This Madison muskie hit a big crankbait. Photo by Pete Maina.

Muskie fishing in Wisconsin is huge, with a long history of capturing the imagination and desires of many anglers. Arguably, Wisconsin is the state with the most "muskie history" and certainly the state offering more individual lakes and rivers with viable muskie populations than any other. In recent decades, muskie fishing's range has spread tremendously and because of new fisheries created, proactive management and increasingly effective catch-and-release ethics, few would argue that we don't have better muskie fishing than at any time in history.

I believe the only feasible argument against that might be from those who enjoy the peace and tranquility of the experience. With increasing populations and bigger, better and faster equipment, fishing in general has become more supercharged. Many yearn for at least some fishing opportunities to be quieter and simpler, yet it's nice to have more convenient opportunities to fish.

Years ago, muskie fishing was mainly considered an "up north" thing. Today, some of the great, new success stories in muskie fishing's expansion involve some exceptional urban opportunities. Though historically an up north muskie state, Wisconsin is no exception to the urban opportunity trend. With help from area experts, let's take a look at some of the better urban areas, starting in the southeast.

MILWAUKEE
The Milwaukee metropolitan area, essentially encompassing four counties, is home to more than two million residents, and many are avid sportsmen. When these outdoors aficionados automatically point their trucks north toward the promised land of the fish of dreams, they may not realize they are leaving a lake that may arguably provide their best chance for a wallhanger muskie.

Pewaukee Lake was created in 1838 when a dam was constructed across the Pewaukee River, creating two distinct adjoining areas of the lake -- the deeper original western basin and the shallower eastern flats. Pewaukee Lake encompasses almost 2,500 acres and exactly when muskies were introduced is subject to debate, but one fact is irrefutable: They are thriving and providing exceptional angling opportunities. While many lakes are noted for producing high numbers of fish but few truly big fish, Pewaukee offers the best of both worlds. Every year, a number of 50-inch fish are reported, some weighing more than 40 pounds. The lake record is a 53-inch, 48-pound, 9-ounce giant landed by Joe Ehrhardt 30 years ago, but many lake veterans swear there are bigger ones still swimming.

The beauty of this metropolitan mecca is that varied highly productive angling methods may be employed throughout the seasons. For those who like to cast, the season kicks into high gear almost immediately after the season opener, typically peaking in the second or third week in June. Casting tactics and lure choices run the gamut and all will produce at times. In a typical season, anglers begin working bucktails, jerkbaits and crankbaits over newly emerging weeds in the shallow warming waters on the eastern side of the lake.

Some of the best catches are realized by those who work the shallow areas near Taylor's Bay using multiple live-bait lines and small sucker minnows. (If using this method, it should be emphasized to set the hook immediately upon a strike, to prevent swallowing.) By early June, the deep weed edges become well defined and working those edges with just about anything can produce exceptional action. It is not unheard of to see 10 to 15 fish active on a given weed edge if your timing is right.