Muskie

• Like northern pike, the body of a muskie is elongated and its head is relatively flat. More than pikes, however, muskie have sharp vision and they rely heavily on their eyes to find and pursue prey. They are known to have greater endurance than pike, and this can mean a good workout for anglers. Muskie typically inhabit lakes with weed shoals, saddles, lake shoals and sunken islands, and they can also be found in rocky rivers with a lot of current.They prefer clear waters with temperature from 60 to 70 degrees. A Muskie can grow to be over 50 inches and 70 pounds in the right habitats, however you are not likely to find one this large in North Carolina. The state record is 41 pounds, 7.84 ounces, and it was set in 2001 on Lake Adger. The state record for a tiger muskie is 33 pounds, 8 ounces, and it was caught on James Lake.
  
  

Bait and Tackle

• Muskie are strong and powerful and you will require heavier tackle to fish them effectively. A heavy action rod with 10 to 15 lb test line is recommended, and be sure to bring plenty of line as muskie can run. On larger bodies of water, deep trolling from a boat is common, as is casting into the deeper pools and shallow weedbeds of lakes. Fishermen should bring a variety of Muskie lures and baits with them as the fish will be drawn to different things depending on the weather, season and their environment. Popular muskie lures are similar to pike lures; daredevils, bucktails, jerkbaits, minnows and worms can all be effective. Remember to mix it up if your not getting any action.
  
  

Locations

• Your best chances of finding muskie in North Carolina are in larger, cooler bodies of water. As mentioned, state record muskie were caught Adger Lake and James Lake. In addition you might want try High-Rock Lake, which is 15,200 acres and located in northcentral Carolina five miles from Lexington; Falls Lake, located in the outskirts of Durham and spanning 12,500 acres; Fontana Lake which is 11,000 acres; and Blewett Falls Lake, which is 2,500 acres and located in southcentral North Carolina. Other hot spots that should contain muskie include Lake Hikory, Kerr Lake, Lake Wallamaw, Lake Mattamuskeet, Lake Norman, Waccamaw and Phelps Lake.
  
  

Regulations

• Inland fishing regulations allow fishing with a hook and one line. Landing nets are allowed to land fish legally caught with a hook. It is unlawful to fish in the waters of a state fish hatchery; it is also illegal to change the appearance of fish or remove heads or tails while on the water. The general statewide bag limit for muskie is two per day, and fish you keep must be over 30 inches in length. Special restrictions limit your daily catch to one muskie over 46 inches in parts of the French Broad River.
  
  

Licenses and Fees

• Fishing inland waters in North Carolina requires an inland fishing license. An inland fishing license for the 2010 season is $15 for residents and $30 for non-residents. A ten day inland fishing license is also available for purchase and it costs residents $5 and non-residents $10. Residents that do all of their fishing locally can also buy a county inland fishing license for $10.