The sharp drop off was the more difficult to figure out, due to the current and an erratic edge. I tried trolling along the edge, that didn't work. Eventually I tried running directly at the edge from deep water (35 ft) to shallower (12 ft) using a deep diver with plenty of line out. I found that fish would hit most consistently after the lure started rooting up the bottom. Let me pause here to state that although I read a lot about how muskie feed "up" due to their eye placement, I have caught a very good number of muskie by "rooting" the bottom. One of my long time mentors, Ron Fodor, uses Spoon Plugs in deep water and bounces them off of rocks. He states that the resulting noise is like a dinner bell to muskie. His consistent catches down through the years bear out his statement.

The ridge extends from about twelve feet to twenty six feet, running east to west with a current running north to south. It can be fished by trolling across the top from one end to the other, and some times this works OK. The most productive method has proven to be trolling along either side of the ridge, using a lure that will eventually wind up tearing up the bottom as you work into shallow water. It is not possible to slow troll because the current will keep swinging the boat out of line. If your depth finder indicates individual fish depths, it is not a bad idea to run along such an object and find out how deep the majority of fish are situated, and then base you lure selection on that information. Another thing you might want to do, is to use marker buoys¹ along the top of the ridge. This will give you an excellent visual path to follow. Between wind, current and structural irregularities, it can be a lot of work to fish these areas effectively. Use every tool at your disposal.

One of the things I find myself doing this year, is fishing deeper and deeper water. There is a great deal of satisfaction to be had from bringing a fish out of 25+ water, and knowing when you return it, chances are real good it will be there for years to come. I understand that there are some lures being used up on the Georgian Bay that run real deep without weight. As soon as I can manage to lay my hands on some, I want to give them a shot on my home water.

Having a variety of techniques at your disposal, will make you a more consistently productive fisherman. Good luck and good fishin'.

¹ I use one gallon liquid laundry detergent bottles. I like their high visibility and the price is right. (plus you can claim to be a politically correct environmentalist, recycling plastic goods...ha !!)

Remember, as always, Catch-Photograph-Release. Provide a future fishery for the generations to come. And, hey, take a kid fishin'!

Ted - MUSKY FISHING ABOARD "THE CUDA"