May 16, 2025: The Forward Facing Sonar Flap

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.

With a cold front blowing into the northwoods, the muskies stopped chasing bucktails for a couple days and demanded stop-and-go baits. Steve reports on the University of Esox Musky School held last weekend and talks about what worked for the anglers in the school who boated a true bruiser of a musky.

Bucktails have been producing muskies for Steve’s boat, and he reports which ones have been working for him as well as the best retrieve style. In addition, he says goodbye to a legendary northwoods guide.

The muskies were biting on Wisconsin's northern zone musky opener and Steve and his friends boated a bunch — precisely how he predicted they would in his report last week. In this episode, Steve reveals everything that worked.

In this week's episode, Steve discusses and explains his lake choice, preferred locations, and the lures he will fish during the northern Wisconsin musky opener.

Forward facing sonar, also known as live sonar, is a hot-button topic in the musky fishing world. In this episode, Steve reports on the debate, how the issue led to the end of one longtime musky fundraiser tournament, and how the organizers of other tournaments have reacted.

Steve and his friend struggled to find walleyes on Opening Day but then put together a pattern that allowed them to catch their limit. Steve explains what worked for them, and discusses a completely different pattern that worked for Rhinelander guide Andy Hendrickson. Following that, Steve discusses two different patterns that produced crappies.

In his first fishing report for the 2025 season, Steve provides updates on local conditions and then explains how he and northwoods guide Rob Manthei plan to fish on Opening Day.

Steve begins with a live report after a client catches four northwoods muskies in a single day. Then he reports on the Hodag Musky Challenge and welcomes wounded vets to the Wounded Warriors In Action Eagle River Musky Challunge.