Steve Heiting's Northwoods Musky Report

With water temperatures warming in the Northwoods, Steve outlines the best methods for releasing muskies safely. But first he discusses current conditions as well as lures that have produced musky action.

In this week's report, Steve informally polled several musky guides and anglers and found that all are experiencing short feeding windows this year. Steve then discusses what feeding windows are and how to best make the most of them when they occur.

Water temperatures in northwoods lakes have fallen, and Steve discusses the lures and locational patterns that have been most effective. He reports on the results of a big weekend tournament and lists a variety of musky fishing events in the next few weeks.

Musky action is getting hot right now in weeds as well as deep water for suspended fish, and Steve reports on what's been working. He also discusses what happened during the University of Esox Musky School held in St. Germain, and lists upcoming musky events in the northwoods.

The big warmup has water temps climbing, yet muskies are still a little behind with some still paired up and spawning. Steve reports on the conditions and lures that are working, and discusses a couple big musky events coming up in the next few weeks.

The traditional musky season opener was Memorial Day weekend, and Steve and two friends enjoyed terrific musky action. Steve reveals the lures and patterns that paid off.

While fishing for walleyes and smallmouth bass, Steve and his son stumbled into a small musky frenzy and reports on what they caught. Then, he describes how to easily find post-spawn muskies.

In this week's report, Steve lists his top five musky baits for early season fishing, and adds a couple honorable mentions that aren't well known to the masses. He also provides an update on state funding for the DNR's musky stocking efforts.

Steve and his son Brant enjoyed a great 2026 walleye opener, and Steve explains how they caught their fish. Then, he provides updates about the movement to restore the Memorial Day Musky Opener in northern Wisconsin, and calls out the Wisconsin legislature for hampering musky stocking efforts.

In his first Northwoods Musky Report for the season, Steve discusses local conditions as the Wisconsin fishing opener approaches. Since walleyes will be the main focus for most anglers on the opener, Steve provides tips from two of the best northwoods walleye guides. Musky fishing season will also be open in the northwoods on Saturday thanks to a rule change, and Steve explains why he and other gu...

Heavy rain and east winds made fishing a little uncomfortable, but Steve and his guests enjoyed five days in a row with muskies in the boat. One angler visiting from Ohio had a hot hand, and Steve reveals how he caught his fish. Finally, Steve previews the WWIA Eagle River Chal-Lunge, as well as other tournaments coming up.

This week, Steve opens with a live report after his son-in-law, Collin Johnson, caught his first musky during a northwoods visit. Steve then explains the fish’s location and the lure selection that got it to bite. Next, he discusses current conditions, and ends by listing a number of big musky events that are coming in the next two weeks.

The calendar says it’s still summer, but Mother Nature ushered in fall in a hurry with a massive cold front. But the muskies didn’t care and the results were great. In this report, Steve discusses what worked and what didn’t, and explains how he and a buddy enjoyed one of the most intense feeding windows he’s ever seen.

Musky action is occurring during short feeding windows, and in this week’s report Steve discusses ways to take full advantage of them when they happen. He also discusses current conditions and what’s happening on northwoods lakes.

Cool overnight temperatures have sent water temps downward, and it’s the start of Steve’s favorite time for fishing muskies. He describes various patterns that will work in coming weeks, and describes how a client caught a memorable fish.

One of the surest signs of the coming of fall is when muskies move into shoreline weedbeds, and this was very evident during the National Championship Musky Open in Eagle River. As tournament MC, Steve interviews the top anglers on stage. In this week’s report, he discusses their winning patterns.

It’s the week of the National Championship Musky Open in Eagle River, and Steve previews the conditions tournament anglers will see. He also discusses how money raised by the Musky Clubs Alliance has benefited Wisconsin’s musky fishery. Finally, he explains how anglers can make the most of boatside musky opportunities.

Nighttime air temperatures in the 40s lowered water temps in northwoods lakes. In this report, Steve discusses the types of lakes he fished and why, and reveals what lures and techniques produced a bunch of muskies, including his largest Wisconsin fish so far for the 2025 season.

Steve returns from a fishing trip to Ontario to find water much too warm in northern Wisconsin for musky fishing, so he rescheduled his guide clients. But his report from Canada includes important info if you’re planning to fish there soon.

As promised in a previous episode, Steve outlines the basics of night fishing for muskies. As he says, “When you get a strike at night, every musky is a 50-incher until proven otherwise. When you set the hook and the water starts flying, you’ll find out why I enjoy it so much.”

In this week’s Northwoods Musky Report, Steve discusses ways to catch muskies off deep weed edges, and then explains the effect very warm water has on muskies and their ability to survive the catch & release process. He also gives a shoutout to the Musky Clubs Alliance of Wisconsin and how its members have stepped up to help our fishery.

Summer weather is firmly upon us and muskies are following their typical patterns. In this week’s Northwoods Musky Report, Steve discusses what’s been working best and explains ways anglers can best release their fish in midsummer water temperatures.

In this week's report, Steve interviews a client from Texas who boated his first five muskies. Then, Steve discusses how the client caught his fish, reveals current patterns, and discusses an important topwater tip.

In this week's Northwoods Musky Report, Steve discusses the torrid bite that occurred for PMTT anglers on the Eagle and Three Lakes Chains; reports on St. Croix Rods' Customer Appreciation Day; and ends with the musky action report from his boat.

Steve begins this week's Northwoods Musky Report by interviewing an angler who caught his first two muskies while fishing with him. He then discusses how the cold weather of last week changed the muskies' preference to stop-and-go lures, and explains why such baits work.