OutdoorsFIRST Media
Published February 4, 2010

Slamr: MuskieFIRST Welcomes Steve Worrall as the first chat guest of the Winter 2010!  Thanks for starting it off again, Steve!
 
sworrall: Glad to be here, thanks, Slamr
 
Slamr: I believe Steve is ready with some questions, fire away!

sworrall: Yes I am.....

	A long time ago, Pelican Lake

Slamr: Steve, can you tell us a little history on MuskieFIRST?
 
sworrall: Sure

esoxaddict: Steve, do you see Wisconsin ever "coming around" in a major way in terms of muskie management strategies?
 
sworrall: Zach and I were working for the 'other' walleye site
 

 sworrall: we became a little disillusioned, and decided to apply Zach's considerable talent to what is now OutdoorsFIRST Media

sworrall: MuskieFIRST opened in early July, 2001 It's grown a bit since then, and we've added WalleyeFIRST, IcefishingFIRST, BassFIRST, WhitetailsFIRST, and more. OFM is now a full time, fully staffed media company.

TJ: Steve, you started guiding Pelican in the 70's, what's the biggest change to how you fish Pelican now?

sworrall: TJ, shallower...and deeper
 
sworrall: ea, yes, we have already

sworrall: if the management team was able to do what they want...
 
sworrall: the CC sort of gets in the way
 
sworrall: as is evident with the Pelican Lake 50" limit question this April

welldriller: What's the deal with them trying to lift the 50" limit on pelican?

sworrall: special interests, in a nutshell

welldriller: Lake association?

sworrall: people who don't like restrictions

sworrall: no, not the Association, actually

esoxaddict: two steps forward one step back...

sworrall: they are NOT against the limit
 
sworrall: TJ, Pelican has matured again

	Kevin Worrall Memorial Tournament, Pelican Lake

sworrall: after years of excessive stocking

sworrall: it's balancing out again

Almost-B-Good: Steve, you've been musky fishing for quite a while.  Have you learned anything  lately that you wish you'd have known many years ago?
 
sworrall: No stocking for another decade or so

sworrall: ABG, yes, several things

sworrall: most important, enjoy the sport, every day, don't ever forget it's supposed to be fun

sworrall: next, I have worked on the 'shallow bite' allot recently

sworrall: and have done...pretty well

sworrall: TJ, changed from a decade ago, yes. back to near what I first found there in '72

sworrall: the numbers of fish are way down

sworrall: quality way up, I think...Norm?

Almost-B-Good: Is your shallow bite applicable to most waters or is it specific to a few lakes?

nwild: size for sure, numbers....nah

JalapenoCheddarBurger: Other than the X-190, what does Tuffy have up their sleeve for this 2010?

sworrall: I see more mid to upper 40's than in a long time
 
welldriller: I've never fished pelican but being that it's 30 miles south of where I live I would like to give it a shot. Any suggestions for someone that's never been out there?

sworrall: 2010 for Tuffy, a new 21' model

JalapenoCheddarBurger: Will the 21 footer take a 300 HP rating?
 
esoxaddict: Steve, what's the biggest obstacle in your opinion to getting higher size limits passed ?

sworrall: yes,

sworrall: the biggest obstacle...anglers who do not understand and resorts

sworrall: it's an issue of education, and that's all
 
Bubbatn: resorts?

sworrall: yes

sworrall: some resorts feel he 34" limit brings in anglers
 
sworrall: they haven't checked with Canada and MN
 
welldriller: That's what we heard at the spring hearing in Sayner to. The resort owners were there in force.
 
sworrall: another problem is one can make ALLOT of noise

sworrall: and get the CC's attention with very few folks trying

esoxaddict: what can the average angler do to educate without coming off as a know-it-all?
 
sworrall: it's tough to do anything at all, ea, because we as muskie anglers are already considered elitists, so best to show them cold hard facts, keep opinion out of it

esoxaddict: so we're our own worst enemy?
 
welldriller: Are we doing this ever Thursday night?

sworrall: yes we are; to both questions

sworrall: not everyone values big fish like most of us do
 
fishwizard: Steve, has Muskiefirst increased the amount of time you get on the water or reduced it?

