August 11, 2026

Tough Bite Tips - Warm Water Study - South Dakota 'Skies

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WHEN MUSKIES GET TOUGH 👊

Sometimes a tough musky bite is Mother Nature’s fault. Other times, we might be partly responsible for making those fish tougher to catch. 🤷♂️

During a recent Musky Insider PRO Q&A, longtime Hayward-area guide Steve Genson shared some of the adjustments he’s making these days to stay on fish.

Here are a few that stood out:

Don’t Burn ’Em

One of the hardest things to do when you’ve got fish located is leaving ’em alone.

But that’s exactly what Steve will sometimes do.

Rather than pounding the same lakes and spots day after day, he tries to save his best stuff for times when he believes the fish are most likely to bite on that particular spot or body of water.

If you fish often or you’re on a week-long trip, you can’t control what everyone else is doing. But you CAN manage your own pressure and be strategic about when and how often you hit particular spots.

“If you manage it intelligently, you can hit those spots when the timing is right and you feel like you’re going to have a positive bite, then stay away during the lull periods.”

That might mean resting an area for a few hours or even a day or two. Steve also likes mixing up his cast angles and presentations on return trips, especially when he’s fishing more well-known spots.

Sometimes staying productive means resisting the urge to keep going back to the well and giving the fish you’re putting pressure on a rest.

Look Beyond the Obvious

Today’s mapping makes the best-looking points, bars and other textbook musky spots pretty easy for everyone to find.

That’s one reason Steve has been spending more time fishing secondary spots and extending the boundaries of traditional spots.

“If it’s on a popular lake that’s getting fished a lot, I certainly will investigate and fish the obvious stuff, but a lot of times I am having more success by fishing stuff that is overlooked.”

In other words, don’t assume the good water ends where the obvious spot does.

If a point dumps into deep water, for example, try mentally extending that bad boy another 50 or 100 yards and investigate what’s beyond it.

Sometimes the best spot on the spot might be the stuff that doesn’t look like much on the map. 👀

Slow Down

Here’s an easy trap many anglers fall into when the fishing gets tough:

Nothing’s happening, so you start rifling through spots faster, trying to cover more water and find a fish that wants to play.

Steve often tries to do the opposite.

“I tell myself, slow it down. Be patient. We know they’re here. Fish it through properly. Don’t be in a race to get to the next spot.”

Sometimes the answer to a tough bite isn’t covering MORE water.

It’s doing a better job fishing the water where you think they are.

Turn Down the Volume

Steve is admittedly a little old-school when it comes to electronics.

He doesn’t use forward-facing sonar and generally runs just one graph while fishing. And running only one graph is intentional.

“I feel like I run with a very low signature in the water compared to almost all other vessels out there.”

Can Steve prove that’s helping him catch more muskies? Nope. And he’s quick to acknowledge that.

But after 26 years of guiding, he believes keeping his boat’s underwater signature low gives him an advantage.

That philosophy extends to his trolling motor. Steve generally runs it continuously at a low setting rather than repeatedly turning it on and off.

He even tries to avoid abruptly shutting it down when a musky follows because he believes that sudden change can be a negative trigger.

The goal isn’t necessarily complete silence.

It’s consistency.

Hot + Flat? Make Contact

When summertime conditions get hot, sunny and flat, Steve heads deeper into the weeds with rubber and gets aggressive.

Rather than trying to perfectly snake the bait around every stalk, Steve intentionally makes contact.

“We intentionally do a lot of bouncing and bashing through that cabbage, especially with tubes and dawgs.

“It creates reaction bites from fish that weren’t hungry. They just see this thing bashing through their environment, and it creates an instinctual response.”

Sometimes when they won’t eat… you gotta make ’em react. 👊

There’s no magic EASY button when muskies get tough. But sometimes a few small adjustments can be enough to turn a whole lotta casting into a fish in the bag.

Rest ’em. Find the overlooked stuff. Slow down. Quiet down. And when all else fails… make contact with cover and structure.

This was just the tip of the iceberg from this session. Steve and Josh also covered:

✅ How Steve breaks down a lake he’s never fished before

✅ Deep weed patterns and finding the food chain

✅ When and how to return to a fish you’ve already contacted

✅ Overlooked feeding windows

✅ Full moon vs. new moon for night fishing

✅ Downsizing vs. sticking with bigger baits in tough conditions

✅ Early-morning strategies during hot weather

✅ Managing the mental side of lost fish and tough days

✅ Plus a whole bunch more

If you’re a Musky Insider PRO member and missed the live session, the full recording is now available inside the member portal.

Registration is currently closed, but you can join the Musky Insider PRO waitlist and be the first to know the next time enrollment opens.

Delayed Mortality: The Biggest Warm-Water Musky Study Yet

📸 Photo courtesy of Derek Crane

Every summer, the musky world seems to have the same debate…

When is it too warm to target muskies?

