“Muskie Fishing with Mepps and Erik Lennartz”

Part 1: Sometimes Smaller is Better

Editor’s Note: Erik Lennartz, owner and operator of Tactical Angling Guide Service in Heartland, Wisconsin, once guided for several-different species of fish, but after landing his first muskie, he was hooked. He’s been a muskie fisherman and guide ever since.

Question: Erik, where do you fish?

Lennartz: I fish all of southeastern Wisconsin, including the Pewaukee, Okauchee and Oconomowoc Lakes.

Question: What baits do you use, and how do you catch muskie?

Lennartz: When the water temperature is 70-degrees or less, usually in September and October, I’ll use Mepps’ Musky lures. Mepps has been producing lures for many years, and I prefer the simplicity of Mepps lures, especially the Mepps Musky Killer, instead of the new double-bladed, fancy-skirted lures that have recently come out on the market. Mepps lures are smaller than other muskie baits on the market today, and I’ve found that muskies will take the Mepps Musky Killer when they won’t take the newer, bigger muskie lures.

For a slightly-larger bait, I’ll use a Mepps Tandem Musky Killer. If the muskies won’t take either version of the Musky Killer, then I’ll switch to the Magnum Musky Killer. Sometimes when a muskie isn’t aggressive and won’t take a small lure, a muskie will take a bigger lure because the fish is trying to kill the bait and remove it from its territory, instead of eat the bait. I also like the Mepps Giant Killer and the Mepps Musky Marabou. I let the fish tell me which bait they want to eat on that day. I’ve found that I usually can get the muskie to bite some type of Mepps bait.

For more information about fishing with Erik Lennartz and to find out his muskie-fishing tactics, call 262-227-3093, or email him at tacticalangling@yahoo.com, or visit www.tacticalangling.com.