Musky Shop Northwoods Fishing Report: Late September 2026

Here is what you need to know about the current bite, water conditions, and the weather patterns driving the action.

Right now, the overarching theme across the Northwoods is that the muskies are shallow. Really shallow.

Captain Matt Ray of Minocqua Musky and Al Frost of Rod Bending Guide Service both report that fish are burying themselves in shallow cabbage—often in less than 5 to 6 feet of water. If you can find green weeds with an algae bloom, you are in the right neighborhood.

Because the fish are holding tight to these shallow inside and outside weed edges, the preferred tactic is burning bucktails and ripping topwater baits right over the tops of the cabbage. Meteorologist and avid musky angler Chase Ropeneak (Channel 12, Rhinelander) noted that he recently moved a near 50-inch fish by aggressively burning blades. When the fish are active, they are absolutely responding to speed.

Guide Tip: If you are dealing with the lingering high-pressure East wind we've seen recently, Al Frost recommends finding moving water. The bite on the river systems and areas with current isn't negatively impacted by those tricky East/Northeast winds nearly as much as the smaller 400-acre stagnant lakes.

We are knocking on the door of prime sucker season, and the fish are definitely taking notice. While the water temperatures have been hovering in the mid-to-low 60s (and dipping into the upper 50s on shallow lakes after cool nights), running a sucker off the side of the boat while you cast is becoming mandatory.

Fred Palermo of Off the Hook Guide Service has been running two suckers on almost every trip. This dual-threat approach recently yielded a beautiful 40-inch Tiger Musky for a young client catching his very first musky. Al Frost also proved the effectiveness of this setup, boating a heavy 47-incher on a sucker hung over the side while casting the shallow flats. Even Chase Ropeneak reported having a half-dozen muskies come up to inspect his live bait during a tough high-pressure window, proving that the big girls are definitely getting hungry for meat.

If you are looking to mix it up, Fred Palermo reports that the multi-species bite is shifting as the water cools. He’s finding crappies in about 9 feet of water in the weeds, as well as on rock cribs. Make sure you bring minnows, as the fish are actively transitioning to a minnow bite. For walleyes, target the 12 to 13-foot range using live minnows and plastics.

Water levels are something to be aware of right now. We've officially moved into an extreme drought classification for the area. Flowages are particularly affected; the Rainbow and Willow Flowages are currently sitting about 8.5 to 9 feet low. You can still fish them, but navigate with extreme caution.

On the weather front, we got a deep dive from Channel 12's Chase Ropeneak. While we've seen a few frosty mornings dipping down to 32 degrees, Chase predicts that a strong El Niño pattern is setting up. This means we can likely expect above-average, warmer, and drier conditions through October and into the winter. The equatorial Pacific is already breaking record high water temps, which translates to a delayed hard freeze for us up here. For hardcore musky anglers, this could mean an extended open-water season!

As you head out to brave the elements, remember to check your gear. Chase recently had a heartbreak at the boat when a giant musky shook off because his old, oversized net bag tangled the bucktail. He immediately came into the Musky Shop for a premium, heavy-duty replacement bag. Don't let a gear failure cost you the fish of a lifetime!

Stop by the Musky Shop this weekend to grab your suckers, upgrade your net, and get the latest scoop on the water. Good luck, and tight lines!