Hey guys,

I have not been out in 3 weeks because of boat issues but would like to head out tonight. Any tips on what has been working?? Last time we were out we tried every thing but only had follows on bulldawgs no strikes. I am heading to White Bear but wont be out until dark. Any thing helps. Thanks

-Bill

the nightbite has been slow the past couple weeks, i did have a fairly excited follow around 9pm monday night on big blades after trying some other things for the last week and blades have also been working during the day so i'd keep throwing the blades first (don't forget multiple figure 8s) or troll cranks on the outside edge.

I dont fish White bear but have been doing very well on my honey hole trolling depth raiders at night. We are trolling 1.1 to 1.7 mph with alot of line. Got 4 last tuesday and 3 on wednesday night. Also picked up another monday night. Good Luck

that is way slow, i'll try that

That is interesting going that slow, might have to give it a shot tonight.

Moved 3 fish on Monday during the nasty wind (walleye dawg, 8 inch Jake, and a Naze Bait)and kept waiting for the magic to happen at moon rise/sunset on the November full moon....lake went completely flat and the bright full moon made it nearly like daylight out. It was just cool to be out there then....fished until about 9:30 and between the 2 of us we threw everything...even trolled the depth raiders because of Flakes post last week...NADA! We just had that feeling that something was going to happen but it never did! Goofy fish! haha. 24 degrees, eye lits freezing shut, reels throwing sleet all over the place when you cast, frozen fingers.....Muskies in November! Didn't boat a fish but it was worth it just to be out there!

Anyone else do any good during the full moon? Did we get off the lake too soon? I was frozen so I had no options.

I was out on Tonka Last friday and the weather really stunk. 4ft rollers in a bass boat, not a good time. It was the first time in October this year we did not put fish in the boat. I guess, we never got to fish the usual spots. We got one fish to move 4 times, but would not commit. I have not had the best luck on full moons, but new moons seem to produce better for me. I will be out all weekend on Tonka, hopefully we have a couple of weeks left before the boat has to go away. It has been a great bite this fall with blades/spinners.

You sure 'bout that? Possibly measuring the distance between the wave crests?

Maybe they were just angry 3 footers...lol.

Yeah, pretty sure it was 4ft rollers on Tonka on the main lake. The wind was gusting to 30mph that day out of the west. We took on a ton of water in the 18.5ft bass boat. I would not do it again. There was some slack water in some of the bays, but nothing worth fishing.

I got my first muskie about a half hour before moonrise on Sunday, that's sort of the full moon. Wasn't huge but a healthy 38".

JC, can I ask depths and structure you are fishing on Tonka. Been out there several times, had some follows and close calls but haven't boated on yet. Actually new to musky fishing and have not learned the tricks yet. Any help would be appreciated.

Fishhawk17, I have been fishing weedlines for the most part. Sometimes its the inside weedline (look for nice sand and rocks) and sometimes the outside (access to deep water) and sometimes their in the thick of the milfoil. This fall has been pretty funky for fishing, The fishing in October was really hot, but have seemed to cool off. This last weekend had more followers than bitters. I boated one 38" and lost two mid thirty fish. When you think you have it all figured out, then it changes.

If you are getting follows, thats a good start. I would keep going back to those spots. If the fish is not taking it, then he is just carious, wrong bait, wrong time of day, or etc, etc. Just too many factors to consider. Sooner or later you will boat those fish. Try low light conditons, or maybe warmest part of the day for this time of year. If the spot looks fishy, then fish it. The fish will move in and out of a spot daily. The more time you put on the water, the better chance of catching a muskie.