Balsam Lake in October, Popular baits for Musky

[GoIrish]

Hi all, New to the Forum, and have been reading along. I'm usually a fair weather guy but have been getting into cooler weather the past few years. Have had a chance to fish Balsam and love the lake. I want to go out in October a few days and am familiar with the lake (somewhat).
I cast and rarely troll , have fished Pigeon quite a bit but know the lakes are all different when it comes to baits.
Can anyone advise best practices , colours , baits to throw in Oct or is only trolling time ?
Thanks and I'm enjoying the reads on the threads

[crappeeeman]

Welcome to the fishing forum. I do not target muskie but I do catch them on balsam. I am sure you will get some advice from a fellow member soon. Good luck. Stay safe.

[GoIrish]

Thanks for the welcome , I'll be standing by

[crappeeeman]

If it is any help I do know the muskie hang out this time of year in 15 feet of water right at the edge of the weed line. Because I catch muskie when I am fishing for big bass and big walleye with these storm lures. The bass and muskie just just love them. And only big walleye go after them no small ones. Casting or trolling these lures works great. A ton of vibration I can feel right up to my hands. Here is a picture of the lures.Storm wiggle wart about the size of an egg.The green one with the red lip is the best.

[GoIrish]

Thanks for the assist my friend, I do have a couple of those , as well in Rapala style,i will check the box, I have used longer stick baits in the early season on other lakes

[stevepod]

If you’re targeting musky I would recommend a depth raider 8 inch for trolling or a swick for casting. Save the wiggle wart for bass.

[GoIrish]

Thanks Stevepod, do the colours change much , ive been using greens and motor oil colours on that lake , or should the colours change with the swicks?

[crappeeeman]

I do not target muskie because my fishing is 99% to catch dinner for the family. When I get a request from a friend to take them to where the muskie are on balsam, I do. The family has over 50 years experience fishing balsam and sturgeon. Everyone knows the muskie in balsam are the smartest muskie in Ontario. So a good range of lures from early morning muskie right through to evening is what I take. Too bad you do not have enough posts yet to PM me for more specific locations to fish. Here is a couple more pictures of some lures we use if I take a friend fishing for muskie on balsam or sturgeon. You said you were somewhat familiar with balsam. A chart would be a good idea. There are some tricky rocks on the north end of grand island and on the east side from rosedale to daniels point. Good luck and stay safe.

[crappeeeman]

All these have caught muskie and pike as well on balsam. And muskie on sturgeon.

[crappeeeman]

More lures that work from another drawer.

[crappeeeman]

Bigger is not always better. If I was guiding someone muskie fishing on balsam or sturgeon this is the first lure I would take out. It has caught a few dozen muskie from 24 inches to my biggest on balsam at 53 inches. Good luck. Stay safe.

[kvdk123]

Hi GoIrish,

After last weekends performance against Cincinnati you could use all the help you can get!

Try to find spots with healthy vegetation remaining and access to deep water. Pick those areas apart and if you get a follow or strike, try to replicate what you were doing in similar looking spots. Fish your best looking spot(s) during a major or minor moon phase.

Anything with black or orange is pretty popular for colours. Any lure could work this time of year but bucktails, suicks, believers and bulldawgs would be a good place to start. And as mentioned, lots of guys seem to catch a muskie or two when they are bass or walleye fishing. Hope that helps and good luck.

[stevepod]

I would pick a colour that you have confidence in maybe something natural or Percy colour. Not a single hook wiggle wart if targeting musky in the fall.

[mephisto_lake]

I was there for the first time Sunday for the classic it was okay, I usually throw a whopper plopper, unfortunately no musky or giant bass.

[GoIrish]

Thanks Crappeeeman for all the info, thats a healthy box there , looking forward to be able to PM . Much appreciated, i'll keep you posted on my progress. I do have a chart and look forward to hitting them in the next week.