Muskie Tactics for Central Illinois

by Kevin Patton

"It's 15 seconds of pure violence."

That's how muskie fishing guide Duane Serck summed up the experience of doing battle with one of the fiercest freshwater predators.

Serck gave his seminar audience tips about catching the fish at the top of the aquatic food chain during the Winterland Sales Open House in Chenoa March 14.

Like many Illinois anglers, Serck was an avid tournament bass fishermen about 15 years ago when, "I was bitten by the muskie fishing bug." Now the Pekin native guides for muskies on McMaster (Snake Den Hollow), Evergreen, and Spring lakes.

Muskies in Illinois

Serck maintains that the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is very muskie-friendly.

"There was a time when only four or five state lakes were in the program, but now we have 36 lakes in the muskie program."

Serck's web site, www.illinoismuskies.com provides a guide to Illinois muskie waters, with links to information about each lake.

One of the excellent muskie fisheries in Central Illinois is Evergreen Lake, a 900-acre lake north of Bloomington.

"Evergreen Lake," says Serck, "used to be filled with carp, suckers, and shad, but the fishing there has greatly improved with the addition of saugeyes and muskies."

"I know of at least a dozen muskies caught at Evergreen during the last few years that measured 50 inches or better."

Spring Lake, near Manito, is the oldest muskie lake in Illinois and also provides excellent bass fishing.

Shelbyville Lake not only provides good muskie fishing for boaters, but also for bank fishermen below the spillway. Serck says that one of the largest populations of muskies anywhere is located below the dam.

"Use bright colored swim baits there," he advises, "either a Bulldog or Storm Swim Shad."

Lures and Presentations

"Plastics have become very hot in muskie fishing and you can't fish them wrong," says Serck.

He uses plastic lures in both warm and cold water, especially when guiding anglers new to muskie fishing.

His favorite bait for beginners is a large spinnerbait. He prefers a one-ounce black bait with either chartreuse or nickel blades, or a white bait with gold blades.

Serck's second favorite method to teach muskie fishing is topwater lures. He prefers a Top Raider prop bait or a Viper jerk bait (similar to a Zara Spook that glides through the water when retrieved). Like a Spook, Serck uses a "walk the dog" retrieve.

"Keep a cadence when you work the lure," he urges. "Don't stop and start the bait or use a jerky retrieve."

When using a jerk bait underwater, Serck chooses a Phantom lure. It does the same thing underwater that a Viper does on top. The Phantom comes with a three-inch plastic grub trailer that Serck says triggers 20 percent more strikes than models without the trailer.

He adds, "You can vary your retrieve more when using underwater jerk baits, but not with topwaters."

Jigs are another good muskie lure. He likes to pitch them into flooded trees when possible or weedy patches at Spring Lake.

In-line, bucktail spinners with large blades are popular with muskie fishermen. The blades are usually between a number 10 and number 15 size.

"Probably the number one bait in muskie fishing is a black, in-line bucktail spinner with an orange blade. It's a Mepps on steroids," he jokes. "Cowgirls are the hot spinner right now."

Serck does have favorite spinner colors for specific lakes, noting that black with a white blade, black with a chartreuse blade, and white with gold blades are his favorites for Evergreen Lake.

Deep-diving crankbaits are also good tools when searching for muskies. He uses a Super Shad Rap for casting and a Li'l Ernie for trolling.

"Shad, carp, bluegill and crappie are the forage base in Illinois, so I use a black or crappie pattern crankbait and a firetiger color," say Serck.

He also noted that swimbaits are an increasingly popular bait with muskie fishermen.

Equipment

Serck likes custom rods built by his Angling Adventures partner, Paul Center. Center makes custom rods for a variety of species and uses.

If you choose to buy one rod for all-around fishing, he recommends a medium-heavy action, 7- 7 1/2-foot rod built for muskie fishing. He discourages the use of bass rods for muskie fishing, saying that nearly all are inadequate except for some flipping rods.

The rest of his outfit consists of a Abu Garcia Ambassadeur 5500C3 baitcasting reel and braided line between 65 and 100-pound test.

The second outfit that Serck recommends is a 6 1/2- 7-foot rod to fish jerk baits.

He prefers rods that are a composite of fiberglass and graphite with silicone carbide line guides because cold weather can cause graphite rods to "blow up" when fighting a huge muskie.

One mistake that novice muskie anglers make, according to Serck, is buying quality tackle and then scrimping on terminal tackle and leaders. He uses only quality leaders, snaps, and ball-bearing swivels.

He makes his own leaders, either 7-strand or solid ones, but avoids using fluorocarbon because it nicks too easily. He prefers shorter 1 to 2-foot leaders for casting jerk baits such as a Phantom and 3-foot leaders for trolling.

Trolling

A third outfit used by Serck, since trolling is legal in Illinois, is a two-piece,medium to medium heavy, 8- 8 1/2-foot rod for trolling. He prefers the one-piece rod for sensitivity, but notes that this length can be a problem with boat rod lockers.

His lures of choice for trolling are heavy spinnerbaits, deep-diving crankbaits, or jerk baits.

"Evergreen has a great trolling pattern develop at about 12-feet deep during June and July," says Serck.

Seasonal Strategy

Some early spring lures popular with Serck include a plastic bait, such as a Bulldog or creature bait; a slow-rolled spinnerbait; or a slowly worked jerk (glide) bait.

Early spring at Spring Lake is when Serck uses a 3/4 or 1-ounce chrome Rattletrap or a white or pearl Husky Jerk fished slowly.

He prefers overcast or rainy days for fishing the clearer water at McMaster or Spring Lake. On sunny days, he often fishes the murkier water at Evergreen Lake.

Serck generally stops fishing for muskies at most lakes in July or August to avoid stressing fish when water temperatures exceed 80 degrees. He resumes again during mid-September.

Spring Lake is an exception to that rule because it is spring-fed and remains a constant 72 degrees in some areas.

"A summer finesse pattern develops at Spring Lake, where I use smaller plastic baits on a spinning rod," says Serck.

Contact Information

Duane Serck and Paul Center are partners in Angling Adventures and provide guided fishing trips for muskies and other species on Lake Evergreen, Spring Lake, Lake Bloomington, and McMaster Lake. Their information can be accessed by visiting: www.illinoismuskies.com

Serck can also be contacted by calling 309-267-1601 or emailing: dserck@illinoismuskies.com

Paul Center can be reached at 309-454-8942 or paul@rods4fishing.com. Information about his custom-built rods can be seen at: www.rods4fishing.com

Winterland Sales and Service sponsors a series of fishing seminars at their annual Open House and can be reached by calling 815-945-7548, emailing Wint1@verizon.net or visiting their web site at: www.winterlandsales.com.