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Early Season Pike/Muskie Fishing Essentials:
Most of the Northern Pike in in northern climates will spawn under the ice in the next few weeks, and will be cruising the shallow weed flats as soon as the ice goes out looking for anything to eat, especially perch, minnows and an occasional bluegill, the larger fish tend to stay nearer the deeper edges where they feel more secure and have a quicker escape route to deep water, but they are very hungry and will take a fly well at this time of the year. Early Season sight fly fishing for "Pike", is sometimes an exercise in frustration, and sometimes the most fantastic fishing you have ever done. Most of the fish you will encounter will be less than 42 inches in length and weigh about 7 to 18 pounds - the fish are pretty skinny in the spring. They can be voracious feeders, if the conditions are right, you will have many shots at feeding fish. Typically you will spot 10 to 20 fish in a day with good shots at 5 to 10, your ability to accurately cast is critical in getting more chances at casting to fish that have not been spooked! You will also be blind casting to likely looking holding water.
To even the odds, I recommend a couple of 9' 9wt. fast action Fly Rods rigged with Clear Intermediate Tip and 10' Sink-Tip Type 6 lines. In the early spring, I usually use 25# test single strand Nickel-Titanium wire tippet attached to a 40# test leader butt of about 4 to 7 feet in length, (depending on the depth of the water and type of line).
A good quality Disc Drag Reel, (preferably Large Arbor), is a must, the lighter the better - I like Ross Reels in the 7/8 weight line range. My favorite Musky reel is the Nautilus FWX7/8, its lighter than anything else in its price range and the drag will never fail, even with a 40+ pound fish thrashing on the business end. Backing capacities are not critical, as these fish rarely get into the backing - I have never had one do it and don't know of anyone who has. Fifty to One Hundred yards of 20# test Backing will be more than adequate.
Keep your offerings small. Don't start chucking big flies early in the season, use flies that will run a little deeper and have a smaller profile - the fish are still pretty cold and they can digest smaller foods faster, giving them more energy in a shorter amount of time. I usually start with subdued colors until the water temps get into the upper 50's and low 60's then I slowly bring on the bigger and brighter stuff. Minnow and Leech imitations work best early on, then Perch and finally Bluegills, but the Gills really won't get going until water temps get into the 60's - we have a long way to go before that happens!
Patterns: I start my season with a Big Green, Bill's Deceiver, or a Bunny Bug, and then move up to a Craft Fur Minnow. As the days get longer and the water warms up, near June I'll start using a Finn Bug and as the weeds thicken I'll switch over to an Edgewater Diver or Flute Fly. Many times early in the spring, the fish choose the slow rhythmic movement of the Bunny Bugs over the silhouette of the minnow patterns, especially if they are a bit deeper and less aggressive because of colder water. Keep your flash to a minimum and slow your retrieve way down in clearer, colder spring waters, almost just bumping or jigging the fly across the weed tops. Keep your flies no more than 5 or 6 inches long, for best results use a 3/0 or 4/0 hook for most of the Pike/Muskies in our area. A 9 wt. rod is best. Flies rigged "hook point up" like a Clouser style have a much more difficult time hooking these types of fish, they have about 1,200 to 1,600 teeth on the roof of their mouths, leaving little room for a good hook set. You will hook-up and land many more fish by using down-style flies with weed guards rather than hook-up style flies.
Many times a smaller Double Bunny about 3 to 4 inches in length is perfect for early spring conditions, I like to use one with good contrast, like Black over Yellow or Olive over White, these flies are best suited for Pike, but there are plenty of smaller Muskies that will eat these little tidbits also. While early spring sight fishing in very shallow flats, I try to concentrate on drop-off edges, creek channels or weed lines - these areas may only be a foot or two deeper than the adjacent parts, but they will funnel and hold larger fish, especially if there is a little current from an incoming creek or some trees in the water to offer cover.
Most of the time in the early spring, the weeds are still dead - left over from last fall, I look for even the smallest of green weeds beginning to emerge and try to concentrate on those areas. Decaying vegetation uses up oxygen in the water and therefore those areas tend to have fewer baitfish and less aggressive fish in them. Green weeds, on the other hand, put oxygen into the water, attracting small zooplankton, bugs, minnows and finally the predators we are looking for - think green in the early spring and late fall!
I should mention rods - get the lightest weight fastest action you can afford - but be careful not to get a "Saltwater" rod that is all butt and not meaty enough in the middle and tip sections. You need to generate lots of line speed at shorter distances (25 to 35 feet). I like the Greys Carnivore Series Rods which are very good and reasonable priced, and I have the Muskie Master which is unsurpassed for casting extra large flies long distances with little effort. If you are on a tight budget, I think the best rod for around $150.00 is the Cortland Pro-Cast 9' 9wt. - it's a 4 pc. rod with good speed, it comes with a sock, but no tube. If you want the very best and price is no object, I think the Hardy Proaxis rods are superior in every way. They are very fast, recover rapidly, are extremely lightweight and super durable - up to 60% stronger than the best Graphite fly rods available today.
"Salmon" action rods are really too soft - they are made to protect lighter tippets and not made to cast extra large flies long distances - we don't have any lighter tippets to protect - 20# wire and 30# to 40# mono don't really need any "shock absorbing" softer tip or mid sections to protect them from breaking! Most 8wt. rods don't have enough backbone to "stick" a Musky hard enough, but they will work well for Pike. I want to add, we're trying to hook and fight them, not kill them in the process, so use a rod that gives you enough "backbone" to do the job well, don't skimp on the rod.
Water clarity in the spring is fantastic, longer leaders and longer casts will get you into more and larger fish - be sneaky! I usually use a Cortland 444SL Ghost Tip line, it has a 15' clear Intermediate sinking front section, this gets my fly down where the fish will be. My leader system consists of a length of 40# test Maxima Ultragreen Mono, to this I add a single strand Nickel-Titanium Tippet section that I attach with a 25# test Invisible Swivel. You can also build the "bite Tippet with a length of 30# test shock mono attached to the wire with an Albright Knot, (you can see how I tie up my "Bite Tippets" by logging onto You-Tube and searching for "wetieit", the entire process will come up). At the terminal end I tie on the fly with a Perfection Loop Knot. This type of system allows me to change leader lengths and replace tippets quickly and easily without messing around trying to reconstruct everything in the boat - I usually tie up several tippet sections to my flies in advance and put them into my tackle bag for use whenever I need them.
