Skegemog/Torch/Elk Lakes help!

ramboand · Post by **ramboand** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 8:05 pm

Hey fellas! This is my first post on these forums. The weekend of Sept. 10th I will be heading up to the Torch Grove campground with a buddy and the boat to go for muskies on any of these lakes. I have NEVER caught a muskie myself but have recently become obsessed with hooking into these fish. Can anyone relay me some information on the best methods of catching them on these lakes? I have the necessary rods/reels/nets and equipment and I will be purchasing some large tackle as well. What works out there and what are my best chances for making this trip worthwhile? We will also be going for smallmouth as well! A few walleyes would be nice too. Any info is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

-Drew

Chasin50 · Post by **Chasin50** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 9:49 pm

Welcome to the board, and the obsession. You picked a couple low density fisheries to cut you teeth... Plan on putting in some time to achieve your goal. If I were you, I would rule out torch and elk, and focus on skeg.

Fish the neck down entering elk, the weed line between the launch and the river, the neck down of the river. Look for weed pockets on the east and west shore, and work them thoroughly.

Throw mag dawgs, pounders, large Curley sues, medussas, possibly larger cranks like 10" jakes, and maybe buck tails, but that would be my last choice.

I am sure others will chime in withbother suggestions. Could be a few days of working it to get in to a fish or two. You can always troll cranks when you need a break from casting.

ramboand · Post by **ramboand** » Thu Aug 25, 2011 10:41 pm

Thanks for the info! If we wanted to break for some time and drive out to any other lakes are there any with good muskie production in the area that we could jump to?

Chris Musselman · Post by **Chris Musselman** » Fri Aug 26, 2011 1:04 am

maybe buck tails

For real? We've seen/caught most of our fish on bucktails on Skegemog. Not that what Chad said isn't true (he's 1Million x's better than me.) I second everything he said (besides the bucktails

). Cabbage is pretty easy to find out there, Most of it can be found in the 9ft to 12ft range and once you find it you can't lose it and you can be sure that your fishing effectively.

Jake's usually produce lots of pike action and its a great muskie trigger as well on Skegemog. If you get bored easily thats the way to go. Bucktails are great though and the fish don't see many baits so its not all bad to throw the classics, natural colors are the way to go, brown being the best for us.

Good luck. Don't get discouraged, the fish are there and occasionally show themselves. I have seen fish all over and in every depth that contains cabbage.

Chris Musselman · Post by **Chris Musselman** » Fri Aug 26, 2011 1:09 am

Thanks for the info! If we wanted to break for some time and drive out to any other lakes are there any with good muskie production in the area that we could jump to?

Any of the upper chain lakes (30-40 min drive) are going to have slightly better density. I would probably stay away from Bellaire and Intermediate as those are a little tougher to fish.

Good Beer up there for the drive home though.

Post by **Will Schultz** » Fri Aug 26, 2011 10:25 am

Some good advice from both above. Much of this is dependent on your preference of casting or trolling if you prefer to cast then Skegemog would be your best bet on the lower lakes. If you prefer to troll then Elk is where you want to be.

Big bucktails in Skeg would be my #1 choice followed by big crankbaits then big rubber.

Lots of great bass fishing up there too.

Mayhem · Post by **Mayhem** » Fri Aug 26, 2011 10:44 am

All good information in this thread. In order to have realistic expectations you should prolly know that even the best muskie fishermen in the state have an hour per fish (HPF) of 20-40 on that system. Someone who sucks at muskie fishing as bad as me could easily go an entire season on that water without boating a fish. That being said there are monsters in that system, definantly making it worth the challenge.

MattG_braith · Post by **MattG_braith** » Fri Aug 26, 2011 1:28 pm

Mayhem wrote:Someone who sucks at muskie fishing as bad as me could easily go an entire season on that water without boating a fish.

Or if you're as bad as me your entire life.

ramboand · Post by **ramboand** » Fri Aug 26, 2011 4:56 pm

Awesome advice guys, really appreciate it. I'll cast sun up to sun down, we will be goin for bass too so it'll be worthwhile. Any specific lakes within an hour with maybe a bit more production? I dont want to get greedy, i know muskies are typically a low census fish but anythig to improve my chances! Someone said Jakes lake and to stay away from intermediate or bellaire.