Catching Pike and Muskie in and around Wood

Catching Pike and Muskie in and Around Wood

Stumps, fallen trees, sunken logs, timber and brush are important
types of cover for pike and muskie, especially in man-made lakes and
rivers because water level fluctuations can limit the growth of weeds.
The newly flooded reservoirs offer better types of wood for cover
because it has not deteriorated like in some older reservoirs.

Muskie prefer wood as cover more than pike, but you can catch both
species around wood. The best types of wood are around excellent
structure. Deep-sloping shorelines with wood are excellent areas
throughout the summer and fall. Timber and brush in shallow water
are great in the spring. Brushy flats along creek channels will also hold
fish, but most fish will be found on the deep side of the cover.

Fishing around different types of wood cover can be challenging.
Snags will happen, but you can limit them by choosing the right types
of baits and lures. Topwater lures, spinnerbaits, soft plastics with
weedless hooks and weedless spoons are the top choices among
experienced pike and muskie fishermen. The jig and pig (bass jigs)
are often overlooked, but they are one of the best baits to use for pike
and muskie in and around wood cover. These jigs are great for
avoiding snags and they catch lots of pike and muskie. Tournament
bass fishermen are often annoyed by pike and muskie when they are
using jigs in and around wood. If there are pike and muskie in the lake
where the tournament is held, bass fishermen will catch quite a few
pike and muskie on jigs. Pike and muskie fishermen need to realize
how effective jigs can be. In the spring and fall, fish jigs in the shallow
cover. In the summer use jigs around fallen trees and sunken logs in
deeper water.

Some other lures that will produce fish around wood are crankbaits,
minnow plugs, and jerkbaits. Experienced fishermen will remove the
treble hooks on these lures and replace them with weedless treble
hooks to reduce the amount of snags. By replacing the treble hooks,
you can still use your favorite crankbaits, minnow plugs and jerkbaits,
that you might not have been able to use without getting hung up in the
snags. With most of these fish seeing so many spinner baits and
weedless spoons, it is easy for them to pass up one of these lures.
When a crank baits, minnow plug or jerkbait comes into heavy cover, it
is unique enough to get a reaction strike.

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