Past Trips

Cool Water, Moonset & Esox: A July 31 Musky Day

Cool Water, Moonset & Esox: A July 31 Musky Day

A cool, rainy break dropped surface temps to 75–77°—and the muskies noticed. See how Richard, Reed, and Josh turned a St. Croix Rod event into a moon-window Esox hunt with a musky, a heart-stopping follow, and two pike.

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A cooler, overcast, rainy day finally brought some much-needed relief to the Northwoods. With surface temperatures slipping into the 75–77° range, I had a strong feeling it would be a good day to hunt Esox.

A St. Croix Rod Signature Event

Richard, Reed, and Josh joined me for a Bass Pro Shops Club Members Signature Event through St. Croix Rod. We spent the morning watching the weather—and the water—waiting for the right sign that the bite was about to turn on.

The Moonset Told the Story

During the morning moonset window, we saw five muskies porpoise. That was all the confirmation I needed: the afternoon major moon window had real potential. When that window arrived, the action did too—we put a musky in the boat, watched another fish charge in on an aggressive follow, and added two northern pike to a memorable day.

Days like this are why paying attention to conditions matters. Cooler water, cloud cover, rain, and the moon all lined up—and the fish were ready.

Angler holding a musky during the July 31 guided tripCatch from the July 31 St. Croix Rod signature eventNorthwoods Esox action during a rainy summer trip

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