Take a shot at river muskies
Western Pennsylvania is blessed with several major rivers that harbor good numbers of muskies. Regardless of where you live, it's unlikely that you are more than an hour away from some excellent big river muskie fishing this fall.
Like all river fish, current heavily influences a muskie's life. When the river is warm and flows are normal or low, the fish tend to spread out. Fall arrives, and, as things cool down, fish tend to become more condensed, particularly when flows rise. The key thing to look for will be slackwater spots.
Slackwater areas are places where the main force of the river has been deflected or reduced. On larger, navigable rivers, this commonly occurs below rock or gravel bars that are washed into the river at the point where a small tributary enters the main river.
Chunk rock, gravel and sand are deposited in the river when the feeder streams are running high. The resulting rock bar acts like a wing dam of sorts, deflecting the force of the river out toward the main channel. This creates any eddy effect below the rock bar, a place where the current actually reverses itself. Such places are easy to find, in that they tend to collect junk and debris following a period of high flows. When the water level is normal or low, these places tend to freeze first, since there is little current. Most of the larger rock bars also will be marked with navigational buoys, put in place off the tip of the bar to warn boaters of the shallow water hazard.
Similar slackwater spots also can be found on free-flowing rivers, though they won't be marked with a buoy. On the state's big free-flowing rivers, the long, slow spots are well known and are commonly associated with a moniker that ends in the word "eddy."
Within these pools, which can stretch for a mile or more, will be certain places where the layout of the shoreline or river bottom creates a further current reduction. Or it could be formed by a logjam or laydown.
Island areas also should be investigated. The downstream end of island could furnish the necessary current and habitat conditions for a cold water muskie. Island complexes, where two or more islands are stacked one behind the other, can be especially productive.
High water is often the river muskie angler's ally. High water further concentrates fish, narrowing the search. During high water events, backwater areas can be formed off the main river channel, places where muskies are likely to slide into until the flow subsides. At such times, the odds favor the bank fisherman.
Big river muskie anglers can score on the same lures mentioned for smaller flowing waters. I would also include a small glider style jerkbait like the Reef Hawg.
The Manta, a neutrally buoyant jerkbait that provides a slow, tantalizing walk-the-dog action, is another good late fall choice. Also throw in a couple of diving crankbaits like the Rapala Super Shad.
Carrying a couple of Crane Baits in both the 300 series and 600 series will allow you to cover various depths. Esox Cobra Tails — leadhead jigs dressed with both a plastic skirt and twister-type tail — are also an excellent, big river bait. They can be fished like a jig or a swimming bait.
