172 LAKE AND STREAM GAME FISHING 



colder bracing water, surely endows them with more 

 energy than during the warmer months and assures 

 the " Muskyteer " of a game antagonist during 

 September and October. The fact that only five of 

 the fifty were caught in October does not stand 

 against this month, as few of the boys enjoy the un- 

 alloyed pleasure of fishing for musky in this month, 

 at which time he is there with a keen, clear brain 

 and a well developed tailful of tricks that would 

 make a poker shark look like an amateur. 



OVERCAST DAY IS THE BEST 



Weather conditions varied greatly when these fifty 

 muskies lined up for the roll of honor. The day 

 was cloudy or overcast when nineteen connected up 

 with the hook, clear day, sixteen; bright sunny day, 

 eight; raining, five; and two were caught while it 

 was snowing. As to the water on these days, 

 eighteen were caught on comparatively still water or 

 slightly ruffled, twenty-two when the water was 

 ruffled or broken, and ten were landed in rough 

 water with considerable wind blowing. When the 

 water is slightly roughened by the wind and break- 

 ing in small waves, or on an overcast or cloudy day, 

 makes good musky weather, although he may sur- 

 prise you in any kind or style of weather and strike 

 your lure while you are loafing along into shore to 

 make landing for the noonday grub, trolling a line 

 along, of course, for just such an emergency strike. 



