Michigan Muskie Alliance

me and a buddy are planning on spending hours up here this fall chasing ski's what is the info avaliable. I do know that there are very few but some big ones. no shame in the game two days for one fish is okay. Has anyone night trolled these bodies of water

I have fished one of the lakes in the chain for 3 days consecutive days last year and 3 the year prior. No fish seen or caught either time. From everyone I know that fishes it, i would say that is pretty typical. Its a timing thing... You could run in to one, but you will work very hard for it. I haven't fished it in the fall, so maybe your chances are a little better. Stay focussed and put in the time and please relesea anything you catch. Reproductions look MUCH better these days.

we release them all, don't worry. One of my buddies typically does best earlier in the year but I would think that when the whitefish and ciscos are starting to push the shallows to spawn, a man might find a big one on the first shelf chasing the bait around. Might as well give it a try and perhaps have a beer while hoping for the best.

Alex,
As Chad summed it up, it is a timing thing. You are dead on about the cisco spawn. You will want to focus on the cisco spawning areas when they move in to spawn. By the way are you still making those flies?

When do the cisco's run?
I have been in a friendly tournement up there for the last two years in the spring. With 6 boats each year we have seen 1 muskie. Of course Most of us are clueless. Just getting in to the ski's.

Lureless,
Cisco typically spawn in the late fall usually when the water drops below 43 degrees(40-42) and heaviest around the full moon. Shallow water rocks/gravel adjacent to deep water is the most comon area.

Is anyone willing to chime in about his/her own experience trying to time trips with the cisco spawn - or pre-spawn? I suppose the 42 degree mark is a starting point, but I'm wondering if anyone has any experience meeting the ciscos and muskies moving in shallow (or relatively shallow) BEFORE the 42 degrees and the actual spawing takes place. Anyone want to share?

john c wrote:Is anyone willing to chime in about his/her own experience trying to time trips with the cisco spawn - or pre-spawn? I suppose the 42 degree mark is a starting point, but I'm wondering if anyone has any experience meeting the ciscos and muskies moving in shallow (or relatively shallow) BEFORE the 42 degrees and the actual spawing takes place. Anyone want to share?

Not with that fishery on a public forum. The spears do enough damage up there.

I would agree, any information given on this forum placing these fish in harms way would not be good. John,anyone can read this forum and the Darkhouse club monitors this website. They spear way too many Muskies every year without us giving them more directions to the fish. The entire Chain of lakes has a few Muskies and if you time it right you might score one. Its not an easy system to fish . If you become a member of this club there are many benifits such as meeting and fishing with some of the best sticks in the Musky world. There are many good lakes with good numbers and big fish. We dont talk much about those waters on this forum for the sake of protecting this fishery. If you are a catch and release Musky fisherman and have good release ethics there are guys here that will help you to get on fish. I hope this explains some of answers you have gotten to this post. Kingfisher

Uh, I've been a member for a little while now. Forgive my sloppiness; at the time I wrote the post, I forgot I was in the "public" portion. I'm used to being in the members only section... Sorry. I'm well aware of the up-hill battles we face, and certainly aware of the local, wise, old sages who dutifully remove the "snakes" from those parts.

If anyone wants to PM me or start a thread in the protected "members" portion, please do. Unfortunately I live in the "southern" part of the state (Lansing area) and don't have the first-hand contact with the cisco (and other cool forage) lakes as often as I'd like...

John Castle

Guys,
While I'll totally agree about keeping specifics from the wrong people, no one wants to lose such a valuble resource to a dick with a spear. I think its safe to assume nobody will be spearing fish from a darkhouse when the water temp. is 42 degrees. I think you'd be safe stating generalities to lake features and keep specific lakes names off the post. Oh and Mr. Castle a pm is on the way.