Some anglers put the rods away as temperatures climb. Others believe a quick release eliminates most of the risk.

So…what does the latest science actually say?

Researchers from West Virginia University, Coastal Carolina University, multiple state agencies, Muskies Inc., and the Southern Musky Mortality Project teamed up to answer that exact question. Their work became one of the largest warm-water musky mortality studies conducted to date.

And honestly…

The results turned out to be more nuanced than we expected.

But there was one number that immediately jumped off the page.

😳 43.3%

📸 Photo courtesy of Derek Crane

In the study’s controlled pond experiments, researchers observed a 43.3% delayed mortality rate among muskies caught in the study’s warm-water group.

That’s a MUCH higher number than most anglers probably would’ve guessed.

Before anyone jumps to conclusions, it’s important to understand the context.

The warm-water group included fish caught across a wide range of temperatures, from 77°F to just over 90°F. These were also controlled pond studies designed to isolate the effects of warm-water catch-and-release, and unlike many natural lakes, the fish had little opportunity to escape into cooler thermal refuge.

That doesn’t mean every musky fishery experiences 43% delayed mortality.

But it DOES show that delayed mortality can become significant when muskies are already under substantial thermal stress.

Not Every Fishery Looked the Same

So why the differences?

First, these aren’t apples-to-apples comparisons. Unlike the pond study, the field studies weren’t limited to fish caught above 77°F. Instead, they evaluated muskies angled throughout the warm-water season.

One of the biggest takeaways from the three studies is the role temperature and thermal refuge appear to play.

Muskies in ponds and warm rivers had little opportunity to escape prolonged warm-water conditions.

Researchers believe muskies in stratified lakes often have access to deeper, cooler water, which may reduce the physiological stress they experience before and after they’re caught.

🌡️ What Surprised Us Most…

It wasn’t just the water temperature on the day the fish was caught that mattered.

Researchers found that five-day cumulative water temperature (the two days before the catch, the day of the catch, and the two days after release) was an even better predictor of delayed mortality.

That suggests prolonged heat waves may create additional stress beyond what a single temperature reading tells us.

It also reminds us that not every 80° day is necessarily the same.

Likewise, even if the water is a little cooler on the day a fish is caught, several days of extreme heat before and/or after the catch may still increase the fish’s overall stress.

Second Biggest Surprise…

One factor really stood out in the pond study…

Net time.

Researchers found that net time was a statistically significant predictor of delayed mortality, while fight time was not.

Honestly…that one made us stop and think.

Most experienced musky anglers know that air exposure is “no bueno.”

We also commonly hear people say, “Leave the fish upright in the net while you get your camera and bump board ready.”

That’s still good advice.

But this study suggests the clock is still tickin’ while that fish is resting in the net.

So…What’s the Takeaway?

Like most good research, this study answered several questions…

…and raised a few new ones.

It doesn’t tell us there’s one magic temperature where muskies suddenly go from perfectly fine to doomed.

But it does reinforce that delayed mortality is real, that risk increases under stressful conditions, and that multiple factors appear to work together.

In a recent issue, we also shared Dr. Sean Landsman’s catch-and-release research, which covered several practical ways anglers can stack the odds in the fish’s favor. We won’t rehash all of those tips here, but they’re worth keepin’ in mind whenever water temperatures begin climbin’.

✅ Keep fish in the water whenever possible.

✅ Minimize or eliminate air exposure.

✅ Avoid dry surfaces. Wet your bump board before use or, better yet, measure fish in the water whenever practical.

✅ Minimize net time whenever possible.

⭐️ Most importantly, adapt your handling to what that particular fish has been through.

A fish that came unbuttoned boatside after a short fight probably doesn’t need the same level of care as one that fought hard, rolled in the net, required bolt cutters, and spent several minutes bein’ unhooked.

The more a fish has been through…

…the more we should consider givin’ something up in return.

Maybe that’s the bump-board measurement.

Maybe it’s the hero photo.

Or maybe, when the water gets too hot, it’s decidin’ to give the fish a break altogether.

SOUTH DAKOTA MUSKIES NEED A HAND 👊

📸 Photo Courtesy of Corey Ewing

We got a call last week from South Dakota musky angler Jacob Cheeseman.

Jacob has only been chasing muskies for a handful of years, but it didn’t take long for the obsession to set in. 😂

He was reaching out because South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks is considering a significant change to the state’s musky regulations.

Currently, muskies and tiger muskies are catch-and-release only in South Dakota.

The proposed regulation would allow anglers to harvest one musky or tiger musky per day measuring 45 inches or longer, with a possession limit of two.

Jacob would like to see the current catch-and-release regulation stay in place.

And since we’re all about more muskies in more places, and South Dakota doesn’t currently have an organized Muskies Inc. chapter to help rally the troops, we figured we’d help him spread the word. 👊

🤔 WHY THE CHANGE?

Jacob has been communicating with South Dakota fisheries personnel about the proposal.