Leader Design: I make my own leaders, I use 40 pound test Maxima Ultragreen for the butt section, which may be between 2 and 7 feet long (depending on the water depth and clarity) the shallower the water the longer the leader Butt, put a small Perfection Loop at the fly line and tie the tippet section to the Invisible Swivel with a 4 loop CLinch Knot. I make up tippet sections with about 18 inches of 25 pound test single strand Knot-2-Kinky Nickel-Titanium Wire, leave a short tag of wire, (about 1/4" long), to prevent the knot from coming undone while casting - not everyone is a prefect caster with this heavy tackle.
This is by far the best leader system I have come up with to date, the wire is so small in diameter the fish don't see it, and it lasts much longer than anything else out there, also because it is single strand, it doesn't give off near as much reflection under water making it even more invisible to the fish. The wire isn't cheap, but it is definitely the best stuff out there, it's less expensive than Tyger Wire and it will outlast it by tenfold! Sometimes in the spring, if the water is very clear and I'm fishing over a sandy bottom, I will use very hard Mono, the new Quattro Ultra hard is the only stuff I will use, it's camo coating does a good job of disguising the terminal end - use a Homer Rhodes Loop Knot to attach the fly. I do this to minimize the shadow from the leader and to keep the leader as streamlined as possible, but I only do this for extra clear water where I'm fishing very shallow - I know I am taking the chance of getting cut-off by a big fish, but it's a chance I'll take for the opportunity of getting a hook-up.
Leader length depends on water depth and time of year. In the early spring I use a longer length because of water clarity - I lengthen the mono portion to as much as 7 feet, giving me a total length of about 9 feet with the Titanium Tippet or Hard Mono section. Conversely, in the late fall when I'm fishing very large flies on heavy Sink-Tip lines and I want to keep them on or near the bottom, I go to a very short leader only about 1 or 2 feet plus the Titanium Tippet section giving a total leader length of about 3 to 4 feet. Under normal fishing conditions throughout most of the season I use a total leader length of about 6 to 7 feet, this allows the fly to turn over well and still provides enough distance between the line and the fly to not spook the fish.
Where they're at: In the spring, look to the Northeast corner of a body of water away from direct wind or wave action to warm up first - this area gets the most sunlight and the shallower water of a weed flat or shoreline when adjacent to deeper water is a great place to begin your hunt - especially if there is an incoming stream or creek in the shallow bay. Anyplace where the afternoon sun can warm up the water without much direct wind action will get the most active fish first.
In a river, look to the backwaters and sloughs to contain the best fishing early on. The upper reaches of most flowages will also hold these fish since these places are very near or in their spawning areas. Pike & Muskies will feed, for the most part, out of the main current when the water is still cold in the spring. Look for shallow flats with some green or emergent weeds, these areas will attract smaller baitfish which will attract the predators, small creeks will bring in warmer water also, these areas can be gold mines for feeding predators!
Sometimes in the late spring large Muskies will move up onto sandy beaches in lakes in the late afternoons and evenings - if you're stealthy, you can sneak up on these fish while wading. I have caught a couple of 20 to 30 pounders with this technique. Move slowly, use small flies, long leaders and lots of stealth, it's not easy, but it can be very worthwhile!
During warmer spring weather, shallower lakes are best later in the day where the inshore water temps will get into the upper 60's and low 70's. I like to be on certain bodies of water the first time the shallow water temps spike into the low 70's - I know the fishing will be fantastic! By that time of the year, the Muskies are feeding mostly on small Bluegills which are making their way into the flats to spawn.
Once the waters warm and summer conditions set in, most Muskies in lakes will have established a "core area" where they will remain and feed throughout the warmer months. Many times there will be more than one Musky in this area, usually the most dominant fish will rule the roost and the smaller subordinates have to wait until the "boss" feeds before they do, or they will be driven out to less productive areas.
All Muskies are opportunistic binge feeders, they go on a rampage one day and then settle in for a couple of days while they digest their meal, this is why these seem to be everywhere at certain times and then you can't buy a good one - they simply aren't hungry. Weather events tend to get them fired up, cloudy skies and changing conditions will trigger feeding responses most of the time. They feel more secure and are not as easily spotted in the darker conditions as they stalk their territories in search of prey.
In rivers Muskies are almost always on the move, they tend to follow baitfish migrations much more than do their cousins in lakes, (with the exception of those Muskies that feed almost exclusively on Ciscoes). Most of the time they will be located in pools where they have more depth and a concentration of food. River Muskies tend to stalk shallower waters more often than their brethren in lakes. Since most of our rivers here in the Upper Midwest have more shallow water this only seems natural, even the pools in most rivers have modest depths compared to most lakes, so river Muskies are much more comfortable in shallower areas than those in lakes. Most river Muskies will spend the majority of the summer in water less than 4 feet deep, using weed beds, log jams and other structures to conceal their movements. Since river Muskies move quite often, a key component to their location is their food supply, the number one ingredient for locating Muskies is: MUSKIES NEVER GO FAR FROM THE BREADBOX! If you can locate a good supply of baitfish, you will find actively feeding Muskies nearby. This mantra also holds true for Muskies in lakes, but they may be in much deeper waters than they are in rivers.
Many times you will be dealing with higher or faster than normal currents in rivers, this can happen throughout the season, but it is particularly common in the spring. When river currents increase abruptly due to rainfall or runoff, Muskies and Pike will migrate to areas where they are most comfortable - they will seek out currents that were similar to what they had before the flow increased. This is a key ingredient to finding the fish when conditions make a drastic change.
I'll discuss more summer tackle and tactics later in the year as conditions begin to change, this should keep you busy for quite awhile. Think about those areas you already know that fit the above parameters and you will catch more and larger fish.
Happy Hunting,
Bill
I decided to head out to the river for one more shot at late fall Muskies before the end of the season, (Nov 30th). I always end my season the Friday before Gun Deer Season begins - there's something about the possibility of bullets indiscriminately flying across the river that I dislike. I don't have anything against hunting, I just think it's prudent not to interfere with the process. With a snow storm on the horizon, I was in the best position I could be for this time of the year.
Now where was I, Oh yeah...
