July 17, 2026: What To Do When The Water Is Hot

This week's segment begins with a live report interviewing Gunnar Johnson, who caught his first musky while fishing with Steve. The musky was caught by following the pre-turnover pattern, one that Steve tries to capitalize on every season. He then goes in depth explaining where, when and how to catch muskies with this pattern.

The National Championship Musky Open was held in Eagle River with more than 1,100 anglers participating, and Steve reports on the muskies boated and the patterns that caught them.

In this week's report, Steve details what he calls the best musky action of the season, and how and why he changed up his lure to catch the best fish of the week. He also outlines conditions ahead of the National Championship Musky Open in Eagle River, the biggest musky tournament in the world.

In this week's report, Steve discusses changes in Wisconsin's musky stocking plans for the current year and urges you to help the future by fishing the National Championship Musky Open.

Rain and cooler days have brought water temps to a more comfortable range for northwoods muskies. Steve reveals where the muskies are currently holding and goes in depth to explain the patterns that have produced up to five muskies a day for he and his guests this week. He wraps up the report with the details of upcoming northwoods musky events.

In this week's report Steve discusses what's going on in northern Wisconsin, and adds detailed discussion of his recent trip to Lake of the Woods.

The extreme water temps of the past few weeks are easing, and in this week's Northwoods Musky Report Steve discusses ways to catch muskies as conditions improve. Also, Steve outlines patterns that typically work in Canada at this time and begins previewing the National Championship Musky Open.

Water temperatures were well into the 80s on northwoods lakes, and for the first time since he started producing his weekly musky reports Steve did not fish for muskies. Instead, he discusses what he does when water temps get too warm, and explains how his customers caught a lot of largemouth and smallmouth bass from northwoods lakes.

In this week's report, Steve celebrates the biggest musky of the season so far for one of his clients, and discusses the little things that seemed to matter for that and other muskies that were caught and released from his boat. He also discusses the rising water temps and suggests what to do if you encounter them this week.

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.