According to Jacob, one of the primary explanations he’s received is that relatively few South Dakota muskies reach 45 inches, so allowing harvest above that mark isn’t expected to have much impact on the fishery.

That didn’t completely pass Jacob’s smell test, so he started digging.

And he found some interesting numbers. 👀

📊 WHAT DOES THE DATA SAY?

Let’s look at Lynn Lake.

There are 34 Lynn Lake muskies registered in the Muskies Inc. Lunge Log, and 23.5% of them measure 45 inches or longer.

South Dakota GFP’s own survey data also shows a significant percentage of larger fish.

In 2021, 35% of the muskies sampled in Lynn Lake measured more than 42 inches.

In 2023, more than 36% measured over 42 inches.

GFP has also documented muskies up to 49 inches in its survey nets.

📸 Photo Courtesy of Brad Sheridan

And then there are the photos.

Jacob has compiled a stack of pictures of big South Dakota muskies that we don’t have room to share here, but the fish pictured in this article are a pretty good indication of what these fisheries are capable of producing. 👀

The takeaway seems pretty simple:

South Dakota can grow big muskies well beyond 45 inches.

And unlike fisheries where muskies can sustain their populations through natural reproduction, South Dakota’s musky fisheries rely entirely on stocking.

Every one of those big fish started with a stocking truck and then survived for years to reach trophy size.

The question is whether those are the fish South Dakota should begin allowing anglers to harvest, or the fish most worth protecting.

✍️ WANT TO HELP?

The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Commission will hold a public hearing on the proposed regulation September 10 at 2 p.m. in Winner, SD.

Anglers can make their voices heard in three ways:

✅ Sign the petition asking GFP to maintain the current catch-and-release regulation.

✅ Submit written public comment to the GFP Commission before the hearing.

✅ Attend the September 10 hearing in person or remotely via Zoom. Meeting and Zoom information will be posted on the GFP Commission website.

Whether you live in South Dakota or just believe in creating more muskies in more places, this is an opportunity to speak up for a developing fishery with some serious trophy potential.

South Dakota has already proven it can grow big muskies. Let’s give ’em a chance to keep growing. 👊

This Week's Mashup:

Mashup time!

#1 – This clip by Tomas Giannini really jumped out at us, literally. You know it’s about to get wild when a shadow suddenly appears under your bait. Then… BOOM. Boatside chaos. 💥

#2 – The DRT Frenzy from Ezoko definitely caught our eye. At a whopping 17 inches long, it’s an absolute giant. It also features an interesting hybrid water chamber system that allows the bait to glide up to 6.5 feet with each sweep. Whether you’re a collector, lure junkie, or someone who simply appreciates seeing unique musky baits, this one’s worth checking out.

#3 – Do you have an old “battle axe” in the lineup? Check out these from Smith’s Fishing Outdoors rocking what look like some well-loved, bearded Bobbie Baits and Suicks. Those old warhorses have clearly earned every scar.

#4 – Although it’s a northern pike, Anneke Miller can build a custom musky just for you. This has to be one of the coolest and most creative wind chimes we’ve ever seen. Head shakes every time the wind blows? Yes, please!

QUICK HITTERS:

– Last chance to save the Frank Schneider Memorial Tournament (link) w/ Twin Cities Muskies Inc.

– BIG EAGLE LAKE MUSKIES ON TOPWATERS!! - Northwest Ontario Musky Opener (video) w/ Angling Anarchy

– Leech Lake Minnesota MUSKIES!! INSANE FEEDING WINDOW!! 50 INCHER!! - 2026 (video) w/ Todays Angler

– UNLOCKING YOUR MUSKY PATTERN! A July 2026 musky fishing film (video) w/ 54 or Bust

– Back to Canada Musky Fishing (Part 2) (video) w/ Pete Maina Professional Muskie Angler

– Big Muskies with Brendon from Big Action Baits (video) w/ Cast and Conquer

This Week's Monster Muskies:

Owen Kitzmann is only 9 years old, but he was throwin’ down with his dad Ryan the old-school way (#NoScope), and he got this nice ‘skie in the figure-8 🤯, along with a couple other beauties on the Angling Revolution “Little One”.

Remember Owen from above? Well, his dad Ryan decided he needed to do a little modding to his bait in the back of the boat to keep pace with Owen, so he added an Angling Revolution Whip Tail to the back end of his bait…

Boom. 💥 The adjustment paid off with this dandy.

Marc-André Olmstead absolutely smashed his PB with this behemoth 54-inch musky from the shore of the Ottawa River. Fishing solo and casting a glide bait as darkness settled in, everything came together for a fish he’ll never forget.

Nick Roen found this thick 51.5-inch Northwest Ontario tank tucked into an eddy facing the current just before the storm hit. She absolutely demolished a bucktail and made the timing look perfect.

Wanna be featured in Musky Insider? Send in your recent trophy musky photos by replying to this email. You might just see your pic in next week's newsletter. 🤙

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