CONDITION #8:   “Cloud Cover Yields to Sunlight”
 
I believe it is generally more productive to work high light to low light periods, but I will not ignore the low light to high light changes either. Like sunrise, a long period of cloud cover followed by a burst of sun can be a great trigger. Light change of any kind may be the best bite motivator and should never be ignored.
 

CONDITIONS #7 & #6:   “Full vs. New Moon & Moon Phases”
 
I’m sure you’ve heard the theory that moon phases can affect the musky bite. We have been fishing the full moon for a long time and it has always been very good to us. I’ve seen such dramatic increases in land critter and waterfowl activity during the full moon that I have to believe it similarly motivates the creatures under the surface. You will notice the buzz about three days prior and then it will suddenly crash a day or two after. It’s like clockwork.
 
During the July full moon, Canadian Shield lakes are lit up almost like daytime. It’s remarkable how easy it is to see out there. Just beware of approaching fronts – cloud cover can turn out the lights in a hurry. All kinds of cool stuff will go on out there at night during the full moon. People always ask me, “Where are the pictures?” What they don’t realize is that you can’t photograph the magic and even if you could, a picture wouldn’t do it justice.
 
”You just had to be there.” I tell them.
 
Northern Lights, frequent spectacular shooting stars, and communication satellites buzzing and blinking through the star-studded night sky provide a heavy metal light show for a very exciting time to be musky fishing. Bears, wolves, deer, loon, and bats make every minute special when you are out there casting the moonlight.
 
The soft and subtle light can play tricks on you though, but this is also true for the muskies. We have had so many fish slam into out boat after missing the turn on a figure eight that we have grown to expect it. I had a nice fish crack her head right at my feet one night, scratching her back along the entire length of our boat before she took back to the weeds. Pat hooked her on the next cast and we released a nice 46-incher. 
 
New moon spells D-A-R-K on The Shield. No lights, no moon, just a whole lot of black. Friends of ours fish it and do very well, but all I can tell you is watch out for islands.
 
What about moon rise and moon set?
 
I am not the person to consult about time specific information, as I don’t keep close track of time. For that I will direct you to Joe Bucher’s moon charts published in Musky Hunter Magazine. Joe has made painstaking efforts to put together accurate information on this subject. All I can say is that if you follow his timetables you will contact fish. We have proven him right enough to say that you will too.
 
We do pay close attention to the rise and fall of the moon. We have had incredible action when the sun is low on the horizon to our west and that big ol’ round hunk of cheese is peeking over the trees to the east. You won’t ever find us in camp at this time of day. No way! Our best action comes at dusk during a full moon rise (sunset). It doesn’t matter to us if it’s the gravitational pull or the many changes in light texture at this time – all we know is that we catch muskies.