“Wisconsin Fishing with Pete Stoltman”

Part 3: Late-Season Muskies

Editor’s Note: Pete Stoltman of St. Germain, Wisconsin, host of the Internet radio show, “Regular Fishin’ for Regular Guys,” guides and fishes for muskie and other species of fish, including bass, bluegill, perch, walleye and crappie on every lake in northern Wisconsin. “There are a couple hundred lakes in the county where I live,” Stoltman says. “So, I choose the lake to match the species of fish my clients want to catch.” Stoltman also works at Rollie and Helen’s Musky Shop (www.muskyshop.com), the world’s-largest tackle shop devoted to muskie fishing, in Minocqua, Wisconsin. The shop supplies fishing tackle, including Mepps’ products, to any part of the world where fishermen target big pike and/or muskie. This week, Stoltman tells us where he finds fish in Wisconsin and how to catch them.

Question: Pete, as the weeds grow higher off the bottom, what bait do you use to catch the muskies?

Stoltman: I use the Mepps Musky Marabou. The Colorado blade on this lure causes the lure to ride a little higher in the water, allowing me to swim the bait over the tops of weeds. I’ve also found that I can steer this bait around and through the weeds, and it won’t get hung-up as often as other lures. I’m using the same rod-and-reel combination I used in the early season. The only difference is as the weeds get thicker, and I begin moving out to fish the rock humps, I’ll switch from 60-pound-test line to 80-pound-test Cortland Super Braid line. I prefer to use the heavier line with heavier lures because the heavier line is easier to throw without a backlash for novice fisherman than lighter line. I have fewer backlashes with 80-pound-test line than I do with 50-pound-test line.

Question: How do you decide whether to use the Mepps No. 5 Aglia or the Mepps Musky Marabou?

Stoltman: I’ll start the muskie season with the Mepps No. 5 Aglia and keep fishing this lure until the fish no longer want it. This year, we’ve had a much-cooler season than in the past. Too, our water temperature has been lower than it was at this time last year. So, I’ve used the No. 5 Aglia even in August. I like the Musky Marabou for a bigger profile and when I want the bait to give a stronger thump as it moves through the water. I’ll fish the Marabou in low-light conditions, such as during overcast days, early in the morning or late in the afternoon. I’ve also found that because of the way the Musky Marabou is jointed and the appearance of the blade, if I change the speed of my retrieve slightly, the split ring between the body and the tail will cause the tail to kick out and shimmy just a bit. This action will sometimes trigger a strike.

To fish with Pete Stoltman, call (715) 542-4142, email him at pjs53@frontiernet.net, or visit www.lastcastguideservice.com. You also can listen live to Stoltman’s radio show on his website from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm CST on Sunday evenings.