Fall musky fishing on the St. Lawrence.

How a musky trip works.

Big fish, heavy tackle, and a lot of time watching rods. Dress warm.

1. Book aheadPick a fall date

   Fall dates are limited. Send a request or text Richard, and he'll suggest the best days. No deposit.

2. Meet at the dockHead out on cold water

   Richard confirms where to meet. Musky days are often cold and gray, which is usually a good sign.

3. TrollingLines out along the drop-offs

   Richard sets the lines and runs the boat along the edges where musky feed. Your job is to watch the rods.

4. Fish onFight, net, photo

   When a rod goes off, Richard coaches you through the fight, nets the fish, and gets your photo before it goes back.

Why fall musky?

Muskellunge, or musky, are the biggest predators in the river. They can grow past 50 inches, and the St. Lawrence has been famous musky water for generations. In fall, as the water cools, they feed heavily before winter, and that's when the biggest fish of the year are caught.

Musky are called the fish of ten thousand casts. Richard trolls instead of casting, because it covers more water, and it's what he's found works best on this stretch of the river. Even so, there's no guarantee with musky. Some days you get one bite, some days none, and that's part of why catching one feels so good.