Is A Musky A Homebody?

[everythingthatswims]

Today, I thought I had a massive striper chasing my spook. On the 4th blowup, I hooked the fish for a split second and that was long enough for me to see the massive musky right before he straightened my hook and headed on. (No I wasn't being dumb and putting too much pressure on it, I actually backed off my drag when he blew up on it during one of my casts to prevent this). I think the hook probably didn't penetrate at all, giving the fish a lot of leverage to bend it out. 

I do have my swimbait rod and some leaders here in my dorm, my main question is for any musky fisherman out there, will that fish be there again or do they like to roam? He was on a flat where the creek feeds into the river.

[Gundog]

I have caught muskie at the same place on the river I fish. Not sure if they were the same muskie.  

[Bluebasser86]

In my experience, they're homebodies. A big muskie is the biggest, baddest fish out there so it can pick the best place on a lake and rule it with an iron jaw. I think the exception to that is on bodies of water with little cover or structure and the primary forage being pelagic baitfish.

[Turkey sandwich]

4 hours ago, everythingthatswims said:

Today, I thought I had a massive striper chasing my spook. On the 4th blowup, I hooked the fish for a split second and that was long enough for me to see the massive musky right before he straightened my hook and headed on. (No I wasn't being dumb and putting too much pressure on it, I actually backed off my drag when he blew up on it during one of my casts to prevent this). I think the hook probably didn't penetrate at all, giving the fish a lot of leverage to bend it out. 

I do have my swimbait rod and some leaders here in my dorm, my main question is for any musky fisherman out there, will that fish be there again or do they like to roam? He was on a flat where the creek feeds into the river.

Pay attention to water levels.  This can have a big impact on where you're finding them, but generally, I've found them to not roam very far in rivers.  A swimbait set up is as good as any for targeting them, though it's a lot of work.  Even when you find them, they can go from super aggressive to super spooky fast.  Most of my experience with them has been kind of as a fun surprise smallmouth fishing.  A very violent, fun surprise.  

[MassBass]

I have found with pike in the river that a pike hole is usually a pike hole. Time and time again the key spots will hold a pike. You should try your spot again.

[gim]

I had a similar experience just this morning!  Its been years since I caught a muskie.  Too many years actually.  I was bass fishing this morning in the rain and sure enough, a tiger muskie follows my white tube right back to the boat.  probably 35 inches long.  Kinda surprised me and there was no doubt what it was when it turned sideways to swim away.  A few casts later, something big grabbed the tube, I set the hook, felt like an anchor for a second, then nothing.  I looked at the hook, sure enough, bent straight out.  I kept on fishing past that area but before I left I went back there and presumably, the same fish re-appeared behind my lure again for a follow.

I agree with Bluebasser.  Muskies are the top predator when they are present in an ecosystem.  If you got its address its worth trying again.  If you have real musky tackle, use that otherwise be prepared for a battle with a leviathan if you can get a hook into that iron jaw.