ELKHART LAKE
Elkhart is another smaller lake that offers up some excellent muskie fishing about an hour's drive north of Milwaukee.

"The water is generally very clear and there is limited vegetation," Nelson said. "Some of the best muskie action is on suspended fish over deep water, or during the night, which also seems to be pretty good for fishing. This is probably because of the clear water conditions. There are times when the bottom of the lake can be seen down in 20 feet of water. Elkhart is a cisco-based lake, so the potential to grow big muskies is there."

The muskies in Elkhart have been stocked by the same club that stocks nearby Random Lake. The smaller size of Elkhart prevents the DNR from stocking fish, since the policy is not to stock waters that are less than 3,000 acres in size.

"People see a fair number of fish on Elkhart, but they don't seem to hook very many," Nelson said. "I'm sure it's related to the clear water and the fish being able to see the bait from a long distance. The fish are curious, but they're also able to see what they're chasing. We get a fair number of complaints on the lake from walleye and panfish anglers who have their catches attacked by muskies."

An eyewitness confirmed Nelson's assessment.

"Elkhart is a good muskie fishery, and the biggest was a 54-incher taken last summer," said Robert Cheney, owner of the Marshland Bait Shop.

According to Cheney, soft- and hard-plastic combination baits like Muskie Invaders work wonders, especially in green and chartreuse colors. Targeting the shoreline docks and piers can be productive in the summer months. Anglers will also find muskies near the sandbar east of the boat ramp and in the nearby weedbeds.

There is a restriction on gas boat motors on Sundays during the summer months. The lake covers 286 acres and reaches 119 feet, which makes it the fourth-deepest inland lake in Wisconsin. Anglers can launch for free at the public ramp on the far west end.

For more information or to book a guide, call the Marshland Bait Shop at (920) 876-2925. Additional information is available from the DNR at (920) 892-8756. Contact the Elkhart Lake Area Chamber of Commerce at 1-877-355-4278 for lodging and dining information.

LAKE REDSTONE
"Muskies have done well here," said DNR fisheries biologist Tim Larson. "The muskies have been stocked about two per acre, usually in alternate years, with a few extras in between. Stocking began in the early 1980s, and the muskie population is just right to be compatible with other species in the lake."

Larson noted 50-inch muskies have been taken out of Redstone, and that a 40-inch minimum-size limit is in effect.

Judy Kosh of Four Season Sports remembers a 48-inch muskie being taken through the ice by an ice-angler. "There are some big muskies in Redstone, and there are quite a few of them," Kosh said.