Fall Musky Hot Spot is Lake of the Woods
Bob McNally 10.11.16
By Bob McNally
No lake is better for muskies in the 15 to 35 pound range than Lake of the Woods, which spreads over the Minnesota-Ontario border not far from Kenora. Another plus for the massive, fish-filled lake is that it’s outstanding for muskies even during Indian Summer weather of early autumn. The season opens in June, and often the best muskie action doesn’t begin until mid-July or August and runs well into fall.
Monument Bay on west side of the lake and the Shoal Lake area are prime summer because water color is dark, pea-soup green, so fish are shallow and accessible. Casting with jerkbaits, bucktails, and fire-tiger Bucher “Shallow Raider” crankbaits is deadly in warm weather. Trolling in October and November also scores well on muskies.
The lake has lots of easy-to-read structures, like humps, grass beds, and rock bars. Many are well marked on maps.
