Further North

Yeah, I'm excited to see one of the big names jump n the game, and hope it leads to more, and higher output electric outboards. If they can get costs under control, and battery tech continues to improve, it'll be game changer. I like thinking about the ability to run quietly at speed.

https://www.tmj4.com/news/local-news/wisconsin-based-company-mercury-marine-introduces-first-fully-electric-boat-motor?_amp=true&fbclid=IwAR2-emysbck_rofLrlz1b4wiG_uXu378hZgOh6p4FFgSxgGFPtQ9ZpTGBao Try not to get distracted by the title, they mean Mercury's first electric outboard. Specs and more info here: https://www.mercurymarine.com/en/us/land/mercury-avator-electric-outboards/ None has any idea of price yet, so wild guesses at that will be speculation.

I do a ton of "true bass fishing" from a drift boats, skiffs and rafts. Plenty of others use canoes and kayaks.

@Fallser those are really cool. I've played with the idea of "ned flies" too...kinda-sorta what I was after with the hellgramite looking flies.

The Predator9 material is excellent, but not as "buggy" as the Creeper. I've furled some, and its got it's advantages, the bottom two here: Definitely tighter, if that makes sense? I have given that some thought. I'm not a big "wacky style" fan, even with gear but there's times when it excels...Texas Rigging gives me the same results on the drop, but gives me a "jerk bait" kind of retrieve on the way back to the boat. If that makes any sense? I have some ideas, not quite ready for prime time yet, that I'll post when I try them. Please put up any ideas you have until I get there.

Another Mega Murdich, shades of pink. More experiments with the furled FnF Creeper. That's a tungsten bead at the front of the hellgramite looking black ones. I am thinking a smaller hook would be better.

I have...and I have a bunch of nutria zonker strips to try this year.

FnF Creeper for most of the "Flenkos", except the one in the upper right, that's baby blanket yarn. I've been tying similar for a year, this is just an evolutionary step...they run very weedless.

If they are anything like pike, flashy works. I'm a Mepps fan, but there are other options.

Made another jump on my quest to create a fly with the characteristics of a Senko. Various lengths and hooks. A couple different materials and colors. I have another version percolating in my head as well. Maybe two. ...and more Mega Murdich: The Mega Murdich are about 8 1/2" long., for scale Olive and black with orange flash Flenkos.

That's the truth!

Pike would be my first choice.

Spot on. I've used streamers to about 6", brown trout patterned Rapalas, & #3 Mepps.

My experience with Cabela's is that it'll be a heavy-ish cardboard tube. If it arrives broken, they replace it, so no worries.

When I fish for trout, I always think, "Big brown trout eat little brown trout." That's never let me down.

Sorry, I wasn't clear: I was asking more about river/stream size and conditions to tailor the response to how you're fishing. My bad, poorly asked question. Every situation has it's own best answer...

Where will you be fishing for trout? I'm asking more about river (stream) size, and general location than specifics.

A decent, short piece on getting ready to chase muskies with a fly rod: https://www.hatchmag.com/articles/4-tips-beginner-musky-anglers/7715607?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=weekly I wish he'd spent a bit more time on gear recommendations, like the difference between a re-purposed saltwater rod and a purpose built musky rod...and staying away from metal line guides, but decent other than that. One other thing popped out at me: ...I don't know about musky rivers in other areas, but other than the bigger, deeper areas on our rivers around here (I'd say less than 5% of the overall productive water) a transducer hanging in the water wouldn't survive the first day's float.

Braid lasts years. It's less expensive over time. Tie in a 7' - 8' mono or fluoro leader, change that at intervals, and you'll spend less.

I have a couple of 5 sweet 5 wt. rods as well...I can't recall the last time I've fished with them...but I'm not much of a trout angler.

An 8 wt. is about as light as I go these days, with an exception now and then for small streamers on a 7 wt., or something like an Ol' Mr. Wiggly on a 6 wt. In my (admittedly distorted) world, it's 8, 10, and 12 wt. rods most of the time. FWIW, that rod Gunnar is using is probably a 10 wt., though there's a chance it's an 8.

I don't fish weighted flies much at all, but sometimes musky flies get pretty heavy in their own right, based on materials. There's a few exceptions: You can't beat a lightly weighted fly of some sort to mimic a critter darting along the bottom. Lot's of fly anglers talk about "hinging"...but I never see it. I generally fish weighted lines of some sort - usually technique specific, and dependent on water depth and current strength...I don't want a 6 ips line when I'm fishing a foot of water, I'll spend too much time getting it free of bottom obstructions. Same here - that continuous tension cast works great for any big streamer.

I use tieable leader and tie it into the main line directly (Rio is a good choice, as is AFW Surflon, there are others - you'll be pleased with how supple the leader is). If I'm using braid (all my gear rods) I the leader - around 12" - 18" - into the main line with an FG knot. This avoids having a swivel at the top of leader that bangs into your tip guide all the time. If I'm using mono (all my fly rods), I use an Alberto knot, same length leader. This works for fluorocarbon as well. At the business end, depending on what we're talking about, I either tie direct to the hook (things like swim baits and poppers, etc.), a clip (I use nothing but Mustad Fastach), or a swivel clip (again, Mustad Fastach). All are tied in with a Perfection Loop, which helps retain the lure/fly action. There's a couple exceptions, for me: I don't bother with a steel leader on inexpensive things like Senko's or Ned Rigs, and I use single strand nickel titanium leaders (Knot-2-Kinky) on some lures: In-line spinners, spoons, safety-pin style spinners...anything that relies on a tight line pulling it through the water. You have to get used to the idea that the knots are going to look terrible - like they won't hold - but they will. I have one that's well over a season old. I've also been experimenting with the single strand on some of fly rods, and I like it there as well...it's stiffer that the multi-strand and helps "turn over" the flies. As to your last question: If the leaders do impact lure/bait/fly action, the fish I'm catching don't seem to care... Others may disagree, and that's OK; it's not a competition.

No, I catch 100s a year of both with leaders. I've even started using light (13#) wire on my bass fly poppers, got tired of losing them. ...the option is to donate lures to the pike.

Use a wire leader for the pike. ?