INDIANA — The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has announced that late fall offers the best chance for anglers to land a prized Muskie, often referred to as the “fish of 10,000 casts.”
The cooler temperatures prompt the Muskie to feed aggressively and expand their range, making them more accessible to anglers than during any other season.
DNR tracking data indicates that Muskie are currently more widespread across state waters, a key factor contributing to the heightened late-season opportunity.
Hot Spots and Tactics for Trophy Catches
The DNR recently boosted the state’s Muskie population by stocking over 22,000 Muskie across 10 bodies of water. Notable locations included:
- Brookville Lake
- Tippecanoe Lake
- Barbee Lakes
Biologists advise anglers to focus their efforts on remaining weed beds and use large lures for the best chance at a trophy-sized catch. The Muskie, known for being one of the largest fish in Indiana, is often sought for sport and their challenging nature, rather than for consumption.
Indiana’s Muskie Regulations and Best Practices
Muskellunge (Muskie) and Tiger Muskellunge fishing is open year-round in Indiana. However, anglers must strictly adhere to state regulations designed to protect this prized species:
- Daily Bag Limit: Anglers may keep 1 Muskie or Tiger Muskellunge per day.
- Minimum Size Limit: The statewide minimum size limit for Muskie is 36 inches.
- Trophy Lakes: Specific bodies of water have stricter limits to encourage larger fish. The minimum size limit for Muskie caught at Webster Lake, Backwater Lake, and Kiser Lake (all in Kosciusko County) is 44 inches.
Catch-and-Release Focus: Since Muskie are prized as a trophy fish, the vast majority of anglers practice catch-and-release.
Proper handling is crucial to increase the fish’s chance of survival after being caught:
- Use Tools: Needle-nose pliers or fishing hemostats make hook removal faster and more efficient.
- Keep Hands Wet: Always handle the fish with wet hands to avoid removing its protective mucus layer.
- Revive the Fish: When releasing a Muskie, hold it upright and fully underwater until it swims away under its own power.
The current state record Muskie, caught in 2002 at James Lake, weighed 42 pounds, 8 ounces.
