when it comes to muskys from my past expereince i think indicators though early are very good and positive.
one is past history,our best big fish years over the past 20 here have been a bit lower than normal water levels and early ice out and or at least nice steady warm may/june. water temps warm up nice and steady so spawning is not to fast or to slow or doesn't happen,the big lake warms up quicker early and is at optimum activity temps,the fish recover quickly from spawning and are feeding which seems to creat a trend for the season,weed growth gets started early,and with a little of the shoreline exposed the wave action brings a bit of sediment into the water for a hint more of color. i'm sure there's more factors but these are a few i've noticed.
no matter where i've been stationed typically the toughest musky seasons have always been started by later than normal springs and/or with a cold may and june and they are typically/usually acompanied with higher water and prolonged colder than normal water temps. this results in a lot of suspended and scattered hard to pattern fish.
obviously we will have to see what the next month(s) bring and i'd prefer to see a more normal ice out time just because it's one natures time clocks then the nice warm may/june but it's a start.
also another indicator is the better than avg bites being already being expereinced down south in indiana and kentucky,etc. some of that on some waters especially the resevoirs is as much to do with stable clearer water because of no heavy spring rains but still they have had the same warmer than normal winter and way ahead of normal spring so none the less it is good news as the last couple have been tough starts and generally seemed to forcast a general trend for later further north.
anyway i'm saying i'm very optimistic and looking forward to my first cast of the season and an overall good one.
looking forward to sharing it with you all,
herbie