The late fall is the best time to target big pike and muskies (Esox) on lakes with a forage base of cold-water species like tullibee and whitefish. Wired2fish staffers bust ice during one of the last remaining nice days of the open water filming season. They show us how to use a combination of artificial lures and live bait (suckers rigged on quick-strike rigs) with the aid of Garmin Panoptix LiveScope to find and catch big toothy critters. This is high-percentage predator fishing at its finest. *Full tackle and gear listing below.
Pelagic forage like tullibee and whitefish vacate deep, open water for shallow structural elements to spawn when water temperatures reach the low 40s. This annual spawning ritual concentrates big predator fish in shallower water, making them an easier target. Team Wired2fish outlines its strategy of using LiveScope to target individual fish on key main-lake structures. When fish are located, they employ a 1-2 artificial and live bait punch to cover down on the range of potential fish moods. The results are impressive!
TACKLE & GEAR
KEYS’ SET-UP
- ROD – Savage GearSquad Casting Rod, 8′ Xtra Hvy
- REEL – Lew’s Super Duty GX3 Casting Reel
- LINE – Sufix 832 Braided Line, 65-pound
- BOBBER – Lindy Little Joe Pole Float
- SWIVEL – VMC Rolling Swivel, 1/0
- LEADER – Sufix Invisline Fluorocarbon Leader, 100-pound
- HOOKS – VMC Round Bend Treble Hook, 4/0
- WEIGHT: ARK Tungsten Flippin Weight, 3/8-ounce
KYLE’S SET-UP
- LURE – Savage Gear Alien Eel, Blue Back Flash, 12-inch
- LEADER – VMC FL Fluorocarbon Leader, 100-pound, 18-inch
- ROD – Savage Gear Squad Casting Rod, 8′ XXH
- REEL – Daiwa Lexa HD 300 Casting Reel, 7.4:1
- LINE – Sufix 832 Braided Line, 65-pound
MITCH’S SET-UP
- ROD – Fenwick Elite Tech Musky Casting Rod (out of stock)
- REEL – Shimano Tranx 400 Casting Reel
- LINE – Sufix 832 Braided Line, 65-pound
ELECTRONICS
BOAT SETUP
- BOAT – Lund 1875 Pro-V Bass XS
- ENGINE – Mercury FourStroke Outboard, 200hp
- TROLLING MOTOR – Garmin Force
OTHER GEAR
- BAITWELL – Frabill Magnum Bait Station
- NET – Frabill Power Catch (out of stock)
