How to Catch TIGER Muskies! | Hybrids Become AGGRESSIVE in East Winds! S3.E4

When the winds blow out of the northeast TIGER MUSKIES bite like a BEAST! Although this statement certainly gets thrown around casually by musky anglers during tough east-wind conditions, the old saying actually holds true for me more often that I ever imagined!
Think about! What species of fish do you catch the most while musky fishing under the worst conditions??? Your answer is likely the northern pike! When regular muskies are inactive and seem to have disappeared from your favorite lake, northern pike swarm at your larger size presentations by the dozens!
Tiger muskies are a hybrid species resulting from a female northern pike and a male musky reproducing together and interestingly, tiger (hybrid) muskies behave much more like northern pike than regular muskies. Scientific evidence largely supports the theory that tigers do not reproduce and this, combined with their higher metabolism (compared to natural muskies) inherited from their pike mother, creates the ultimate eating machine!
My on-the-water experience has shown big tigers to be the most active under super challenging conditions, so much so, that I have actually begun to focus on lakes carrying a higher population of tigers on less than idea days. The keys to my success on these challenging days are to downsize my presentations, throw a crankbait to probe the deeper edge of structure and to time the approach on my best spots with the moon phases.
Tackle and Equipment:
For more information about the 5“ straight model ShallowRaider and many other crankbaits that Joe Bucher Outdoors offers, follow this link:
www.joebucherou...
For fishing the baby ShallowRaider I like to use braided line and the best line for fishing crankbaits in shallow cover is Joe Bucher Outdoors’ Beast Braid. In this video am throwing 65-pound test in tannic brown cover. For more information click this link:
www.joebucherou...
The ultimate rod for throwing small to medium sized musky jerkbaits like the ShallowRaider is St. Croix’s new “Musky Downsizer” series Legend Tournament Rod (LMD710MF). The medium power provides all the power you need to set the hook on a trophy fish but also just the right amount of finesse to cast these light flat-bodied lures into the wind. To see the complete selection of Legend Tournament musky rods follow this link:
stcroixrods.co...
Music in this video is brought to you by the artist Siarate:
/ siarate
Track: / twothirty
Thumbnail artwork: Mike Richardson
For more information about Chas Martin’s musky fishing guide service please visit www.muskymastery.com

[@scottanthonymiller]

When the wind is from the East, the Tigers bite like a Beast. Great shot of the hit.

[@MuskyMastery]

Scott, thanks for the comment dude! It really is true! I’m amazed at how tigers love to eat in east winds!

[@eAchieveHardt]

Beautiful huge tiger Don't see many tigers that big in WI Very nice video Nice lesson for what to do when the electronics go down

[@MuskyMastery]

Dave, thanks so much dude! All tigers are cool no matter where you find them! I feel like they are even more rare a catch on LOTW than in Wisconsin based on what I’ve seen

[@thetalentedmr.richie1725]

Dave both world record tiger muskies come from LAC VIEUX DESERT. That's a Wisconsin lake. Lol

[@jameswillis1742]

Thats a beautiful fish...I love the tiger muskie

[@MuskyMastery]

Thank you dude!

[@AntVisualz]

Love the new video🐟💯

[@MuskyMastery]

Thanks YG! Dude!

[@scottthayer3335]

Great video. My dad and I have both got a tiger in just this last week 4 days apart. I got mine 50 yards from where he got his. Fun stuff.

[@MuskyMastery]

Scott, thanks for the watch and comment dude!! That is awesome to hear about your and your Dad's tigers! They are such a rare catch in the muskie world in my area of Wisconsin - such a gorgeous fish!

[@danielhernandez6415]

Great video

[@MuskyMastery]

Thanks Danny! More videos like this coming!

[@tnjjbigclutch9434]

That’s a nice tiger

[@MuskyMastery]

Josh thanks dude!

[@jdean1851]

Unicorn's are real! Nice Tiger!

[@MuskyMastery]

Thanks JD! Really appreciate it!

[@MsPrincesspaulina]

Pretty fish.

[@MuskyMastery]

A very gorgeous tiger! Unique markings. Thanks as always for the watch and comment! I hope you are enjoying season 3!

