Beginners are Always Welcome to Pursue Musky Fishing
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 knowledge. During the internet age, freedom and the flow of information have helped change the game regarding sharing lake information and sporting knowledge, so up-and-coming anglers now find themselves at an advantage regarding representation on the water.
Though different, this change in the sport of musky angling is welcomed. It comes with a learning curve, but change is bound to occur. New and younger anglers, grasping for information, find that following YouTube channels, like Musky Shop TV, helps them curate a broader grasp of the sport before they ever hit the water. The internet is full of beginner information, classroom-style discussions, bait mods, waterway knowledge, and ultra-specific bait underwater presentations. The atmosphere created by all of this shared knowledge creates an excellent space for up-and-coming anglers.
Thankfully, those chomping at the bit and ready to learn are now gearing up for the upcoming seasons and are diving into the ultra-competitive sport of musky angling. That being said, beginners and upstart anglers mustn’t leave their manners at home when encountering the old pros who got them there. Ideally, waterways are shared and shaped by the anglers that fish them, but respect and polite interactions go a long way. First-timers to various bodies of water should allow for transom space, “spot” respect, and boating safety so that cooler heads prevail on the water.
Always respect musky waters by giving plenty of distance to other boaters on the water, never follow another angler's patterns, and certainly provide a reasonable right of way to anglers traveling on river systems, so collisions are not on the forefront of anyone's mind. It’s always best for new anglers to take charge of their mapwork at home and pattern out a lake before you go. Following boats around or spot-checking other anglers will get you in a heap of trouble at the ramp. Problem-solve in real-time and save any questions for casual conversations at the ramp.
For those newly educated anglers passing through the Northwoods, there are so many lakes and rivers to choose from that it can be daunting for sure. It’s not recommended to select the high-traffic lakes or even sometimes the local suggestions. Go out on a limb and find new water. Regardless of what the experts, online fishing reports, and Facebook tell you, there are plenty of great lakes with nice ramps and a slew of muskies. Shallow, deep, dark, clear, small or large size doesn’t matter in the Northwoods of Wisconsin. Muskies are all over the place, and you might find your own little spot of heaven if you go off the beaten path. As long as the lake is public, please give it a go and do a little scouting and mapwork. Muskies pattern their underwater landscapes like people have their favorite grocery stores and car washes: convenience and bounty are key for predators.
So, if you’re new to the sport but you’ve packed in a load of online knowledge, don’t be afraid of your fellow experts. Public waterways are open for everyone to enjoy. Be respectful to other anglers, make your path, and find out what musky fishing has to offer you. If you are out in nature, angling under the open sky, the target species really doesn’t matter because you’ve already made a great decision in the pursuit of sport.