Bubbatn: similar question to exoxaddicts, but what is the best way to explain your thoughts of CPR to a "keep what you catch" type person? if they approach you...?
 
wkeegobbler: Hi Steve...Just wanted to say thanks for the help on fishing the Goon this past summer.  Your marked spots were great and the Hog Pen lived up to its name!

sworrall: reduced it during the summer, increased it during the winter
 
Almost-B-Good: Steve,  how long ago did you get your biggest musky, and have you seen any bigger ones since then?
 
sworrall: so I'd gather facts, and offer them to those we can approach reasonably

sworrall: don't yell at folks, one always loses that way
 
Slamr: can you describe some of the gear you use for the super shallow approach you have been using lately?
 
sworrall: best an even handed, straight forward approach, IMO
 
sworrall: Sure, Slamr

sworrall: I'm fishing allot of water in the 2' to 4' range these days
 
sworrall: and using appropriate lures

sworrall: Spinnerbaits, willowleaf in the real slop, and not 'huge' either
 
welldriller: are you using bomb casts to keep from spooking super-shallow fish?

sworrall: Okuma MH 7' rod, don't need a big stick for that

Top_H2o: The Pelican Lake Resort Asstn. Needs to talk to some of the Lake Vermilion Resort  members and get a clue of what a trophy muskie lake can do for their  business .

sworrall: and a 6'10" Tooth Tamer stick for Weagles, great slop shallow water topwater

fishwizard: Is this a lake specific tactic, or are you trying this everywhere you fish?

sworrall: Pelican Lake assn supports the limit, it's special interests in this case
 
sworrall: everywhere I fish, actually

sworrall: even the clear lakes, some

sworrall: but I love flowages and dark water

Almost-B-Good: Steve, once again, how long ago did you get your biggest musky, and have you seen any bigger ones since then?

JalapenoCheddarBurger: Are you basicly fishig "Goon" style then,  I know you liked to fish shallow up there?

wkeegobbler: Have you noticed any difference in the clarity to success ratio?

esoxaddict: special intersts? Like...

sworrall: and yes, long casts quite often, more importantly is the boat position

Brad: Moen Chain style.

sworrall: some Muskie anglers, ea, believe it or not

sworrall: exactly, Brad

sworrall: it's amazing where one finds good muskies, they can and do live in 2' if cover and food are there
 
fishwizard: How has the quantity of "new" water you fish changed over the past few years?
 
sworrall: it's increaded steadily
 
sworrall: CPR, I believe
 
sworrall: the fishing now is WAY better than it was in the 70's
 
esoxaddict: clear lakes too?  Seen it on the coffee colored lakes a lot, but not in clear
 water.  Not during the day anyway...

sworrall: clarity to success, no

sworrall: just time of day, and selection of cover fished

wkeegobbler: shallow works on leech as long as there is wind

sworrall: like that, yes

sworrall: we catch muskies on Leech inside the 2' line...

wkeegobbler: agreed

sworrall: but we are fishing in 5'

wkeegobbler: right on the rocks

welldriller: I've seen very shallow work extremely well after a couple of days of strong wind in the early fall.
 
Bubbatn: Steve, Have you(or are you) ever been involved in any musky clubs? outside of maybe Muskies Inc?
 
sworrall: my son figured that one out, opening into the man made boat docking areas

sworrall: in July to Sept, it can be very very good

sworrall: muskie clubs...a few

sworrall: MI is a constant

sworrall: Madison Chapter right now, I believe

Bubbatn: if you were running a small-time musky club, what would you feel the greatest obsticle would be?
 
sworrall: My largest muskie, ABG, was in 1995

Bubbatn: small-time meaning personally ran...not like MI

sworrall: another pretty much the same length in 1996, but skinnier

sworrall: none around here, B

sworrall: I've seen fish that size since, and one larger during a MuskieFIRST outing on the goon

Slamr: was that the outing when it was so hot 4 members lit on fire during the week?

sworrall: greaest obstacle is getting folks to actually do anything

TJ: wasn't that the outing you fell in the water slamr?