Friday was a beautiful day, mixed clouds and sun, the high was about 42 degrees, but you would never know it, I dressed warmly and never had any discomfort all day. A light southwesterly wind was on and off all day, when the sun peeked out from the clouds, it was very mild. If the clouds thickened up a bit the light breeze would pick up, then abruptly stop once the sun come out again. It was a nice contrast in weather for the middle of November, perhaps too nice. The water was very low, probably 2 feet or more, with ice forming on the banks and in slower bays. The fish do not like low water levels when it gets cold, they were not happy. Nighttime air temperatures got down into the teens on Wednesday and Thursday, so I knew not to expect too much for the day. Once those water temps get into the low to mid 30's, with very low water the fish mostly turn off, not completely, but mostly.
I rigged 4 rods at the landing, two ten weights and two heavy duty nine weights. I put on an 18 foot 425 grain sink-tip on the saltwater 10, this ultra fast rod could easily handle that line, the lighter freshwater 10 got a 24 foot 350 grain sink-tip. My saltwater nine got the new SA textured 400 grain Streamer Express which I cut down to 22 feet to load correctly. I put a WF10F/S 10' sink-tip on my nine weight Musky Master. These lines load perfectly on their perspective platforms without overloading, it took a little experimenting, but these line choices are great for probing the depths with the flies I selected for each of them.
I chose Sucker colored flies for each of them, the larger flies went on the heavier lines:
Saltwater 10 weight - 6/0 Big Head Figure-8; this fly has a very big deer hair head trimmed to imitate a large Sucker.
Freshwater 10 weight - 5/0 tandem Figure-8; this articulated fly is lighter in color yet has a beautiful action, especially in mixed currents.
Saltwater 9 weight - 5/0 Figure-8; I have caught many Muskies on this pattern this year, most recently a very fat 43 incher Wednesday.
Musky Master 9 weight - 4/0 Figure-8; my "bread & butter" Musky fly, it's great for the low, clear water conditions I was dealing with.
I was confident in my fly choices and how they would perform in the water I chose to fish, but I knew I was in for a tough day.
I took my time, knowing the fish would not be moving much until the afternoon, I put in at about 11:00 am, I knew I would be the only boat on the water. I decided to fish just the holes and deeper runs, the fish have not been in shallower water for several weeks, no sense in looking for them there. I cast for nearly 20 minutes in the first pool, but there were no fish there, the next half mile was shallow, it can be very productive when the water temps are higher and there are baitfish in the area, but not this late in the year. While I was rowing through the flat, I contemplated where the fish would be, it occurred to me they would be closer to the holes since the water was so cold. I had about 4 1/2 hours to go six miles, there was no sense in wasting time in areas too far from any significantly deep water.
I anchored my 14' skiff at the head of the the first good pool I came to and began a slow methodical probing of the deepest parts of the hole. Nothing doing, fifteen minutes later, pulled the anchor and headed farther downstream. I skipped several small holes which can hold fish during warmer weather, but with no baitfish in the vicinity I couldn't see spending any time in them.
I rowed into the deepest hole in this section of the river, I knew there were fish in it, I just needed to find one that was hungry. I fished the upper parts first, anchoring then moving slowly, constantly searching for that one fish. The left bank had a good slow water bay where Muskies cruise in and out looking for dinner, but today it was all iced up, I headed for the sunny side of the river. I moved slowly along a well wooded bank with several trees felled deep into the placid water. A Blue Jay screeched it's raucous call as my cast fell right along the largest trunk of a downed Silver Maple. I let the fly sink for a few seconds and then began a slow retrieve with the Saltwater nine, the fly had hardly gone three feet when it stopped abruptly, instinctively I strip set and felt the hook go solidly into a fish. The Musky made one hard turn then rolled toward the surface, I knew it was a small one, but good enough to "get the stink out of the boat". The 34 incher shook it's head a few times on the surface, but the cold water had taken all the fight out of this one as it turned over and lay motionless on the surface, I unhooked the small male and set him free.

I was fired up, I had found a combination of retrieve, habitat and fly that proved to get a fish to react positively, it was only noon and I knew I would get more chances. I worked through the rest of the pool, but saw no more fish, the Blue Jay was still complaining about my presence, I moved on.
Down through the next shallow run and onto the next pool I slowly drifted around the corner and into my first rapids. I secured my gear and picked a good line to run between the boulders without bumping a rock or making a noise. I listened to the wind in the big White Pines along the banks and the sound of the rushing river as I meandered between the boulders. I felt as I was one with the rhythm of the river, the peace and solitude of this place always seems to mesmerize me and brings me closer to the earth.
There's a hidden pool behind a small island that usually holds a fish in the summer months, but I knew it would be empty now, I was in the zone and I could feel it. I by-passed the hole, rowed through the riffles below the rapids, and concentrated on the log jams on the far bank. With the low water I had to concentrate my efforts in the deepest runs to be successful. I cast to an arm sized branch protruding for the glassy water, I knew there was a very large tree attached to it well below the surface. I was standing in the rear of the skiff while it drifted slowly through the pool, the smooth water was easy to see well below the surface and as the fly swam past the branch another small Musky came out an followed the fly, I twitched it sharply and stripped it quickly to the left, the fish continued to follow. I stopped the fly suddenly and then twitched it again, the fish still made no moves toward my offering, by then it was only a few feet from the boat, I stripped in to begin a figure of eight, but the fish bolted when my shadow crossed his path. I slid downstream a few yards, climbed behind the oars, pulled over to the left and rowed back upstream above the sunken tree. I changed rods to the smallest nine weight and made a calculated cast beyond the tree branch, I let the fly sink a few seconds and began a slow methodical retrieve, expecting a hard strike at any moment. Nothing happened. I cast again and again in the vicinity of the submerged tree, but the fish never came back, I guess you can't win them all, but I sure would've liked to have a better shot.

Downstream was another long shallow flat with no potential of having a Musky in it, but at the end of that flat was one of my favorite holes where I almost always find a fish, I was anxious to get there. I rowed the boat a little faster so as not to waste any of the precious daylight I had left, all the way I planned my strategy. I would work the log jam at the head, then move to the sunny bank where the water should be a bit warmer, perhaps if the fish gods are smiling on me I'd find a good fish there.
I slid into the pool and began working the wood with the tandem fly, I was hoping for the solid thump of a good fish, it was not to be. I rowed back up and worked it again with the big fly, again nothing. I rowed back up once more and switched again to the little fly, this time I got a follow from another small fish, it came to within a few feet of the boat and then spooked off quickly. It was beginning to look like a "small fish" day, I continued with my plan and moved to the sunny bank and began to work the deep cut with the saltwater nine.