[@kylecasetta4091]

20 plus years chasing muskies, still am tigerless. Good friend has gotten 4 tigers between 45 and 48 in minaqua area. Some day I'll catch one seems every day can fish has been a east wind this year.

[@MuskyMastery]

Kyle, you’ll definitely run into one soon dude! Some years we seem to catch a lot and others, not! One thing for sure that you can do is to call your local DNR fisheries biologist and ask what lakes have the greatest populations of tigers - or search the web. Could tip you off to a hot tiger lake!

[@mitchellhelms7238]

I want to go try my luck at catching one of those

[@josiahmiles4653]

Idk if it’s just Me but I Think Tiger Muskie have more teeth then the normal Muskie and pike

[@MuskyMastery]

They might! haha I will do a count next time :)

[@BradleyJH]

Hi Chas. Great video. I don’t fish but I watch these when at night to relax. This video made me want to get a tiger musky. How long would it take a beginner to catch a tiger musk?

[@MuskyMastery]

Brad thanks so much man! Really appreciate the watch and comment and hope you’re enjoying season 3! Yes, tiger muskies are awesome - very much because they are so rare and look gorgeous! It would likely take you about the same time to catch a tiger as a regular musky but the thing is... there are just so few of them found in lakes when they are produced naturally. There are some lakes in Wisconsin that produce them more often than other lakes - and that is likely because of shared and few spawning areas. Overlap between species... more tigers! Thanks and keep the questions coming!

[@sgangling]

Awesome stuff. I really struggled in the warm water periods this year because I think I was fishing too shallow against the shorelines. Do you find that fish suspend in deep water when its in the mid to upper 70s? Do you pull the plug when temps hit 80? Sorry for all the questions!

[@MuskyMastery]

Sam, thanks as always for the watch and comment! I’m really glad you like the new video dude! First off, I LOVE the questions and keep them coming! Lots to discuss here... and honestly it really varies a lot! Yes, muskies certainly suspend OVER deep water once water begins warming and stratifying, but they will begin suspending right after ice out and continue throughout the entire season from what I’ve seen. They rarely hold for long periods of time below the thermocline if one is present and that is usually putting them around 22-25 feet deep. I find fish very shallow during warm water late summer periods as well as finding them holding on deeper rock structure washout zones in 10-16 feet deep. Bottom line, it is a function of endless testing and trial and error. Fish different types of structure until you find them and actually, although this video suggested otherwise, I rely on my electronics to locate muskies and baitfish - which is key! As a guide that depends on making a living and paying the bills by musky fishing I do not stop fishing when the temps creep around 80 degrees. They rarely stay there for long where I fish in WI and by fighting fish quickly, and cutting hooks without question I have seen little issues with mortality. Hope this helps - more questions welcome!

[@sgangling]

@@MuskyMastery Great stuff! Thanks for the reply.

[@117theone]

Do they hunt similarly as a pike? I’m pretty new to Northern fishing and I’d like to hook a Muskie before I have to go back down south.

[@MuskyMastery]

Yes, they can be similar to pike. They bite more consistently during high pressure systems interestingly.

[@mikeyz8775]

What size line? What kind of line? Are they good eats?

[@goaatveing]

Hate when people don’t share the size. Also they are not that rare, I catch about one or two every year 32-40” on the Chippewa flowage. Unfortunately I see about 3-5 dead every year as well, typically after the spawn. they are very beautiful fish though!

[@MuskyMastery]

We catch around 100 muskies per year and average 2 to 5 tigers. That around 5% of our annual catch in a season. Does that sound rare compared to catching a true muskie?

[@jameswillis1742]

Do you have a video on the topic of how to properly handle the fish once you have the fish in the net? How to handle the fish if you don't have a net. Id like to know where to grab, hook removal, whatever is least stressful to the fish, while avoiding getting bit? I've never fished for muskies but im tired of bass and blue gills and I wanna do it

[@MuskyMastery]

James, I will be working on a video of this nature during the 2021 season! I would recommend getting a net if you are planning to focus on muskies because it allows you to take the hooks out / cut hooks while the fish is still in the water - much lower chances of mortality when you do it this way.

[@jameswillis1742]

@@MuskyMastery sweet, thanks : )