Photo by Pete Maina

Buckeye State muskie anglers know too well the effects that August heat can have on an angler. The heat has much the same effect on the muskies, driving them into deeper, cooler water and making them less eager to follow a moving lure. There are, however, still good opportunities to catch these fish in August on Ohio's top-rated muskie lakes. The keys to success lie in cultivating patience and fishing in the right places at the right times.

Over the past several decades, with help from various clubs and organizations such as the Ohio Huskie Muskie Club, the Buckeye State has positioned itself on the national map as one of the best places to pursue and catch trophy muskies. This title, however, has not come easy.

"We employ a strategic stocking program on several lakes scattered about the state," said Ed Lewis, and Ohio Division of Wildlife District Two fisheries biologist and muskie data recorder. "We have selected a handful of lakes around the state in which we stock muskies every year at a rate of one fish per surface-acre. The fish we stock are all approximately 9 inches long. Recent research has shown that the fish stocked at this length, opposed to the previous 4- to 6-inch range, have a much better chance of survival. This and other new adaptations in our stocking program are certainly in part responsible for the phenomenal fishery we enjoy today."

The ODOW asks that Ohio anglers record their muskie catches. To participate, anglers who catch a muskie are asked to carefully remove four to five scales from the fish and place them in an envelope provided by the ODOW. These envelopes may be found at most marinas on lakes where muskies are prevalent. No postage is necessary. All fishermen need to do is fill out the information on the front of the envelope, put the scales inside and drop it in the mailbox.

"It is imperative that anglers take part in this practice," noted Lewis. "We use the information we obtain from anglers' envelopes to help write the framework for our management programs. In addition, this data allows us to analyze how our past efforts have succeeded."

The Ohio Huskie Muskie Club has played a large role in getting anglers to cooperate with this practice. Anglers may become a member of the Ohio Huskie Muskie Club by mailing in four to five scales from a muskie caught in Ohio waters that is 42 inches or longer. Anglers are given honorable mention for catching a muskie between 30 and 42 inches. "We ask, however, that anglers send scales from fish of any size fish," said Lewis.

Elmer Heyob, the ODOW's District One fisheries biologist and an expert muskie fisherman of many years' experience, asserted that there is little angler traffic on muskie waters in August, and advised fishermen to target the early-morning or late-evening hours, as those who do this are, in his view, likely to have the whole lake to themselves.

Both Lewis and Heyob stress the importance of properly fighting and handling fish, especially in August. Almost all muskies caught in Ohio are released -- but merely throwing a fish back into the water does not ensure its survival.

Muskies should not be played to exhaustion, but should instead be brought to the boat or net as quickly as possible. Do not remove the fish from the water. If you decide to bring the muskie into the boat for a photograph, remove the hooks first and take the photograph quickly. Only touch the fish only after wetting your hands, and do not allow a muskie's body to touch any foreign surfaces such as the floor of the boat. August water temperatures are high and can threaten the survival of dried-out, injured or exhausted fish.