benchmark, at about 59 degrees, tracking studies have shown a sharp increase in movement to summer ranges. Keep in mind on a small lake this might mean a few hundred yards of travel. However, on a big lake this may mean many miles of travel! It’s all relative. This is referred to as the post spawn transition period. As a calendar point of reference this temperature will often meet your at the boat landing on opening day, at least here in our home state of Minnesota. So plan accordingly, an early or late spring may have a dramatic effect on fish location. During this move to summer ranges fish will often hang up in transition areas. Transition areas are spots such as soft tapering points and flats that can hold numbers of fish during this period. Especially during warming trends where the need to seek immediate depth is not desired. These are key areas muskie anglers need be aware of. An often overlooked area during this time of year is the open water transition areas. Muskies seeking shallow water very often suspend shallow over deep water. Open water areas just off these transition areas, or confined open water areas are prime for casting and especially trolling techniques. Especially during this temperature period. 67: Home is where your heart is. 67 degrees is where we should we should expect muskies to be established in their summer ranges. And the saying “home is where your heart is” holds especially true for muskies. All though the fish do still cover some ground, they tend to use areas that suit there biological needs. And often re-visit several structures within these areas. Often several times a day, depending on day to day weather patterns and forage availability. Others remain homebodies and will travel very little. Remember, this will be relative to the size of the water your fishing. This period is generally marked by the beginning of the majority of the muskie fishing pressure. For the most part muskies are now found on classic, easy to recognize structures, such as points, saddles, aprons, weedbeds and sunken structures. In other words, they are at home everywhere. A few fish get hung up in the shallows continuing to take advantage of post spawn panfish which would have just finished their duties only a few degrees ago and an even fewer amount of fish will gravitate to the extreme shallows which in some systems will in fact become their summer haunts. As the days progress, warming water will cause an increase in metabolism, thus defining more apparent feeding periods (Please see previously published reference chart). However, the areas in which they will choose to feed will truly be dependent on more localized weather patterns and of course relative to existing water temperatures. During this period anglers will constantly be tested, simply because of the fact the fish are located throughout the system and concentrations will be loosely defined. During such periods, if the temperatures have been in a con- Kyle Brickson of Duluth MN with a very nice late summer-early fall muskie from Lake Of The Woods, Ontario Canada

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