Lure Patterning by Pete Maina

There are big advantages to multiple anglers. After decades of guiding, generally a couple anglers at a time, every day, you’d think I’d like to spend a day or two just fishing alone. And I do, if it’s relaxing bobber-watching for a higher density species, but if I’m even halfway serious about muskie-catching, I can’t stand fishing alone – simply because it’s utterly inefficient. When you are talking about a low density critter like a muskie, or trophy northern pike, some “time” needs to be put in for a lure to be truly tested. While weather, time of year, previous patterns and hunches may dictate what is more likely to work, every day is actually a test of you most efficiently finding out what the fish are in the mood for; not what you think they should be in the mood for. Never, ever, start a day with two or more anglers using the same presentation. It just doesn’t make a lick of sense, especially when we’re talking artificial lure use for esox species.

Regardless of previous experiences and/or yesterday’s successes, each day is a new day, and preferred lure patterns may very likely have changed. So, each angler starts the day with something different. The lure perceived to be (based on conditions) the most likely and most efficient (water coverage) should be first in line (front of boat) and prioritized as such. If the first choices don’t work, others are tried … the goal is to eventually have two anglers using similar presentations (fish’s preferred lure pattern found), but a day should never start that way. Never assume anything in fishing stays consistent.
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