Chasing muskies requires patience and stamina

I cannot recall where or when I've seen as much interest in muskie fishing as I've witnessed over the past five years.

I am nowhere near the muskie hunter of people like Spence Petros or Chris Taurosano, simply because I have muskie attention deficit disorder. That means I tire easily and give up far too soon in the hunt for Mr. and Mrs. Toothy.

Petros, by the way, used to spend an entire day standing in the boat casting lures heavy enough to pull a water skier. I'm not sure he has enough stamina left to show up the young people he takes with him on his muskie expeditions.

According to Dr. Jason Halfen, a professional angler and teaching pro, "Musky activity peaks in late summer, as warm water temperatures drive these apex predators to feed opportunistically on abundant natural forage, and to aggressively chase anglers' baits."

While Halfen acknowledges that musky devotees frequently spend a lot "to get their summer musky fix," many others are more casual anglers and still enjoy the chase. Halfen opts for modern technology to give him an edge in the chase.

In the good doctor's blog at technologicalangler.com, he suggests "picking locations on a lake with heavy weed cover and some big boulders" but cautions against making it your only "go-to spot."

He considers an underwater camera a must-use tool.

If you fish live bait, like those 12-inch to 18-inch suckers, or throw lures costing enough to become part of a monthly mortgage payment, muskie hunting is an exacting art, so to speak.

It takes a pocketful of cash, a credit card that won't explode, extreme physical stamina and enough time on the water to earn your stripes.

• Contact Mike Jackson at angler88@comcast.net, catch his radio show 7-9 a.m. Sundays on WGCO 1590-AM (live-streamed at www.1590WCGO.com) and get more content at www.mikejacksonoutdoors.com.