Before beginning this article, I would like to take a few moments and explain a little bit about myself and what motivates me as a writer. First of all, I do not feel that I have mastered muskie fishing or even come close. Like all good fishermen, I continue to learn each season. What I felt was gospel a few years ago, may reveal itself in new light this season. I am opinionated but listen and learn from other fishermen constantly.

A lot of fishing information presented to the angler, especially in newspapers, is based on interviews with fishermen, and bait and tackle shop owners. It would be better titled misinformation. My articles are strictly based on first hand knowledge, unless I specifically say otherwise.

My intention, as a writer, is to help guide you along in your pursuit of one of Americas premier game fish, and I welcome YOUR questions and suggestions.

The weather begins to break here in Southeastern Michigan, I become more and more anxious to hit the water in pursuit of my favorite game fish, muskie. It's still almost three months until the legal season opens, though, and that seems like a good slice of eternity. I ask myself what I can do to improve my fishing this year.

After lubricating reels, replacing lines, checking rod guides, sharpening hooks etc., it's time to develop a game plan for the upcoming season. A well thought out game plan, that is stuck to, can do a lot to better your fishing not only this season but also in seasons to come.

If you haven't already, obtain the best hydrographic maps of the water(s) you fish. Take a magnifying glass and scrutinize them intently, keeping in mind that what appears small on the map is actually much larger. What looks like a short distance is actually quite far. People who don't keep these things in mind are often overwhelmed when they hit the water. Last season I was looking for a hump which lies west of B85 on the Detroit River. In my mind it was only a few yards from the marker. In reality it was almost a tenth of a mile. I had forgotten to keep perspective when looking at my chart.

As you examine your charts, chances are very good that you will be able to identify prime areas that you have overlooked in the past. In the upcoming season, force yourself to try these new areas. Don't wait and try them when the fish aren't biting in your favorite spots, but when they are. That's the hard part. It is also one of the things that separates truly successful anglers from those who only have an occasional good day.

One of the worse traps a fisherman can fall into is becoming habitual in choice of fishing spots, and it's one of the easiest. It can happen without you realizing it. If you go fishing when the fish aren't biting in your favorite spot, and you have only a couple other places to turn to, you have fallen into this trap. Do not accept it, change!

The west side of Sugar Island, on the Detroit River, was an excellent walleye spot for years, and most fishermen did not have much difficulty boating a limit there. However it has gotten tougher in recent years. Not long ago, I began my fishing there one morning. It soon became apparent that whatever walleyes were there were few and far between. There were several other boats fishing the area and no one else was having much luck, either, so I left to try other areas. The "hole in the wall," the Livingston Channel, and others didn't produce any fish, but I finally located actively feeding fish in "Pickerel Alley." While returning with a nice limit of Walleye, I noticed the same boats still fishing by Sugar Island. Curious, I stopped to see if the fish had ever "turned on". They hadn't. When fishing is tough, by having more good spots to turn to, you will increase your success ratio dramatically.

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