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Fall is the time to break out your muskie lures
"The motor is off," he answered. "We're being towed."
It wasn't a rock or tree that was pulling the boat across Woodcock Lake.
Many anglers have stored their tackle by September, but when the colored leaves are found floating on the water, the big fish begin to bite.
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Fall is a great time to bass fish, but few will be found casting to large or smallmouths after summer. Come fall, serious muskie fisherman can be found chasing the state's largest game fish whenever he or she can.
Visit Tamarack Lake near Meadville and you will see anglers standing in boats casting to cover along the shoreline. Instead of 1/2-ounce plugs, the terminal tackle will be 10-inch and larger plugs or spinners. They are looking for muskie.
It has often been said that one of the reasons many anglers don't catch muskies is that their bait isn't big enough. Visit your local store and look at the size of those muskie lures. One would be glad to catch fish that big.
The northwest part of the state has the best muskie water.
In fact, it was on Woodcock Lake that John and I were towed by the muskie. Finally, my six-pound line broke. I wasn't fishing for muskie any way.
Of course, there are other waters beside these two lakes. Pymatuning is still a good muskie lake and don't overlook nearby Conneaut Lake, which was the home of the state record muskie.
Once the weather cools, the water skiers are off of the water and it becomes fishable.
I once had a local officer tell me that the best muskie water of all was Cussawago Creek again near Meadville. This is a slow-moving stream you cross when traveling on Interstate 79 just north of Meadville. There is a boat launch just west of town.
There are many other waters that hold muskie, some of which are seldom mentioned in print. The Conneaut Lake outflow holds them as does the Shenango River below Pymatuning Lake.
One of the great streams of the northwest, French Creek, is a good muskie stream. And never forget the Allegheny River. I have caught more muskie from the upper Allegheny then any other water.
I'm talking about Port Allegheny in McKean County. In fact, the last time I trout fished the area, I caught a 35-inch muskie in Potato Creek near Smethport.
Closer to home, there are muskie in the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers. Muskies also inhabit Ten Mile Creek and one of the great muskie waters was Dunkard Creek until it was ruined by polluters.
Probably the closest outstanding muskie water is Lake Arthur in Butler County. I have found this lake to be an enigma. One time I will catch just enough to tease me into going back and then nothing on succeeding trips.
This has brought my circle of friends into nicknaming it the Dead Sea. But I do know people who catch fish, and particularly muskie, there. In fact, someone from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission once called Lake Arthur the best muskie water in Western Pennsylvania.
Just about anyone with a boat can fish for muskies. It helps to have a stout rod and 10 to 20-pound line.
Some anglers would even go heavier than that, for a muskie's mouth is hard and it takes a lot to set the hook. A good drag is absolutely a must and never try to unhook one with your fingers. Use needle-nosed pliers and even then be careful. Fall is muskie time.
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