“Muskie Fishing with Mepps and Erik Lennartz”

Part 4: When It’s Hot, the Muskies Bite At Night

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, I know you fish for muskie a lot at night. Why and when do you fish for them at night?

Lennartz: In July, when the weather’s really hot, and the muskies often hold deep, they’ll move back into shallow water to feed at night. In most cases, when you’re fishing during the daylight hours, you can see the muskie. But at night, when you’re fishing blind, you don’t know where the muskie is, or when it will attack. Muskie fishing at night can be exciting. So, make sure your pace-maker battery is well-charged, because you’ll get the thrill of a lifetime when the water’s quiet and still, and a muskie comes along to inhale one of your Mepps lures.

I always suggest my fishermen wear some type of headlight when we fish at night. I especially like the small lights that clip onto your hat bill, such as the Musky Armor Headlamp, which operates on two AA batteries and mounts right onto your hat. When you reach the end of your retrieve, and the lure gets close to your boat, you need to see the lure to begin your figure eight. If you can’t see the lure as it approaches your boat, you’ll reel the Mepps lure right up to the end of your rod and won’t be able to complete your figure-eight move beside the boat.

Question: When is night fishing the most productive for muskies?

Lennartz: July is my favorite month for night fishing. August is also a good month for night fishing for muskies. During those months, I’ll troll for muskies during daylight hours and cast for muskies at night. The fish may be holding in 20 to 25 feet of water during daylight hours and move up to the first bottom break coming from shallow water as the sun goes down. A muskie may be holding in 5 or 6 feet of water, feeding in that depth during the night and then move back out to deep water during daylight hours.

Question: What time do you start night fishing, and how long do you fish?

Lennartz: I’ll try to be on the water by 5:30 pm or 6:00 pm. On weeknights, I’ll try to be home by 10:00 pm or 10:30 pm. Many weekends I’ve fished until 1:00 am or 2:00 am and caught fish at all hours of the night. I’ve had some great nights catching five or six muskies.

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.