As of June 15, 2019 muskie is now open across most of Sunset Country and what a successful opener it has been across the region!
Water temperatures were warming fast at the very beginning of spring but have now slowed. While water and air temperatures vary across the region, we aren't far from seasonal norms. A common trend is day to day fluctuations of 2-4 degrees even in the shallow bays, displacing fish who may have haunted the area the day before.
Regardless of the beginning-of-the-season challenge to locate fish, plenty of fish were seen and a high percentage of them were caught. Such as the header photo muskie, caught at Delaney Lake Lodge.
So, not only are we seeing fish across the region in varying conditions, they are snapping! Below are some photos of muskies caught at various Sunset Country lodges.
Barker Bay Resort - Lower Manitou Lake: Boat-In or Fly-In
Muskie Bay Resort on Crow Lake/Lake of the Woods: Drive-In
Cedar Island Lodge: Boat-In
Fireside Lodge on Little Vermillion: Drive-in
Duck Bay Lodge on Lake of the Woods: Boat-In
Sunset Country Adventures on Indian Lake Chain: Drive-In
Maynard Lake Lodge on The English River System: Fly-In
Pipestone Lodge on Pipestone Lake: Boat-In
Alexander's On Rowan: Fly-In
Don't Forget About Giant Northerns!
Anglers can't complain about this quality of by-catch.
Northern pike can and do grow much larger than your average hammer handle here in Sunset Country. This common by-catch while muskie fishing would typically cause lament for small pike, however, when the big ones hit, it's all smiles!
Darren & Merri's on Cedar Lake: Drive-In
Manotak Lodge on Perrault Lake: Drive-In
Muskie season runs from now until December 15, 2019.
Keep an eye out in the fishing regulations for fishing sanctuaries before you hit the water, but as a general rule, muskie opens every year on the third Saturday of June.
Happy muskie season and tight lines to all that visit and fish Sunset Country this year!