Even in the midst of summer s wickedest heat waves muskies will prowl beyond the vegetation. Wooden jerkbaits will take them, so will bucktails. Oxygen-seeking muskies also invade fields of bulrushes and pencil weeds during afternoon hours. Weedy bays seem to produce best. And don t overlook rock formations, especially if weeds are involved.
Pike adore spinnerbaits and bucktails, chiefly ones yielding white and orange coloration.
Yes, even our most light sensitive predator fish occasionally dine at high noon. I search for giant 25 to 50-foot deep flats, which connect to, or are nearby significant structure, like shoreline points, bars, and reefs. Tackle these critters with spinners and minnows. Surprisingly though, at times I find large walleyes nestled beneath a cooling canopy of weeds. I m attacking those guys with small spinnerbaits and bullet-weighted live bait rigs with leeches.