My third cast found its mark next to a big log running straight out from the bank, the deep end was about 4 to 5 feet down into the unusually clear water. I could see the orange flanks of the fly as it wobbled past the end of the lumber, the copper and gold flash on the tail was shimmering in the sunlight, suddenly it disappeared and I felt my line get heavy, I struck hard stripping the line quickly, keeping my rod tip down and hauling back as fast as I could. This was a much better fish and it was definitely hooked up! Seconds later, the water erupted as a husky Musky thrashed on the surface spraying shimmering diamonds of water across the pool. The fish dug for the bottom and I put the power of my Saltwater nine weight to the test, I turned the fish, but she was not ready to give up. Though not a monster, this fish had some attitude and was not going to roll over and succumb easily, she dug for the bottom again and headed toward the logs - I was not going to let that happen. I leaned on her hard and tried to let her know who was boss, she did not want to give in, so I really leaned on her, she didn't like it, but she had no choice, the cold water had taken it's toll on her strength and she could not keep up the power. Let me tell you, it's hard enough to fight a good fish, then take some pictures and get it in the net all within a few minutes when you're alone, but I managed. The fish was 36 inches long, but weighed a solid 17 pounds, definitely a female and well on her way to being a future monster, she has the girth and the great body mass it takes to survive in such a harsh environment, this fish will become a great adversary for many years to come!
Wow, now that was fun, it was already 2:30, I still had about 3 1/2 miles to go and only about 1 1/2 hours of daylight left, I had to get moving.
On to the next pool/run area, a good half mile farther downstream, by the time I get there, I'll be over half way through this section of river. The sun now was hanging fairly low in the cold wintry sky. While I was rowing downstream, I noticed two Bald Eagles watching me from their perch high atop the dead branches of a majestic White Pine, they seemed curious, but reluctant to leave their perch for a closer look. I moved along toward my next target.

I rounded the final corner and noticed the sun had been on the left shoreline for quite some time, I was sure there would be a fish near the brown grasses that hung along the deeply cut bank. I eased the my stable little boat about 45 feet from the bank and began casting as closely as possible to the best looking places, it only took a couple of casts. I landed the 9 inch Figure-8 softly next to a log laying parallel to the bank and let the Streamer Express line settle into the water, on my second strip I felt the lunge of a fish, I strip-set the line, but it slipped from my hand - evidently the cold water had made my grip a bit softer than I suspected and I cursed my bad luck as the line went limp and I saw a big hydraulic boil behind my fly, I missed him! Quickly I rowed back upstream, reset and made another cast into the very same place, this time I made sure I was holding the line tightly. Again the fish took the fly with confidence on the third strip, I was ready and hooked it up almost instantly, the fight was on, but the fish soon tired and came to the surface in about a minute. At first I thought it was a Pike, but the coloration didn't look quite right. As it rolled over I could plainly see it was a Tiger Musky. This is extremely rare in this part of the river as not many of them survive, they are all natural, not stocked, and being neither a true Pike nor a Musky, they are ill-prepared for life among the savages. Most do not survive, but this one had made it past the critical 30 inch stage and was in fairly healthy condition, it was a solid 8 pounds and definitely brightly colored. I have always regarded the Tiger Musky as one of the most beautiful of the warmwater fishes in this part of the world, photographs rarely show off their iridescent colors well, but here's my version, the barring on this one was exquisite. A great gift from the river gods! My "Guide Score" for the day now stood at 533, thats 5 raised, 3 eats, and 3 landed, not bad for a day on a river in the middle of November. I was pleased with my results, even if a monster had eluded me so far.
My time was running out, I still had 2 miles to go and not much time to do it, I had to keep on moving. I cast the remainder of the bank, but saw no more fish, the next mile was a series of riffles and shallow flats to the last pool before the 1/2 mile run to the landing, I thought I would make it before it got dark. I slowed down as I approached the riffle at the head of the last hole, I fished it well, but saw no more fish. I made my last cast of the season and headed for the landing, thanking the river spirits for another great day and the peace and comfort that comes from fishing with an old friend - the river flows by silently, always knowing you'll come back to her again.
I rowed into the fading sunset, the evening sky was speckled with clouds and the pink & blue skies were ablaze with the last light of the day, I could now see my breath for the first time all day and I could feel the cold air coming down to the water. I rounded the last bend and could hear traffic on the highway past the landing, hunters were traveling toward their camps with high hopes of the opening day of deer season, little did they know I had beaten them to the best experience of the week!
I have had a great season of Guiding this year, along with the hundreds of bass, trout, walleyes, and Pike, our Musky fly anglers landed 190 fish, 5 over 50 inches, and 42 between 43 and 49 inches. We had an honest average size this year of about 38 inches. We got 2 over 40 pounds the first week of November, along with 10 others that week, all were over 40 inches except one.
Thanks to everyone for your patronage this year, you have helped us to continue to give you the best service we can, in return you have given Dawn & I great pleasure in serving you and providing you with as much good fishing and information as we could throughout the season, we'll be back to do it again in 2012.
If you're looking for a break from the cold and dreary winter weather, we will be on the east central coast of Florida, near Cape Canaveral from the middle of December through the end of March, I have my flats skiff there and am ready to Guide you for Redfish, Speckled Seatrout, Snook, Jacks, and the like, we'd be happy to show you our southern fly fishing. You can give us a call or e-mail us, our regular phone number works in Florida all winter.
Our online ordering is operating all year, if there is something you want, but don't see it on the website, just get ahold of us, we probably have it or can get it for you. If you're thinking about ordering flies, order them asap so I have plenty of time to make them for you.
If you're thinking about booking a trip for next season up north, do it quickly, I have already booked many dates for 2012.
Have a very Happy Thanksgiving and a great winter,
Bill & Dawn Sherer
Fly Fishing for Muskies a 2 day Course
Professional Guide, Fishing Instructor, Master Fly Tyer, and IGFA World Line Class Record holder for Muskies. Bill is one one of the most accomplished, widely recognized, Musky Fly Fishing instructors in the country. Featured in the videos “Fish of 10,000 Casts”, “Fish Catching Flies”, “Proven Patterns” & “Larger Predator Patterns”.
Owner of We Tie It Fly Shop & Northern Adventures Guide Service.
