Steve Heiting's Northwoods Musky Report

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.

Summer doesn’t seem to want to quit in the Northwoods. Muskies are where they should be, but they aren’t very aggressive. Steve reveals the lures that produced fish during the last week, and offers his thoughts on pitch-back baits, one of which produced a big musky for his boat last week.

Steve can’t hide the fact he thinks the pre-turnover period is the best of the year for musky fishing. In this week’s report, he quickly covers location and then reveals his favorite baits for catching muskies at this time, and why.

Many northwoods lakes contain a heavy algae bloom right now and Steve discusses how you can overcome it. He talks about how you can help muskies find your lures in the green water, as well as where you should fish. Steve wraps up this segment by reporting on the catch of his biggest musky of the year so far, and how practicing what he preaches paid off.

Cool nights, warm days, bright skies and little wind are typical for what many call the “dog days” of August. In this week’s Northwoods Musky Report, Steve reveals his game plan for such conditions and tells the story of how he and a client succeeded while following these tactics.

In this week’s segment, Steve reports from the National Championship Musky Open where big muskies — and lots of them — were caught by tournament anglers. Steve reveals the best patterns.

It’s the week of the National Championship Musky Open in Eagle River, and Steve previews the tournament, explains why you should join, and discusses current fishing conditions, hot lures, and why he thinks big muskies will be caught.

Steve begins this week’s Musky Report with updates on water temperatures in northwoods lakes as well as the musky stocking issue. He then previews a number of upcoming musky events.

The 2024 musky season has featured rain almost every day and lots of wind, and Steve has heard from a number of anglers who are struggling. In this week's Northwoods Musky Report, he delivers a pep talk with ideas to help you bust your musky slump.

Steve opens this week's Northwoods Musky Report with an on-the-water discussion with his son after they boated five muskies while avoiding the crowds during the July 4th holiday week. While muskies were biting for Steve on wilderness lakes, he notes that bigger fish are showing up for anglers fishing open water.

Steve opens this week's report interviewing a client who caught his personal best musky on a Mepps custom-colored bucktail. Steve then reveals a few ways to catch more muskies on bucktails, and offers tips to better run the edges of weedbeds this season.

Steve begins this week interviewing a northwoods visitor who boated a nice topwater musky. He then offers a few tackle and retrieve tips to help you catch more muskies on surface baits.

In this week's report, Steve discusses what happened during the University of Esox Summer Musky Tactics school during which anglers from five states boated several nice muskies.

In this week's episode, Steve discusses where the best musky action is coming from and names the best-producing bait in his boat so far. He also explains how he fishes that bait.

Steve Heiting and his friends enjoyed a great Wisconsin northwoods musky opener with four fish in the boat. Steve discusses the distinct patterns they found and what else seems to really matter to the muskies so far in the 2024 season.

Steve fished for muskies this week in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and caught two fish. In this week's report, he explains the patterns that caught or moved the Yooper muskies, and discusses conditions people will find on northwoods lakes this weekend.

With the northwoods musky opener a little more than a week away, Steve discusses the lures in his Opening Day lineup, his favorite colors, and explains why he picks them. He also covers current conditions on northwoods waters and predicts a great weekend of crappie fishing.

In this week's episode: Steve describes the tools necessary to properly release muskies; discusses which northern Wisconsin musky waters will have 50-inch size limits beginning in 2024; and recounts what happened in his boat on opening day of the fishing season.

In his first episode of 2024, Steve explains walleye fishing patterns he expects will work as well as new walleye regulations; provides a current hot crappie pattern; and discusses what muskies are doing at this time even though the season for them doesn't open until May 25.

In his final Northwoods Musky Report for the year, Steve discusses that catching a musky right now involves simply choosing a favorite bait and covering water. Muskies are still shallow as water temps have stagnated, and it's really too early to use quick-set-rigged suckers until things cool down.

In this week's episode, Steve describes a good week of musky fishing that featured a big fish on the last cast of the evening. He also explains what he calls "artificial sunset" and how using it resulted in another beautiful musky.

It's the start of fall, and as our northwoods lakes change with the season the practice of "lake hopping" becomes more important. In this week's Northwoods Musky Report, Steve reveals what's working for pre-turnover muskies right now and then explains how lake hopping can save your day if action is slow once you get on the water.

The weather was warm for the Labor Day weekend, but the full moon had muskies biting. Steve reports the muskies are in shallow water for the pre-turnover period, and reveals the bucktail and topwater nuances that made a difference.

After all of the successful anglers in the National Championship Musky Open caught their fish from shallow weeds, Steve uses this week's episode of his Northwoods Musky Report to explain how you can target it, too.

In this week's Northwoods Musky Report, Steve discusses the results of the National Championship Musky Open and how almost all of the successful anglers found their fish in shallow weeds.

In this week's Northwoods Musky Report, Steve discusses fishing action and lists the lures that have produced best for him this year. But first, he previews the National Championship Musky Open, the largest musky tournament anywhere and the major fundraiser for Wisconsin's fishery.

One week into August and the musky "bite" in Wisconsin's northwoods remains very good, including the open water window Steve predicted last week. And, in response to a listener's question, Steve explains how he tunes jerkbaits that don't run quite "right."

In this week's episode, Steve discusses the current musky bite (hint: it's good) and explains why using O.G. baits can be very productive (and yes, he looked it up).

Steve reports from Sandy's Blackhawk Island Camp on Lake of the Woods at the conclusion of the University of Esox Canada Musky Adventure. He then explains how fishing elsewhere can make you a better angler when you return to Wisconsin.

When northwoods musky waters get busy with fishing and boating traffic, Steve turns to wilderness lakes and streams. In this week's report, he explains what he looks for in such waters.

Steve begins his weekly report discussing the good fishing action of early July, and then explains how he systematically breaks down larger musky waters when trying to learn their secrets.

Steve begins with a live report following the capture of an angler's first musky, which was caught on a minnowbait. He then explains how you can really make this lure type dance.

Steve begins this week's report with a live recording following the capture of the biggest tiger musky ever in his boat, and then reveals the fish's history. He then explains the tools everyone should have in their boat to successfully release muskies, and discusses current conditions.

Steve starts this week's episode with a live, on-the-water report following the capture of a big northwoods musky. Then, he discusses what happened at the University of Esox Musky School as well as the patterns he experienced during the week.

In this week's episode, Steve discusses short feeding windows seen so far in 2023, and how to predict them. He also discusses his top lure for the year so far, as well as current conditions.

Steve discusses season-opening musky action and patterns from the beautiful Memorial Day weekend.

Twins Joel and Jake Weeks joined Steve and produced a four-musky day while fishing in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, and Steve offers a live, on-the-water report. Then, Steve discusses his plans for Wisconsin's northwoods musky opener.

Walleyes and crappies are biting, but Steve has muskies on the brain. In this week's report, he reveals his top five lures for catching early season muskies, and explains why they are his favorites.

This week, Steve reports on what may have been the best fishing opener he's ever enjoyed. He then discusses early season patterns to prepare you for when the northwoods musky season opens May 27th.

Steve goes on a hunt for open water in anticipation of northern Wisconsin's fishing opener. Since musky season in the north doesn't open until May 27, Steve then discusses a great tip to get more action from your early season musky baits.

In his final Northwoods Musky Report for the year, Steve reports on the catching of two big muskies, including one which could be the largest in his boat for the season. He also explains turnover, a factor which confuses many anglers.