Pro Tactics™: Muskie

1. Fish of Legend, Fish of Myth2. Muskies—The Mental GameSeasonal FactorsEnvironmental FactorsFishing PressureFishing Presentation “Style”3. Muskie Fishing TackleMuskie Gear—Rods, Reels, and LuresTopwatersBucktailsJerkbaitsSpinnerbaitsCrankbaitsSpoonsJigs and Soft PlasticsTrolling GearLines and Leaders4. Necessary Tools and Release TechniquesYour Muskie Tool KitRelease TechniquesHolds and PhotosOther Necessary Tools and Equipment5. Follows, Figure Eights, and Triggering FishThe First Step: Seeing FollowsTriggering Following FishBoatside Tactics: L-turns and the Figure EightThe Final Word on Triggering Fish6. Postspawn to Early SummerFinding Postspawn Muskie: The Big Bang TheoryTactical FactorsTactics and TechniquesSearching Efficiently—Pattern SamplingSearching Efficiently—PresentationOther Presentation Options7. Summer PeakTactical FactorsTactics and TechniquesPresentations for Fishing Shallow Summer MuskiesFishing the Slop8. Mid- to Late SummerTactics and TechniquesFishing in Algae BloomsCountering Fishing Pressure9. Early FallTactics and TechniquesPresentation10. Mid- to Late FallFishing the TurnoverFishing Fall Prime TimeFall CastingFishing Very Late—Pre Ice-up11. Bringing It All TogetherMuskies as Apex PredatorsKnowledge of Muskies’ Seasonal NeedsKnowledge of Muskies’ EnvironmentLures and Equipment as ToolsSafety and Safe Catch-and-ReleaseThe Role of Goals and StylesThe Role of Fishing PhilosophiesThe Role of Fishing PressureTime on the WaterIndex