The clinic itself will consist of classroom instruction, casting instruction and practice, and on the water fishing. This is a great opportunity to learn from pros and then get on the water immediately thereafter.
We will cover tactics critical to fly size, water and time of year. You will learn how to hone your skills to make your Muskie Flyfishing more successful. You will also learn about the equipment to use and how to rig it, fly selection, and efficient “big rod” casting techniques. On Monday evening a fly tying session will be held - bring your own vise and tools, Bill will provide all the materials and other needed equipment.
The Instructors will be on the water to help you fine tune your techniques. We will be fishing a variety of Lakes in the Boulder Junction, WI area. These lakes and a portion of the Manitowish River are rated as class “A” Musky water. They will also offer some excellent fly fishing opportunities for Northern Pike and Largemouth Bass.
This clinic is limited in number of participants and promises to sell out. Don't miss this rare chance to learn from and fish with Bill. There will be facilities for those wishing to bring their own boats. We encourage you to do so. There will also be boats available for rental.
This event is limited to 6 people.
Pre-registration required to participate
50% deposit required at sign-up, balance due at start of course, credit cards accepted.
Register early, this course sells out every year!
*All other meals and accommodations are not covered in the cost
We recommend lodging at: Boulder Junction Motor Lodge in Boulder Jct. 715-385-2825
or contact the WI DNR for campground information at: 715-356-5211
For more information please contact:
Bill Sherer’s We Tie It Fly Shop
P.O. Box 516
Boulder Jct., WI 54512
phone: 715-385-0171
e-mail: wetieit@wetieit.com - website: www.wetieit.com
Itinerary
Saturday: 8:00 am Meet at We Tie It Fly Shop in Boulder Junction
Get aquatinted & discuss current fishing conditions
Lunch* (on your own)
Classroom Instruction:
Equipment -
How to build and repair leaders
Rods, Reels & Lines
Flies -
Sizes in relation to time of year
Choosing colors and patterns
Approach -
Stalking Muskies
Blind fishing
Typical Musky concentration areas -
Time of the year:
Surface oriented fish
Mid depth fish
Deep water fish
Sunday: 8:00 am Meet at We Tie It Fly Shop in Boulder Junction
Discuss current fishing conditions and approach
On the water -
Put your lessons to the test
Lunch in the field - Covered in the cost of the Course
On the water - end session at 5:00 pm
Discussion of the day/course and observations
This course consists of classroom instruction, casting instruction and practice, and on the water fishing. This is a great opportunity to learn from pros and then get on the water immediately thereafter. Hone your skills and get in on some of the latest techniques and one of the most exciting forms of Smalmouth Bass Flyfishing there is today!
We will cover tactics critical to fly size, water and time of year. You will learn how to sharpen your skills to make your River Smallmouth Bass Flyfishing more successful. You will also learn about the equipment to use and how to rig it, fly selection, and efficient fly casting techniques. Along with proper kickboat techniques and tactics to enhance your ability to get into more fish and push the limits of your watercraft skills!
The Instructors will be on the water to help you fine tune your techniques. We will be fishing a variety of Rivers, these rivers are nationally known as some of the best Smallmouth Bass water in the state. They will also offer some fly fishing opportunities for Northern Pike and Walleyes.
Don't miss this rare chance to learn from and fish with Bill. Since we have a limited number of kickboats we encourage you to bring your own boat (Wisconsin State Law demands you have a wearable PFD on your boat!). You must have a boat approved for whitewater use, please check with Bill before you come up with one!
Our Insurance States: No Float Tubes or Fins Allowed!
Maximum class size 12
Lunches & drinks included
Must be paid in full in advance, credit cards accepted.
Itinerary
Day 1: Meet at shop 8:00 a.m.
1. Equipment check:
Rods, reels, lines & leaders
2. Fishing Techniques
Flies
(A) floating
(B) sinking
3. Tactics (Reading the water)
(A) fast water
(B) slow water
4. Kick Boats
(A) Care & Maintenance
(B) Kick Boat Technique
(1) Maneuvers
(2) Whitewater
(3) Stillwater
5. Fly Casting
(A) Developing good skills
(B) Position Fishing
about 12:00 p.m. Lunch Break
about 1:00 p.m. Depart for river
Put Your Lessons to the test!
1. Kick Boat Control
2. Fishing
Return about 8:00 p.m.
DAY 2
8:00 a.m. meet at shop
1. Equipment check
2. Discussion of previous days events
10:00 a.m. Leave for River
Test Boats/Fish
Course Ends @ about 5:30 p.m.
Recommended Equipment List
9’ 7 weight or 8 weight fly rods with weight forward floating lines (WF7F or WF8F)
9’ 2X and 3X Leaders and Tippet Material
Check out the Blue Sky Furled Leaders, they’re great for this type of fishing!
Chest Waders - we recommend lightweight breathable ones - they’re much more comfortable! Polarized Sunglasses, Raincoat, hat and insect repellent.
We will be using a variety of sinking and floating flies:
Sinking Flies:
#4 Tongue Depressors in Black, Olive, Brown, and Chartreuse,
#4 Conehead Rubber Legged Wooly Buggers in Brown/Yellow and Black/Yellow
#6 Clousers and Deceivers in Olive/White, Chartreuse/White, Yellow/White and Red/White
Surface Flies:
#6 Deer hair, Cork or Foam Poppers and Sliders with rubber legs in Brown, Olive, Orange, Chartreuse, and Black.
#6 Sneaky Pete’s with rubber legs in Chartreuse, and White
In addition everyone will get a package of flies which will be effective for the waters we will be fishing as well as a variety of other Smallmouth Bass waters throughout the country.
The Upper Penninsula of Michigan contains an abundance of some of the best wild Brook Trout water remaining in the Midwest. Join veteran Guides Bill Sherer & Company on a two day Adventure discovering the secrets of the “Jewels of the North” as we ply for Brookies in wild, scenic places seldom tred upon by other anglers!
Our course begins at the We Tie It Fly Shop in Boulder Junction, WI, just a short drive south of the central U.P. The course itself will consist of classroom instruction, casting instruction & practice, and lots of on the water fishing. This is a great opportunity to learn from pros and then get on the water immediately thereafter. Hone your skills and learn how to locate and stalk wary Brook Trout in their natural element - the small, sometimes brush covered streams of the oldest mountain range in the U.S.
