The muskellunge, or "musky," is the stuff of fishing legends—a elusive giant lurking in North American lakes, prized for its size and fight. But every now and then, this toothy predator reminds us it’s not just anglers who get a surprise. In two rare and fascinating incidents, muskies turned casual
Greetings Everyone,We hope you’re enjoying great fishing weather, whether it’s late ice fishing or open water fishing in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Fishing conditions here have been excellent, though we’re nearing the end of the ice fishing season. Read on for the latest updates on ice conditions,
As many anglers are consumed with catching and photographing their trophy muskies for posterity, it’s less common to focus on the not-so-fun parts like musky fish handling, tool use, and post-release survival strategies. Often dubbed the "fish of 10,000 casts," landing an elusive muskellunge can flo
Discover Towanda Lake: A Northwoods Wisconsin GemLet the Northwoods of Wisconsin soothe your soul at Towanda Lake, an easy-to-find, adventure-packed destination just outside Woodruff. This 139-acre bowl-shaped lake, complete with a unique southern "tail," sits right off Highway 51. Its accessibility
Boost your musky fishing success with weather planning tips. Learn how fronts, water levels, and trends impact angling in this expert guide.MoreMusky fishing can be an exhilarating challenge, but no matter how much energy you pour into it, sometimes the experience feels like a real drag. For anglers
We hope all of you have had great ice fishing this winter, and where there is open water, we hope you all have had great fishing, too. Winter's grip seems to be easing, as we have had some very nice weather in the past few weeks here in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Ice conditions are still excellent
There are those among us who prefer to push the limits of musky fishing and those who prefer to stick with what they know.Both are great rules to live by, and each has their flaws.When it comes to pushing your limitations, some of the best advice sprouted by professional anglers is to take a chance
Wisconsin Whitefish SpreadMoreIngredients:1lb whitefish, cooked and flaked1/2 cup mayonnaise1/4 cup chopped celery1/4 cup chopped onion1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill1 tablespoon capers, drained1 teaspoon lemon juiceSalt and pepper to tasteInstructions:Preheat oven to 375 DegreesPlace the seasoned f
Musky angling as a sport is often overshadowed by the anglers who dominate waterways across the habitat range.Weekend anglers, guides, and retirees tend to form a pecking order on local lakes and waterways, sometimes making new anglers feel like they have to walk on eggshells to access fish and know
Tuesday, March 4th is the big day, and there is a lot of intrigue surrounding the New Magnus from Livingston Lures.Let’s break it down to its integral parts and get to the nitty-gritty of what makes this bait a unique musky slayer destined to put some beasts in your boat for the upcoming season.As t
Learn About Green Bay Brown Trout On Feb. 26MoreMADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) invites the public to join DNR staff on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at the DNR’s Peshtigo Field Office in Peshtigo, Wisconsin, for the seventh meeting in a nine-part series focused on fisherie
We hope all of you are having a great winter so far. As we near the end of February, some of you are already open-water fishing in places throughout the country. We wish that was the case here in the Minocqua, Wisconsin, area. Ice fishing continues to be good. Most of the lakes in Oneida and Vilas c
As angling goes, musky fishing can be one of the most challenging in terms of the ratio of catch to loss, so it makes sense to prepare for the musky season by navigating the right equipment to make your “on the water” experience as relaxed as possible. A reliable trolling motor is one of the most es
As anyone from the Northwoods can attest, there are loads of lakes, rivers, and waterways to target musky, walleye, and panfish.So, if you’re like me and you’re on a lake hunt to find some peaceful waters loaded down with gamefish, look no further than High Lake just Northeast of Boulder Junction.Th
The Beaver Bait is a lure design like no other. Indefinitely hard to categorize, the Beaver Bait often gets lumped into generic lure classifications that it often doesn’t fit into precisely. Is it jerk bait, or is it a pull pause bait? No, it’s a Beaver Bait.Truly a lure entirely its own, the Beaver
Musky Shop Northwoods Fishing Report: Early February 2025MoreIce fishing in the Minocqua, WI, area has been very consistent. Ice travel is still quite good, as we have not received much snow this winter. There is currently 3-4 inches of snow on the ice, and the ice conditions are approximately 20-2
Crusted Butter-Seared Walleye with AsparagusMoreIngredients:For the Walleye: - 4 walleye fillets - 1 cup panko bread crumbs - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese - 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley - 2 cloves garlic, minced - Salt and pepper to taste - 1/4 cup all-purpose flour - 2 large eggs, beaten
More times than I can recall I have been asked by anglers, what gear ratio reel should I use for musky fishing. With so many modern musky reels available to fishermen it can get confusing. But rest assured sorting out what gear ratio reel to use isn’t as complicated as it might seem. Let’s take a pe
It’s ice fishing season in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, and despite expecting a mild week this week as far as temperatures, colder weather is on the way, and that means the ice stays frozen and ready for anglers in and around Minocqua.As ice fishing is essential to our Northern anglers, it’s importa
Musky Shop Northwoods Fishing Report: Late January 2025MoreWe hope you are all having a great ice fishing season. Ice fishing in the Northwoods of Wisconsin has been very good, and ice conditions are outstanding. Most lakes in the Minocqua area have approximately 20" of ice with very little snow cov
Ice Fishing Safety: Essential Measures and Gear for a Secure ExperienceMoreIce fishing is such a fantastic winter activity, offering one of the most peaceful and inspiring connections to nature that the Northwoods of Wisconsin has to offer. But let’s be honest, it can be a bit harsh and unpredictabl
Don’t let the name scare you; the Rabid Squirrel from Musky Mayhem won’t bite you or your pocketbook, but let me assure you that it will put some muskies in your net.I feel that most musky anglers would take a glimpse at the Rabid Squirrel from Musky Mayhem Tackle and think it’s a just rather scantl
As January quietly rolls around, the Northwoods is short on snow but doing well when it comes to ice, so with a new month comes a new “Lake of the Month.” For January, I’d like to feature Plum Lake, just a skip North of Sayner. This Vilas County watering hole features just enough established food an
Musky Shop Northwoods Fishing Report: Early January 2025MoreHello Everyone,We hope you had a great holiday season and wish you a Happy New Year.Ice fishing in the Minocqua area has been excellent. Depending on the type of lake you are on, Ice conditions are in the 12"-16" range. There is little to n