First-Time Musky Fishing on Lake of the Woods

The fear for a first-time musky angler is simple: that you will spend a whole trip casting heavy gear and never touch a fish. It is a fair worry — musky are called the fish of ten thousand casts for a reason.

The good news is that Lake of the Woods is one of the better places to chase a first musky, and Saarela’s Moonlite Bay Lodge on Little Raspberry Island near Morson, Ontario, gives you a boat-in base and a guide, Drew Cohen, who can put a beginner on fish faster. Start at saarelas.com.

Can a first-timer catch a musky on Lake of the Woods?

Yes — a first-time angler can absolutely catch a musky here, especially with realistic expectations and a guided day to start.

Nobody can promise you a fish; anyone who does is selling something. What this water offers a beginner is a real population of fish, plenty of structure to learn on, and a guide who knows where to start. Set your expectations on learning the process, and the fish becomes the reward rather than the only measure of the trip.

How is musky fishing different from walleye or bass?

Musky fishing means heavier gear, bigger baits, far fewer bites, and a boatside move called the figure-8 that has no equivalent in walleye or bass fishing.

You will throw large lures on heavy rods all day, and you may get only a handful of chances. Many of those chances come right at the boat, when a following fish has to be coaxed into eating on the figure-8. It is a different rhythm — more patience, bigger payoff. For the tackle you will need, see musky gear for Lake of the Woods.

What should a first-time musky angler expect?

Expect long quiet stretches broken by a few heart-stopping moments, and know that a single fish can make the entire trip.

Fish will follow your lure and turn away without eating; that is normal, and it is information, not failure. You mark the spot, rest it, and come back. The anglers who stay focused on every cast — right through the figure-8 — are the ones holding a fish at the end of the day. The grind is the game, and the payoff is worth it.

How do we shorten the learning curve?

The fastest way to learn is to book a guided day with Drew early in the trip and learn the water, the presentation, and the figure-8 firsthand.

A guided musky day gives a beginner structure-reading and boat skills to use for the rest of the week, and learning where musky hold turns a huge lake into a handful of spots. Stay in one of five island cabins — Musky Manor, Bear’s Den, Beaver Lodge, Loon’s Nest, or Squirrel Lodge — and see current rates, boat rentals, and guide fees.

What do first-timers most often get wrong?

The common beginner mistakes are gear that is too light, quitting the figure-8 too early, and losing focus after hours without a bite.

Light gear costs you the fish of the trip when it eats at the boat; a lazy figure-8 turns followers away; and a wandering mind misses the one chance the day gives you. Bring proper gear, work every retrieve to the very end, and carry the right release tools so your first musky goes back strong.