compared to the 5 pound suckers or Walleyes that these fish often eat. When one does hit a lure, it is more likely she has been hooked a time or two and has learned a few tricks for throwing the hooks. As difficult as it is to catch a trophy musky, there are always ways to improve the odds. Probably the shortest way to a trophy musky is to hire a big fish guide. There are guides that focus on numbers of fish and there are guides that are known as big fish guides. A successful trophy musky guide knows the water he fishes; understands the seasonal patterns and movements and where the muskies are throughout the season; and has refined the techniques and presentation to take big fish. Now don't hire a guide and expect that you will catch your fish of a lifetime or that he is going to divulge all of his knowledge on the first day out. Once you have found a guide that you like, plan on fishing with him for at least a few days. Most successful guides have a regular clientele. Many of the best periods of the season are going to be booked by those regular clients. By booking the same guide for a number of guide dates you will pick up more about the lakes, the patterns and the details that go into consistently catching trophy muskies. I remember a client that I guided for three successive years. I really liked fishing with this guy and he proved to be good luck for me. Every time I guided him, I would catch good fish. All guides will tell you that they would rather see the clients catch the fish, but that isn't the way it went when I fished with this client, the bigger fish all came my way. That all changed during the third season when his turn came and he caught a beautiful 35 pound musky. He wanted this fish on the wall, so we kept it. When he took the fish to have it mounted, he told a taxidermist that he had planned on fishing with me for five years or until he
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODA4MA==