FISH BEHAVIOR: MUSKIES & PHEROMONES

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It's happened so many times that I know it is not a chance encounter. Having fished for over 60 years, nothing surprises me any more. Here in Eagle River, and on the un-pressured lakes of Ontario it has occurred so many times to us that it needs to be discussed. Perhaps it only occurs at certain times of the year, but I don't think so. What I'm getting to, is the stimulation that casting Muskie baits multiple times, into certain area's has done to the Muskies living there.

We normally will approach our selected casting area's very slowly, and work from the outside (deeper) to the inside (shallow). The area's that we have selected (where this occurs) normally will have a good weed base, with a maximum depth of 12 feet, and a minimum of 3 feet. Someone in the boat will bring a Muskie to the side of the boat. As we cast, to try and catch the fish that was just at the boat, someone brings another fish to the boat from the opposite direction. Then a Muskie is caught, and with all the commotion of landing that fish, we are caught right in the middle of the area that we were casting to. Now we have fish coming from every direction, on almost every cast, and they are not the same fish. We are right in the middle of "Muskie Heaven", and they do not seem spooked by the boat working through their home. Top water, spinner baits, buck tails all seem to be working. We have created a feeding frenzy. Good friend, Brian Widule and I put back to back 47 inch fish in the boat, with a 40+ incher lost in-between, and this all happened within 15 minutes on the same weed flat.

I have found about a half dozen spots, where this has occurred on a predicted basis. Pheromones given out by the fish, that we have stimulated with all our casting seems to be the answer. These are normally areas that are half the size of a football field, and once you have these fish going nuts, nothing seems to disturb them. One important factor in all of this, is the speed that we are fishing. The area is worked extremely slow with surgical precision. Sometimes our casts are no more than five to ten feet apart. Area's that you wouldn't think would hold one Muskie are holding at least four to six fish.

I had an article in last years Eagle River Guides Association "Scale's N' Tales" magazine about late fall fishing. What I did not mention in that article, is the fact that most of these fish were caught in the same area, with many multiple fish days. Friday, the 9th of November, 2007 while fishing the Eagle River area with lifetime resident Louie Drager, we managed to catch 8 Muskies, with double that amount lost or shown up as follows. I do not think this is normal behavior, but I do think that it is predictable. Baitfish seemed to be the common factor every time this has happened, and when we go back the following day, although the fish may be there they do not show themselves.

I firmly believe that the repetitive casting triggered pheromones in the fish, and caused them to throw caution to the wind. If you ever find yourself in this position, take full advantage of it. Do not leave the spot, and continue to work it until you feel you have exhausted every possible option. Be very methodical with your casts, and do not be afraid to throw one or more back on the same spot.

I think a good number of Muskie fishermen are the run & gun type. This may be an advantage when you are fishing tournaments, and trying to put just one Muskie in the boat. But, if you know the fish are there, either by lake knowledge or a follow to the boat, it is important to work that fish until you feel you have done your best. It would be interesting to see how many of our readers have had this same thing happen to them. If interested in talking about the above, email me at paulh@nnex.net

Great fishing!

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