My personal M.O. is revealed through my guiding practice. More than anything in this game, I enjoy sharing the experience with those who may not have had the chance in their life of contacting a musky or trophy pike. I used to fish for reasons of vanity but the older I get, the more philosophical I’m becoming about it all.

I remember when catching a 43-inch musky was actually a disappointment to me. At that time, I was seeking the monsters, and eventually, I found them and realized what it took to target them. Let me tell you, it’s not everyone’s game. Big fish of 40 lbs and higher are a rare prize on nearby water. 50 pounders are ten times the rarity! They all exist here but are you willing to endure the long hours, days, rough weather and uncertainty that it takes to maybe find that one trophy fish?

For the average person who hopes to land a big musky, the equation is as follows:

Now… having said all that… there is one factor that I play in my own game that has increased my client’s odds considerably. I mentioned ‘lack of on-the-water competition’ as a factor to success. The very best guides out there capitalize on this factor as much as possible! Yes, I know some of the very best spots and patterns in the area for big fish. If I thought that all of the factors in the equation could be realized on a particular day, and let’s throw caution to the wind and nix the luck factor, I could just about guarantee you a 40+ pound musky on that day.

Simply put, competition is 40% of the equation and there is now a lot more competition on spots that used to be easy. Furthermore, the fish that used to frequent these spots are becoming conditioned to the sounds of fishermen’s boats and lure vibrations.

Limiting factors might be: pre-chosen location, time of month and previous experience vs. expectations. To minimize the impact of some of these limitations, I spend at least a day, if not three, to pre-fish the chosen area. In that time, I’ll update myself on the present condition of the structure and surrounding water, locate (but not catch) muskies, and assess their mood to see if they’re catchable or pressured. I’ve fished my waters from one end to the other and I have a good idea what great musky structure looks like when I see it.

Photograph by Nipissing Muskies

My own personal numbers might be down but my client’s success rates are way up and that’s what I’m in this game for. Competition isn’t always a bad thing and there is still wiggle room when working around other fishermen. But when push comes to shove, I’m confident in picking up and running out to where few other boats are seen. For me, that’s what guiding is all about.

Does learning new water play into your musky success equation? Why do you fish for muskies? Let us know in the comments below!