Fall Muskie Fishing - Collins River with Dwayne Hickey

Fall Fishing Lures

The Fall time of year can be some of the best action, mainly because there are a number of lures (including top water) that river musky love to chomp. Top water lures, prop baits, side to side and buzz baits come to mind. Try them all early, late and during slow rain periods. My favorite top water lure is a big muskie size buzzbait. Any color you choose will work. I prefer white.  Next lure I usually have tied on is a medium to large spinnerbait in white, black or gold. Bucktaiks with the #10 and # 8 blades are good choices to have ready also. Gold or silver blades will get the job done.

Swim Baits

Swim baits are always at the ready in my boat for early fall river musky. There are many types and variations of swim lures, some soft, others hard plastic. Sizes range from 6 to 10 inches. For clear water, I go with typical colors such as shad, suckers and a couple types of sunfish patterns.  For stained river water the orange fire tiger pattern will get attention, along with a black/orange pattern. I look for a good, slow falling swim bait that can also be worked fast, just under the surface.

Crank Baits

I can't leave out crank baits for Collins River Fall muskies. The muskie have been lazy in the summer heat but as water temps continue to drop, the muskies will become more active. Crank baits cover the skinny river water very well. When it comes to size, I generally use six to eight inch, shallow running cranks. I don't plug many lures but the SS shad in the six inch standard size has produced many muskies for me, not just on the Collins River, but all of the Great Falls watershed! Other lures, such as redfins, and Rapala lures work well on fall muskies. I could write for days about lure size, colors and retrieve speeds but I'd rather imphasize lure speed rather than rambling on. The thing that puts fish in the boat is triggering the strike. That "trigger" is what its all about.  Clear Water is often the case on the skinny waters of the Collins river, but heavy rains can and does add color to the otherwise clear river. When water temps are sixty degrees and above, I'm cranking fast and just under the surface with spinnerbaits and crank baits. More than color, I rely on speed of retrieve in early fall.

Cadence and Retrieval

How fast should your retrieve be? Depends on the lure. A tandem spinnerbait will hold good just under the surface at medium to high speeds, creating a "buldge" in the water. Add to that a quick pause (one second) and be ready. Clear water muskie respond better to fast moving food in my opinion. Don't give the fish time to investigate, make her think that food is getting away! Shallow crank baits work extremely well using this method also. The crank baits that create a bulge or wake just under the surface catch hungry fall river muskies. The key is change in direction or a pause on the retrieve. With an eight foot rod, you can practically ziz zag a spinnerbait or crank bait back to the boat. Always keep an eye out for muskie when fishing the Collins, as you can spot fish at times when water is clear. I always have some type of throw back lure for sight fishing in the fall. A jig/minnow combo works well when tossed out in front of a muskie. Work it slow, using small twitches.  As the water temps fall into the sixties and below ill go to a swim jig topped with a live creek shiner for some great river action. Slow swimming or hopping off the bottom, the jig/combo type produces strikes. As the water cools into the upper fifties, its a good bet to toss slow sinking paddle tails, working them from shallow water to the deeper holes. Whatever your approach is, pay attention to movements on the water and in the woods. Add a change in weather or a good moon phase and you just put the odds in your favor. More like 50-50.

Glide Baits for Late Fall and Winter

Once that water keeps sliding down into the 50s and below, the glide baits start to shine. A well tuned glider with that lazy side to side action is one of the best ways I know to pull a Collins River muskie, even on the coldest days of the year when nothing else seems to move them. You can spend anywhere from 20 to 100 bucks on a hand crafted muskie glider, but you do not have to break the bank to catch fish. I tell folks to start with something easy to use and reasonably priced. The Hellhound from driftertackle.com is about as user friendly as they come, and it runs in 6, 8, and 10 inch sizes. I have put more muskie in the boat on the 8 inch Hellhound than any other glide bait I own, period. As the river drops toward the low 40s through the winter, that glider stays in the game long after the faster fall lures quit producing.

Collins River Fall Muskie FAQ

Putting It All Together on the Collins

Fall on the Collins is the easiest time of year to fall in love with this river. The summer heat is behind you, the muskie are on the move and feeling frisky, and you have a lure for every stretch of falling water, from a buzzbait waking the shallows in the warm early weeks to a Hellhound sliding through the cold. The trick is to let the water temperature tell you what to throw and how fast to throw it. Fish fast and high while it stays warm, then slow down and work deeper into the column as it cools. Watch the weather, keep an eye out for a good moon, and never quit looking for a fish following one in. When the river warms back up and the season turns, the spring spawn is the next big window worth planning around. For everything else this little gem in middle Tennessee has to offer, my Collins River muskie overview has you covered. Be safe out there, and wear your life jackets.

Dwayne Hickey In The Spread, Instructor