False It is relatively simple to see that a team of guides working together will be more in-formed and develop better patterns than those working alone. A guide with information on patterns which are not working is, in effect, as valu-able a resource to the group as a guide who is “ hot” or “ right on” the pattern at the moment. Thus, guides develop an almost symbi-otic relationship with each other to insure their suc-cess. The “ team” of guides per-forms better in the long run than any one of the guides working alone— and as a result, all experience increased fish-ing success ( and resultant guiding demand). Hiring a guide at the start of you muskie hunt ( week or weekend) lets you in on this situation— if you keep your eyes and ears open for spe-cific clues as to where and why you are fish-ing certain patterns. It’s quick and easy- - and usually worth the guide’s fee many times over. Perhaps, however, you would rather do it yourself— Here are a few ideas on some ap-proaches the pros use. Pre Researching the Lake Before you tie on a lure and even before you arrive at your muskie hunt destination, you should make it a point to do extensive pre research. First, you should have in your possession a contour map of the lake or lakes you intend to fish. A good lake map will show depth, bottom structure, navigational hazards, islands, launching areas, emergent and sub-mergent vegetation and orientation. These maps should be studied care-fully. Guides know the water well. Even so, many guides like to have multiple copies of the lake map which they can mark at different times of the year and for different conditions — documenting patterns developed on the water. For example, assuming a post spawn pat-tern in early spring, one may find num-bers of muskies in one area and larger and per-haps fewer fish in other areas. Many times larger female muskies move into and hold in some points or flats with weed beds near to the spawning areas during the immediate post spawn periods. Male ( usu-ally smaller) muskies, however, may arrive early and stay late in the spawning areas. Your spring/ early summer map would note these areas and, perhaps, water temps and weed patterns. Large fish patterns in fall, during a lake post turnover situation, may involve movement from deeper structure or open water summer haunts to areas with remaining green weed beds or shallower areas with warmer water ( or both). Pre turnover movements may also take place following, perhaps, patterns of baitfish such as Cisco spawning on rocky reefs. Your first critical source of location of this type of “ Effective Techniques” continued from page 59

False structure/ vegetation information is that lake map. A number of companies provide these types of fishing lake maps showing depth, structure and other lake specifics like vegetation types and locations. Most of the maps include comments and high-lights supplied by local area guides— a bonus compared to regular hydrographic maps. One good source for such maps is Fishing Hot Spots Maps. The map section appear-ing later in this ar-ticle is from one of those maps. If you have reservations at a resort where you haven’t fished before, call and ask them to send you lake maps ( most have great maps for sale at the lodge or a simple marked “ lodge” map of favorite fishing spots). Be sure to re-mind them of the time you will be arriving and ask for any hints on areas of the lake which may be good at that time. Have them mark the map for you, if possible, then com-pare it to your com-mercial maps. Be aware, however, that maps alone do not insure success— current information must be applied to Jessie Says “ You will be hooked on the ASSASSIN- X The First Time You Use It”. the Assassin- X A- Tackle company Aggressor- X Avenger- X Assassin- X Agitator- X eam www. ateamtackle. com continued on page 62