fish need to gain a lot of weight to get them through the long cold winter ahead and aid in egg development for the upcoming Spring spawn. The result is aggressive feeding fish that are very susceptible to angling. These hunters will feed almost exclusively on baitfish during the Fall, and oily baitfish such as shad provide lots of energy per meal and good weight gains. Other fish can be used heavily by muskies in certain bodies of water. Suckers, sunfish, and carp are all on the menu and can provide the necessary fat and protein.

A lake map and electronics can aid in the search for baitfish schools. When baitfish are shallow, the best approach is usually scanning the water visually for the telltale signs of flipping shad. A billed cap and a good pair of polarized sunglasses designed for fishing will greatly aid in locating baitfish. I choose fishing optics from Flying Fisherman of the Florida Keys (www.flyingfisherman.com / 800-3FLYFISH). Flying Fisherman polarized lenses dramatically reduce glare, allowing an angler to see much deeper into the water to spot not only baitfish, but sport fish, and cover objects as well.

Muskies may stop and hold along a piece of cover in an area where baitfish will pass by. Wood, weed, and rock cover will all hold muskies in the Fall. The best cover spots to look for will be on classic fall muskie structure such as points or breaklines. Other muskies will spend the majority of their time suspended, cruising open water following schools of baitfish. In the Fall, an angler must be versatile and willing to move until bait and muskies are located.

•Presentation:

Any baitfish imitating lure will work to catch fall muskies. Choose lure styles and colors that resemble the available baitfish forage in the body of water. Crankbaits, bucktails, spinnerbaits, and surface lures are great options when the fish are aggressive. The action can slow in the Fall when a major cold front rolls through, or a lake experiences a drastic increase in fishing and boating pressure on a busy weekend. In these instances, a more subtle presentation will usually trigger more strikes. Jerkbaits, minnowbaits, and jig and plastic combos are excellent choices. Experiment with retrieve style and speed until it becomes clear what the fish are in the mood to attack.

Fall is an exciting time to be on the water hunting the greatest of all freshwater predators. Outdoorsmen can book guided sport fishing and hunting trips at the Central Illinois waters listed above, as well Kinkaid Lake, Lake Of The Ozarks, The St. Francois River, The Chippewa Flowage, Pipestone Lake, Northern and Southeastern Missouri and many other great outdoor destinations throughout Missouri, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Ontario, through the SIMMS OUTDOORS TEAM GUIDE SERVICE LLC at 573-358-5948 / www.maout.com/colbysimms.htm / colbysimms@hotmail.com.

Good Luck!