We will cover tactics critical to fly size, water and time of year. You will learn how to sharpen your skills to make your trout fishing more successful. You will also learn about the equipment to use and how to rig it, fly selection, and efficient fly casting techniques.
The Instructors will be on the water to help you fine tune your techniques. We will be fishing a variety of streams, these rivers are nationally known as some of the best Brook Trout water in the state. We expect to find some spectacular fishing in waters where your chances of hooking a trophy Brook Trout (14” or better) are possible.
You can expect to learn correct casting and fishing techniques for trout fishing throughout the country, especially in smaller brushy stream where casting and sight distances are limited.
Maximum class size 8
Lunches & drinks included
Must be paid in full in advance, credit cards accepted.
Itinerary
Day 1: Meet at shop 8:00 a.m.
1. Equipment check:
Rods, reels, lines & leaders
2. Fishing Techniques
Flies
(A) floating
(B) sinking
3. Tactics (Reading the water)
(A) fast water
(B) slow water
4. Fly Casting
(A) Developing good skills
(B) Unique skills
About Noon Lunch Break - On your own
About 1:00 p.m. Depart for river
Put Your Lessons to the test!
1. Fishing
Return about 9:00 p.m.
DAY 2
8:00 a.m. meet at shop
1. Equipment check
2. Discussion of previous days events
9:00 a.m. Leave for River
Fish
Course Ends @ about 6:00 p.m.
____________________________________________
Recommended Equipment List
7 1/2’ to 8’ - 3 weight or 4 weight fly rods
with weight forward floating lines (WF3F or WF4F)
9’ 4X and 5X Leaders and Tippet Material
Chest Waders - we recommend lightweight breathable ones - they’re much more comfortable! Polarized Sunglasses, Raincoat, hat and lots of insect repellent.
We will be using a variety of sinking and floating flies:
Sinking Flies:
#10 - 16 Pheasant Tail, Prince and Caddis Nymphs,
#6 - 10 Feather Wing and Hair Wing Streamers,
Surface Flies:
#10 - 16 Mayfly and Caddis Flies in a wide variety of Patterns
In addition everyone will get a package of flies which will be effective for the waters we will be fishing as well as a variety of other Brook Trout waters throughout the country
River/Kickboat Muskie Fly Fishing School
a 2 day Clinic with Professional Instructor Captain Bill Sherer
River Muskie Men, this is it !!
River Muskies have their own quirks and desires, finding them can be as difficult as getting them to hit! It takes specialized tackle and the skills to use it, learn these skills and more from some of the best, most successful Muskie fly anglers in the world. Bill has been Guiding successful Muskie Fly Anglers on rivers for over 20 years!
Maximize your success
Learn their secrets for success, where to find the fish and what techniques and flies work the best and where the fish will be at certain times of the season.
Late July is a great time to pursue Muskies on the great rivers of Northern Wisconsin, abundant food supplies and cooler water temperatures bring the fish upstream from nearby reservoirs to feed on the bounty of the rivers. We'll be there to intercept these fish as they ply the shady undercuts, log jams and rock piles in search of prey!
Professional Guide, Fishing Instructor, Master Fly Tyer, and IGFA World Line Class Record holder for Muskies. Bill is one one of the most accomplished, widely recognized, Musky Fly Fishing instructors in the country. Featured on "Fly Fishing America" and in the fly fishing and fly tying DVD's “Fish of 10,000 Casts”, “Fish Catching Flies”, “Proven Patterns” & “Larger Predator Patterns”.
Owner of We Tie It Fly Shop & Northern Adventures Guide Service.
The clinic itself will consist of classroom instruction and hands on participation.
This is a great opportunity to learn from pros and then get on the water with them immediately thereafter.
We will cover tactics critical to fly size, water and time of year. You will learn how to hone your skills to make your Muskie Flyfishing more successful. You will also learn about the equipment to use and how to rig it, fly selection, and efficient “big rod” casting techniques.
The Instructor will be on the water to help you fine tune your techniques. We will be fishing several of rivers or stretches of rivers in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. These rivers are rated as class “A” Musky water. They will also offer some excellent fly fishing opportunities for Northern Pike and Smallmouth Bass.
This clinic is limited in number of participants and promises to sell out. Don't miss this rare chance to learn from and fish with Bill & Tom. We encourage you to bring their own kickboat, we have a limited number of boats for use during the class.
This event is limited to 8 people.
Pre-registration required to participate
50% deposit required at sign-up, balance due at start of course, credit cards accepted.
For more information please contact:
Bill Sherer’s We Tie It Fly Shop
P.O. Box 516
Boulder Jct., WI 54512
phone: 715-385-0171
e-mail: wetieit@wetieit.com
Itinerary
Sunday: 7:30 am Meet at We Tie It Fly Shop in Boulder Junction
Get aquatinted & discuss current fishing conditions
Morning Classroom Instruction:
Equipment -
How to build and repair leaders
Rods, Reels & Lines
Flies -
Sizes in relation to time of year
Choosing colors and patterns
Approach -
Stalking Muskies
Blind fishing
Typical Musky concentration areas -
Time of the year:
Surface oriented fish
Mid depth fish
Deep water fish
Kickboat Inspection - Safety and Etiquette
Lunch on your own
*All other meals and accommodations are not covered in the cost
1:00 pm Meet at Shop, load boats head for river
Fish until dark (about 7:30 pm)
Monday: 8:00 am Meet at We Tie It Fly Shop in Boulder Junction
Discuss current fishing conditions and approach
On the water - Fishing with instructor close by for help and
one-on-one Instruction
Lunch in the field
Covered in the cost of the Course
Please let us know of any dietary restrictions you may have
so we can plan for them.
On the water - end session at about 6:00 pm
Discussion of the day/course and observations
Recommended Equipment List
We recommend you bring 2 9’ 9 weight fly rods with weight forward Floating and Intermediate Tip lines (WF9F and WF9F/I)
We will supply Leaders, Tippets & Flies and teach you how to rig them.
Chest Waders - we recommend lightweight breathable ones - they’re much more comfortable! Polarized Sunglasses, Raincoat, hat and insect repellent.
We will be using a variety of sinking and floating flies:
In addition everyone will get a package of flies which will be effective for the waters we will be fishing as well as a variety of other Muskie waters throughout the country.