Slamr: oy

sworrall: anyone can join and probably will, no one wants to work on the club duties except the same folks..again and again

jdsplasher: Steve; the lakes in the south have really become overrun W/ zebra muscles, and the lakes are becoming gin clear. Are the lakes in Northern Wis becoming overrun W/ zebra muscles?

sworrall: no, not yet, j

wkeegobbler: Any other lakes having trouble like Leech with Rusty crayfish and cormorants?

sworrall: but water quality is better with new sewers, etc
 
Slamr: How much of a threat are invasives in N.WI and what steps should anglers take?
 
sworrall: we have rustys

sworrall: lots of them
 
sworrall: we've found they cycle
 
wkeegobbler: Has that impacted weeds?

sworrall: and smallmouth bass DO eat them

welldriller: You can thank me for that Steve I put in septics in Vilas and Oneida county.
 
sworrall: yessir!

Top_H2o: Steve, It sounds like a very good school for learning "Muskies" in Madison
this Spring,,, Hope to make it down there
 
esoxaddict: curly leaf pondweed on "my" lake, too.  welldriller, you and I need to talk
 
sworrall: Slamr, yes it was
 
sworrall: the Madison Muskie School is top shelf, great folks in that club

esoxaddict: not here

sworrall: except lambeau, of course...:)

sworrall: if invasives enter a lake or river, the fishing changes, it doesn't get 'worse' in most cases

sworrall: one just has to adapt

esoxaddict: has the presence of rusties helped in any way, like smallmouth populations, for example?
 
sworrall: not really, ea

lambeau: I bring down the curve.
 
sworrall: just changed the landscape

wkeegobbler: Seems like the cold weather has hurt my fishing the most

wkeegobbler: fishin has been slow
 
sworrall: cold weather can do that, right, Jerome?

esoxaddict: We got rusties in Presque Isle too.  Still a great lake, but weeds?   Wow.
 
sworrall: they eat great, ea

sworrall: ever try a crab boil?

welldriller: yes
 
sworrall: good stuff

Slamr: Steve, since you are nearly 300 years old, what advances in muskie gear or techniques that have changed the sport in the last 25 years?

welldriller: used to do it in St, Germain with the ones out of plum. Delicious.

esoxaddict: if it swims in WI, I've probably eaten it!

sworrall: in the last 25, reels and rods have come lightyears

fishwizard: Steve, after decades of fishing muskies how does your body hold up to week on the water?

Fwizard, not too bad, actually. It's in my blood, and I can keep up even with the young guys

sworrall: boats and motors have gone from an average of 50 HP to 150

sworrall: but the biggest advancements have been in electronics

sworrall: techniques have followed suit

welldriller: Steve have you used the side imaging stuff by HB at all?

sworrall: the learning curve is MUCH shorter now, no on the side imaging

Top_H2o: It sounds like the Bass Masters Classic is a good gig for you guys,......Your going to have a busy yr. aren't ya.

Jim_Muskie: Steve,  I am new to the Muskie game. Out here in Utah chasing the tigers (well waiting for the ice to melt). In your experience have you noticed anything that would dictate use smaller lures?

wkeegobbler: I think what we are doing tonight helps a LOT too.  Internet has helped many an angler!

sworrall: The Classic will be a hoot, I'm staying here, TJ and Thomas Allen, our all new OFM radio Host, are attending

sworrall: internet has...for sure

sworrall: Tiger dictate smaller lures

Almost-B-Good: Steve, have you noticed as much of a correlation between lake size and fish size here in Wis. as there seems to be in Canada?

sworrall: Tigers like stuff designed for big bass...
 
sworrall: and whatever Sorno is using
 
jdsplasher: How often do you fish Pelican anymore?  What time of the year do you target that water now?  Baits??
 
sworrall: Lake size and big fish, not really

Jim_Muskie: Creatures for tigers?

sworrall: I have several little gems I fish that can and do put out fish well over 50"
 
sworrall: one is less than a 5 minute drive from my door

Top_H2o: sorno uses doughballs

sworrall: Creatures are tiger magnets

sworrall: I heard that, H2

sworrall: some byproduct of making beer, I understand...
 
sworrall: Pelican whenever I can, all year

sworrall: I love that water, but just don't have the time I used to have
 
wkeegobbler: I noticed on the goon that some of the shores got REALLY muddy in the wind...do you suggest still fishing those or avoiding those?
 
Muskyhunter24: Sworral, what brand hook are you using when your fishing with big creatures?

sworrall: I avoid those, or fish the mudline

sworrall: THAT works, but is disconcerting

Bubbatn: when targeting true musky, when do you pull out the creature baits?

sworrall: mustad

esoxaddict: creature/jig fishing doesn't seem to have caught many people's eye.   Can you talk a bit about when you choose a jog/creature and why?

