[YELLAB]

Hey guys, I am hoping you can help me. We have started a contest on a lake in Nebraska to attempt to catch a musky through the ice. The lake is a natural lake, with a max depth of around 6 feet, is 100% catch and release and has been that way for at least 20 years. There have been muskies in this lake for the entire time of the catch and release regulation, so it stands to reason there are some very large fish. Due to regulations at the lake to control rough fish, the only "live bait" allowed are frozen smelt.

Do you have any suggestions that can possibly help with my quest?

Thanks in advance.

 

[skyball]

I have never caught a musky in a ND lake through the ice in my life, nor has anyone I know personally.This has gotten me thinking, does anyone know someone who's caught a musky through the ice on ND waters????

 

[Matt Jones]

Someone told me that muskies aren't like northerns and will go relatively dormant in the winter, only eating once or twice a month. This is why they're rare to catch in the winter. I've never heard of anyone in ND pulling one through the ice but I've talked to a couple guys in MN who have. They were tiger muskies (half pike, half muskie) so maybe that makes a difference.

I've never read any of this anywhere, so it's basically hearsay...take it for what it's worth. It does kind of make sense though, other fish (like bass) don't feed agressively during winter. Maybe muskies are the same.

 

[YELLAB]

Thanks guys, I will continue my quest. I haven't had any luck and have only heard of a few being caught, mostly by accident while fishing for perch and bluegill. :beer: