Want to Scratch Landing a Big Muskie Off Your Bucket List?

Northwest Ontario has more opportunity for numbers and size of muskies than anywhere else we’ve fished.

By Jeremy Smith Jeremy has been fishing since he was old enough to hold a rod and reel.

April 12, 2023

Here at Angling Edge, we’ve got a crew of anglers that love fishing for anything that’s biting. We take advantage of the hottest bites going whether it’s crappies, bass, walleyes, pike, muskies, carp, cats, you name it we’ll fish for it. That said, many of us love to chase big fish, and no place is better for freshwater big game than Northwest Ontario.

When thinking big fish in NW Ontario, muskies rise to the top. NW Ontario has more opportunity for numbers and size of muskies than anywhere else we’ve fished. The amount of water and fishable habitat is immense, so it’s important to be deliberate and efficient with your approach. Here’s how we break down water to develop a pattern to catch muskies.

Begin by finding a complex area that offers a variety of habitat types. Look for something like this: an island cluster near shore that offers big water access, a rock reef nearby, a shallow weed by in close proximity and shallow water with weeds, boulders or broken rock between the islands. Comb through the entire complex and observe where you see bait or muskies. From there look for similar habitat types and refine the search.

In the warm water period, my go-to presentation is a fast moving in-line spinner. The favorite being the Blue Fox Super Bou with #8 blades. Often times the faster you move the bait the more responsive the fish are to the presentation. It’s almost like topwater fishing, the bait is moving very quickly bulging the surface and you see most of the strikes. This style of fishing is fast, efficient and triggers active fish. The idea is to cover as much water as possible looking for willing biters. Also, in Canadian waters the number of fish that bite boat side is incredible. A big O or 8 at the boat is mandatory, even when you don’t see a fish following.

Regardless of your approach, the real secret to success in muskie fishing is confidence. I always try to tell myself that a split second can make your day, trip or season. Of course, muskies can be anywhere at any time, but if you keep casting and have confidence in your system, eventually it all comes together.

Visit the Sunset Country website to plan a muskie fishing trip or to find out more about muskie fishing in Ontario.

Check out this video for more muskie fishing tips!

For more Ontario fishing tips videos go to Ontario's Sunset Country Youtube channel.

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About Jeremy Smith

Jeremy has been fishing since he was old enough to hold a rod and reel. From an early age his passion for fishing as never stopped growing. He has an education from Gustavus Adolphus College (Biology/Business) and Bemidji State University (Education). Throughout the summers of his college years, Jeremy was a fishing guide in northern Minnesota, specializing in musky fishing. Upon graduating from college he bypassed using his education to become an educator and dove head first into the fishing business.

Since then Jeremy has worked in almost every element of the business: magazine sales, television sales, magazine writing and editing, television editing and producing, tournament organization, still photography, videography and on-camera talent to name a few of the hats he as worn.

Jeremy loves to catch anything that swims and tries to take full advantage of the best bite going. Given the time he is going searching for new water off the beaten path. Whether it is for largemouth, smallmouth, muskies, cats, sturgeon, lake trout, whitefish or carp, anything is fair game.

At Lindner Media, Jeremy serves as Sales and Media Director and co-hosts Angling Edge and Fishing Edge.