Where: Just 45 minutes east of Orlando on Florida's Space Coast. We're just 15 miles north of Cocoa Beach (home of Ron Jon's Surf Shop and Port Canaveral - where all the Cruise vessels depart). The Merritt island National Wildlife Sanctuary is only minutes away, where you can see thousands of exotic wild birds, Alligators, Sea Turtles and a host of other interesting wildlife. Situated on the Indian River Lagoon, Titusville takes you back into Old Florida where life was simpler and the pace was very relaxed. Warm currents pushing in from the Gulf Stream bring an abundance of fish close to the coast, allowing migratory fish to cruise the famous Play-A-Linda Beach which runs for almost 50 miles unabated by buildings of any kind. The nearby Kennedy Space Center is an attraction you should not miss, daily tours will take you right up to the launching pads for the Space Shuttles and other fascinating sights.
The Fishing: The Indian River is the longest estuary in the United States, stretching from Jacksonville in the north to Fort Lauderdale in the south, and Titusville is right in the middle. The famous Mosquito Lagoon, just 5 miles to the northeast is known as the best trophy Redfish fishery in the world. From Daytona Beach to Cocoa Beach, there is no inlet or outlet to the ocean, making this fantastic fishery of nearly 50 miles almost landlocked - except for the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) which winds a channel through the center of the Mosquito and Indian River Lagoons. The fish grow big and fat on a steady diet of Shrimp, Blue Crabs, Mullet and a host of other organisms, and since they can't get out of the area, it's just a matter of finding a hungry school willing to take your fly. Don't be fooled by the terminology, the Indian River is as much as 7 miles wide in some places. The area I usually fish is spread out within a 50 mile long by 6 mile wide body of water dotted with Mangrove islands and Oyster bars, it can be overwhelming to the newcomer, I have fished this area for almost 20 years and I still don't know it all - but I do know where the fish are - most of the time! The water we will be fishing is 3 feet deep or less, a drop-off usually goes from about 10 inches to about 2 feet and a deep hole will be about 6 feet deep! Numerous boat landings allow me to get out of the wind and keep us in great water where the sight fishing is best and there is little or no traffic from other boats.
I recommend 8wt. or 9wt. fast action saltwater approved rods, Aluminum hardware will keep the saltwater from invading wood reel seats and the like. A good Disc Drag reel is essential, with Floating and Ghost Tip lines and 8 to 10 foot 12 to 20 pound test leaders. An average 6 to 10 pound Redfish will tear off 40 to 80 yards of line before you can stop it, reel spools that can hold 100 or more yards of 20# test backing are a must! Cold water lines will work best, this is winter fishing, even though the daytime temperatures usually top out at around 74 degrees and average lows are in the mid 50's! Most casting distances are about 40 to 60 feet, and accuracy counts when sight fishing, a long accurate cast is better than trying to get in real tight to the fish and risk spooking them. It is always windy on the ocean! Don't be fooled by all those magazine photos, the wind is always a factor, we'll get out of it whenever possible, it's usually not blowing real hard, but it's almost always there. Most of the Redfish flies we will cast will be on #6 to #2 hooks, mostly Clouser style with weighted eyes to get to the bottom quickly. We will be fishing from my 18' Lowe flats boat and wading throughout the time period. Lightweight waders are optional, a good flats style boot is recommended. The bottom is sometimes a bit squishy, but not real soft, in some places you may sink in several inches, but usually not more than about 6, in softer areas we will stay in the boat. We may get a shot at a Tarpon but this usually only happens in early December or later in March. Snook, Speckled Seatrout, & Redfish are our most likely targets. Oftentimes we chance upon other species: Jacks, Ladyfish, Mangrove Snapper and even some Puffers - watch your fingers! I will spot fish from the poling platform and direct your cast to the target, it's great fun to hook up with a Red that will rip your line out faster than any Salmon you ever had on! Schools of hungry Jack Cravelle can suddenly come from nowhere to attack en-mass, the action can be fast and furious and then just as suddenly as they appeared, they're gone, chasing the pod of baitfish they were on. Occasionally a school of big Bull Reds will show up tailing in as much as 4 feet of water, I keep my powerful 9 weight rod rigged with a sink-tip line just for such chance encounters, a heavily weighted shrimp pattern will usually get a take from one of these monsters which may weigh as much as 50 pounds!
When: Anytime throughout the winter months - December 5th through March 15th,
Itinerary
Fly into Orlando or Sanford International Airports on an afternoon/evening plane, I will prearrange with you the time of your arrival and meet you at the airport, I'll drop you off at a hotel in Titusville. At 7:00 am (eastern time), I'll pick you up and we'll head out to go fishing for the day. We'll have lunch in the field (let me know your drink and sandwich preferences ahead of time), and continue fishing until about just before dark. I'll drop you off at your hotel and you will have the rest of the evening to yourself. We'll do this for 3 days, I hope you can handle all those fish! You'll check out of your hotel on the 4th morning, I'll take you back to the airport and send you back to that cold winter up north! You'll be tanned, warm and satisfied by the time you get home, your friends will be jealous and you'll have some fantastic fishing stories to tell, along with all your pictures and maybe even some video. If you wish, car rentals are available at the airport.
Cost includes: Guide Fees, Lunches, Flies & tackle (if needed), Boat & fuel and transportation to and from the Airport.
Transportation to Florida and your fishing license is your responsibility. Fishing licenses can be purchased online at: www.myfwc.com or by calling 1-888-347-4356
To reserve a Trip:
phone: 1-715-385-0171
(it rings through to my Florida residence)
or
e-mail: wetieit@wetieit.com
If you’ve ever thought about flyfishing a great western river, but didn’t know who to contact or how to get there, here’s your chance to go on a dream trip with Instructors you know and trust. Join us for some fantastic fishing and beautiful scenery in one of the premier trout fisheries of the world.
Includes the following:
4 nights Lodging : Double Occupancy per room
All meals: (Continental Breakfast), Box Lunch, Dinner
All Instruction, Guides, Drift Boats & Necessary Flies
The Big Horn River is one of the best tailwater fisheries in the world, it is known for it’s huge populations of Rainbow and Brown trout, roughly 5,000 per mile! The most popular portion of this fishery is about 13 miles long, from the Afterbay/Yellowtail Dam at Old Fort Smith, Montana to the 13 mile “Big Horn” takeout point. Another very good stretch of river extends about 9 miles downstream from the Big Horn Landing to the Mallards Landing, though not as popular with other anglers I have found it to be an excellent spring fishery with much less traffic and plenty of opportunities for catching fat Browns and Rainbows.
