Courtesy of Dynamic Sponsorships

Kristine Fischer spends most of her year chasing bass and competing in tournaments out of her kayak or Ranger Boat, but in the fall and winter she has a special affinity for musky. If you follow Fischer on social media, you’ve probably watched videos of her in close-quarter combat with big muskies while balancing like an Olympic gymnast on her kayak.

“I’ve always been a person who craves a challenge, whether it’s physical or mental, and musky definitely check that box,” Fischer said. “Walleye fishing was my first love growing up in Nebraska but I’ve always been an angler who fished for everything that would bite. I love bass fishing, but I don’t think I’ve ever caught a bass that makes me shake like a big musky does.”

From early November through the end of January, Fischer spends any free time she can find searching for those musky induced shakes across the southern United States. When most people think about muskellunge, they associate this apex predatory freshwater fish with large, cool fisheries of the northern U.S.

While the upper Midwest may be the capitol of musky fishing, Fischer targets muskies in small backwaters, rivers, and creeks through states like Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia. A self-described adrenaline junky, Fischer says that her musky pursuits satisfy her spirit for adventure while also allowing her time to decompress from the hustle and bustle of a busy tournament season.

“Musky fishing out of my kayak is the perfect blend of adventure and relaxation for me and how I’m wired,” Fischer explained. “Between kayak events, LBAA tournaments, Bassmaster Opens, and BassmastHER obligations my schedule is wide open from February through October. Chasing muskies in the fall and winter allows me to slow down, focus on one cast at a time and enjoy the beauty and solitude around me.”

The lack of fishing pressure Fischer encounters is no accident. While she acknowledges that the time of year has a lot to do with it, as many anglers are focused on hunting or football in the fall and winter, she also spends countless hours studying water levels, weather patterns, and Google Maps searching for waters off-the-beaten path that she can get her Hobie kayak into.

The Team Toyota pro deliberately seeks out area that require a four-wheel drive truck to access and bodies of water that traditional boats simply can’t reach. These remote hidey holes take time to locate, an adventurous spirit to reach and complete confidence in your equipment – something that only comes through time in the field and on the water.

“It really is a challenge unique to itself,” Fischer said enthusiastically. “My Tundra is a TRD Pro and the added suspension really helps me navigate roads and trails that aren’t exactly maintained. Add in the 360-degree cameras, which let me see my surroundings and avoid boulders, trees, or anything else off-road, and it makes accessing extremely remote fisheries so much easier.”

Navigating to these bodies of water is often half the battle, and Fischer takes full advantage of her equipment to make it happen, but once she’s arrived the BassmastHER ambassador embraces the simplicity and quiet.

“I usually only take one or two rods, a YETI to stay hydrated and a TurtleBox for some jams,” Fischer said. “Other than that, it’s just me, my kayak, and the fish. It’s the perfect way to unwind after a jam-packed calendar and 40,000 miles on the road bouncing from event to event.”

Fischer estimates she’s caught over 100 muskies out of her kayak, but she’s had ten times as many follows over the years. People call muskellunge the fish of 10,000 casts, which puts the volume of Fischer’s success into perspective. But Fischer doesn’t target muskies to chase numbers or notoriety, instead it’s about the challenge, the solitude, and the connection to places few anglers ever see.