Muskyhunter24: Shhh.. creatures dont work at all...

sworrall: whenever the fish are on the breaks, outside edge or rock breaks, or out
suspended over 18 or more

sworrall: Creatures break tradition

sworrall: JD can tell you how hard it is to convince folks they work

sworrall: a spinning rod for muskies? NOOOOOoooo

sworrall: the end is near...

esoxaddict: and look what holding on to tradition has done for N WI so far...
 
sworrall: 17# line?

sworrall: good point ea

jdsplasher: Steve; What do you think of the recent jig hooks,( swimmer hooks) used in jig molds today? Like the cobra jig?

sworrall: jigs work and work well all year under all conditions except...wood

sworrall: Cobra is a great jig, I use those

Bubbatn: except wood?

sworrall: I still like the diamond head my Dad designed in the early 60's best
 
pepin: Why not in wood?

sworrall: wood steals jigs

esoxaddict: cobras right out of the package or do you modify
 
sworrall: I don't like rigging a creature with the hook buried in the body, and don't care for the wire or Mylar guards, cost me fish

sworrall: right out of the box, ea
 
JCrocker: Sworrall do you use pounders or curley sues? if so what rod do u use for them?

sworrall: but I use the Fliptail Creature on those
 
sworrall: or a real reaper, 5"

sworrall: great combo
 
sworrall: any lure that weighs more than my dinner I let Slamr or TJ or one of those guys throw
 
jdsplasher: The jig hook has a Kahle design. Do you think the hook up of fish is better or worse ?

sworrall: jd, neither, seems to be OK

welldriller: do you jig them back or swim them or what?

sworrall: I like to finesse 'em

sworrall: cast out the creature

sworrall: watch the line

. sworrall: when it goes slack, reel FAST two to three times

sworrall: watch the line , when it goes slack, IMMEDIATELY

sworrall: repeat

welldriller: how heavy of a jig?

sworrall: if a fish follows, open the bail, let the jig fall-1/4 to 1 ounce

sworrall: 'click!'

pepin: Do you fish like this in the fall?

sworrall: set the hook

sworrall: yes
 
esoxaddict: sounds like a good way to target neutral or inactive fish?
 
sworrall: great in cold weather, easy on the hands

welldriller: I was thinking the same thing

sworrall: good way to get any fish, but a slow way to cover water

Almost-B-Good: Steve, what kind of leaders do you use and for what bait types?

sworrall: fish where the fish are, solves that issue

welldriller: if it were only that simple

Jim_Muskie: Steve,  what creature baits should I look into for tigers? Any favorites?

esoxaddict: so if you have a big fish sighted....
 
sworrall: creatures, 60# seven strand

sworrall: Reapers, J

lambeau: what boat will you be running around in this year, Steve? why that model?
 
sworrall: Gliders, .050 wire

jdsplasher: Jim; I always like Fandango's for tigers.

sworrall: topwater, I've been messing with the flouro

sworrall: works great

 sworrall: I'll be running the hottest Tuffy out there, L
sworrall: a 1700 with a 90

JalapenoCheddarBurger: gotta love the 1700's .
.
JalapenoCheddarBurger: nothin wrong with a 1700

JalapenoCheddarBurger: I am a little biased though

badgerpat1: Are you going back to a tiller?

sworrall: but a great no nonsense rig, and I'm fishing ALLOT of little water, and some big, so I need a V

welldriller: I like lambeau's old boat. Probably the nicest x-190 I've ever seen

esoxaddict: 1700 is plenty of boat for Vilas and Oneida

Slamr: last questions for Steve tonight?

sworrall: no tiller, already have a tiller here at home
 
sworrall: massive 40 HP merc

sworrall: love that little rig, and have put a few Muskies in her
 
sworrall: wow, an hour is almost up?

sworrall: I just want to say something here...
Thanks to each and every one of you for using MuskieFIRST as a place to visit, it's what the place is all about...you

wkeegobbler: Thanks for sharing a small fraction of your wisdom Steve....us peons really enjoyed it!

wkeegobbler: Favorite goon bait

sworrall: Spinnerbait

Jim_Muskie: Thank You

Slamr: MuskieFIRST Thanks Steve Worrall for the great chat tonight!  Some great information shared and some great folks in house!




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