Nymph & Streamer fishing is usually done throughout the year with some dry fly fishing. Small Scuds and Midges are the most popular flies. 9’ 5 wt. & 6 wt. rods are most common. The River is very easy to float with no major rapids throughout it’s entire length, many anglers compare the Big Horn to an extra large spring creek! We will be there for the early spawn Rainbow Trout fishing, the fish are beginning to become aggressive at this time!
Using a combination of wade and drift boat methods, we will instruct you in techniques used for fly fishing large western tailwaters. Dry fly and nymph fishing for Browns & Rainbows averaging 3 pounds is excellent as many fish are moving in anticipation of the spring spawn. Last year we had some fantastic days of dry fly Midge and BWO fishing. Low springtime water flows contribute to easy wading with many successful days.
This is Eastern Montana, the “Banana Belt”, the normal daytime temperature in mid April is usually from the mid 40’s to mid 70’s, I have seen it snow and I have also seen the temperature be in the mid 80’s during this time of the year. As the temperature warms in the middle of the day the Browns come into the banks and may viciously attack streamers.
Daily commercial airline flights arrive at Billings about 1 1/2 hours away.
For more information or to make your reservations please call: 1-715-385-0171
Itinerary: Arrive at Fort Smith / Yellowtail, MT: (The Big Horn Trout Shop & Lodge) afternoon/evening - Most Guests arrive about 2:00 pm.
We will be able to do some wade fishing before dinner in the late afternoon - Dinner is usually late, around 8:00 pm.
Before Dinner we convene in my room to go over the events the next day, set tackle & have cocktails (B.Y.O.B.)
Day 1: Fish!!! Roughly 9:00 am - 6:00 pm our vehicles will be waiting at the takeout to bring us back to the lodge. Clean up for cocktails (BYOB), Dinner about 7:30 pm.
Day 2: Fish!!! Roughly 9:00 am - 6:00 pm our vehicles will be waiting at the takeout to bring us back to the lodge. Clean up for cocktails (BYOB), Dinner about 7:30 pm.
Day 3: Fish!!! Roughly 9:00 am - 6:00 pm our vehicles will be waiting at the takeout to bring us back to the lodge. Clean up for cocktails (BYOB), Dinner about 7:30 pm.
Day 4: Continental Breakfast, Pack-up and depart by noon
Here are some helpful hints for your upcoming fishing trip on the Bighorn River.
We had very successful trips last year and look forward to even better trips this year. Most of the fish we caught were on nymphs. The nymphs were Red or Orange Midge Larva #18, Pink or Orange Scuds #14 and Gray Sowbugs #16. We fished these deep and slow on 9’ 4X leaders with 3’ extension butts with a strike indicator set at about 9’ and a dropper about 14” below the point fly, usually the Scud on top and the Midge on the bottom. We also dropped a Scud off a Pheasant Tail Nymph about the same distance.
We expect great dry fly action again this year, probably with #22 - #16 Midges and BWO’s. Our groups had some great success with Midges & BWO’s in some very shallow water sight fishing to rising Browns and Rainbows. Once hooked the fish fought very hard and we had great fun trying to land them on 4 to 6 lb. test tippets, I’m sure we will encounter similar fishing this year. Accurate casts will still be required, but I don’t think they will have to be as long as we have experimented with some emerger patterns which are more successful. When setting the hook with these light tippets all you do is raise the rod, don’t try to drive the hook home, it’s not necessary, all that will do is break the line, the fish will hook themselves.
We recommend you bring two rods, one rigged for the dries and one rigged for nymphs or streamers, this way as we’re drifting down the river you can change rods as the conditions change and you won’t waste any time re-rigging a rod. The Rods we recommend are a 9’ 5 wt. for the dries and a 9’ 6 wt. for the nymphs and streamers. The heavier rod will double as a streamer rod which we should have time to re-rig as we locate fish holding in skinny water eager to take a streamer. We use only weight forward floating lines and see no need for any sinking tips or such. Your strike indicators should be rather large to float the nymphs just above the bottom, and still allow a good drag-free drift, I prefer the yarn type that loop onto the leader.
We found if helpful to use fingerless gloves, neck muffs, fleece pants (under our waders), and lightweight rain jackets to protect from the wind. By the way, the wind always blows out there. The temperatures can vary from the 40’s to the 80’s in the course of the day so be prepared to shed some layers of clothing as the day progresses, towards evening as the sun sets the temps will begin to go down again and you may have to put some clothes back on to remain comfortable. High tech fleece and polypro fabrics are lightweight and very durable, they wick moisture away from your body so you can stay comfortable all day.
The food is very good with plenty to fill you up after a day of fishing, the people in the lodge and fly shop are very friendly and will help you with anything you may need. The lunches are immense and you probably won’t eat all of it, but you might be able to trade me your cookies for my apple!
The accommodations are very comfortable, the rooms are large with plenty of room to spread out and relax. We will have cocktails and/or fly tying in my room every evening before dinner, and more revelry after. This is a dry county so please bring any alcoholic beverages you may want with you, the closest retailer is about 1 hour away.
The air is very dry and we recommend you bring plenty of your favorite hand and skin lotion.
Remember to drink plenty of fluids during the day so you don’t get dehydrated.
Our essentials list includes the following:
6 - 9’ 5X leaders 6 - 9’ 4X leaders 3X - 6X Tippet Material
3- 9’ 3X Leaders 3 -12’ 5X leaders Insulated Fleece Socks
Chest Waders Felt soled wading shoes Fleece Pants & Shirt/Jac
Large brimmed hat Polarized Sun Glasses Neck Gaiter/Bandana
Fingerless Gloves Rain Jacket Camera (waterproof)
Hand Lotion Sunscreen Lip Balm
We also suggest a small waterproof bag to hold any personal items you may want while out for the day.
Our average Rainbow is about 20” and the Browns average about 17”, most anglers catch about 5 to 10 fish per day. Like all fishing, some days are better than others, your Instructors will be near you to demonstrate techniques and help you with your fishing, casting and mending skills. We hope you will come away from the Big Horn River with the skills needed to fish any large western river or tailwater - reading the water, and making the cast to the best holding lies are just a portion of what you can expect to take home from this exciting adventure!
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