Lucky Craft Man

I use Scientific Angler Air Cel. It is not the greatest line, but you'll be able to cast everything you want. If you don't find it as durible as you like, you can buy another spool and still be below your budget.

Scott, with all these toys, you'll be unstoppable! You'll be turning out complete rods in like 40 minutes.

I second the G Loomis NRX 852S JWR. Great all around spinning rod.

Nice perch and I love the Rod Wrap.

Here's my guess

To be honest, I have fished Lake Erie a lot more than I have been on Lake St. Clair, but if I were to tell someone who hasn't been to each and were going for the first time, I would choose Lake St. Clair. Lake Erie definitely yields bigger Smallmouth, but it is a huge place and it will take time to learn it, which someone coming up for a few days just doesn't get the luxury to do. I think the fish numbers in Lake St. Clair make it easier for someone looking for fish in a short period of time to locate and catch fish.

I first met you in April of 2012 and you have done 11 projects for me since then. Everyone turned out better than I could have anticipated, so if you have been in a funk since I met you, I shutter to think what a Scott Project Rod looks like when you are not in a funk!

I can't either. Maybe a 10' 5wt. with an extended fighting butt and an inlayed letter "S" in the cork handle? That would be awesome!

I don't know how I missed this whole thread until now. Excellent work, Scott (as always). Dwight, I can't wait to see you holding a 10lb+ Bass in your right hand with that rod in your left.

I have been up to Oak Orchard before. The reason I went to Michigan to pursue the Kings instead of there was because I don't mind seeing another fisherman while I'm out, I just don't like being able to touch them while they stand within 2 ft of me.

Thanks Dwight. I was lucky to check off that 7lb SM, 50in Musky, and now a King on a fly. Though, to check off that 10lb Largemouth, I may have to join you for a trip to Mexico ;-) Speaking of beautiful rods, I got a peak at the custom rod Scott made for you and it is NICE!

Heh heh. Does Rod Geeks make a 14 wt. blank yet?

I don't know if I am man enough to tackle the Kings you guys have running. A good sized King out of the Great Lakes is 25 to 30 pounds. Out your way, you are in the 50+ pound weight class. Even with a 14 wt., I think I would have trouble landing those fish on the fly.

I have always dreamed of catching a King Salmon on a fly rod and I finally had my chance this past week. My Buddy and I spent a day fishing along one of the streams in Western Michigan in search of catching one. Little did we know before we left for the 8 hour drive that they were experiencing the worst Salmon run since the introduction of the King Salmon in Lake Michigan in the 60's. The comment up there was that there were more fisherman than Salmon. Well, we made the best of it and walked the streams looking for an open spot and fish to cast to. After the day was done, I had fair hooked 5 and was fortunate enough to have landed 1 (it didn't help that both of us forgot to bring a net. I know, rookie move). It was not what I had expected (to be honest, I envisioned this land of honey with droves of Salmon swimming around your feet), but I was quite proud to have landed at least that one. Here is the best action shot from the day (even though I ended up losing this one) As a side note, I used the rod Scott had made me for Musky Fly Fishing (here's the thread talking a little bit about that build, if any tackle junkies are interested and hadn't seen it already - http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/159099-more-fun-with-the-band-saw/), but it worked great on these Kings (and if the fisherman using the rod didn't suck, maybe more than just one would have been landed).

Scott, I can understand your lackluster feeling towards that rod. After making that 11wt (which was the greatest rod ever created) anything would be a let down. Good thing you got that out of your system before you finished up Dwights master piece or my inlaw project. PS Obviously I am joking here (except for that 11wt being the best rod ever made, because that is true). That is a sweet looking drop shot rod!

I am actually travelling to Michigan this fall for a day on Lake St. Clair (i.e., Musky) and then over to the Pere Marquette (i.e. Kings). I hope that short trip will allow me to check off those two in one fail swoop.

I only have two (for now). King Salmon and Musky.

These questions are always easy. G Loomis NRX 852S JWR. That is the most versitile spinning rod for almost every technique that calls for a spinning rod. As a side note: I have this rod in both the GLX and NRX version and the NRX is noticeably more sensitive.

I've actually packed 6 rods into a tube 4" before (three handles on one end and three handles on the other). All 6 in that one tube arrived safely. As others have mentioned, be generous on the bubble wrap and they should be fine.

Nice Fish!! We may not have 10lb+. Florida Strain Largemouth, but it's those bonus surprise catches that really keep fishing interesting here in the Northern States.

I use and really like the Abu Garcia Revo Winch. It's a workhorse of a reel and right in your price range.

I just saw this. To be honest, I don't know. I would assume a Female Pike and a Male Musky would also produce a Tiger Musky, but in the wild, since Pike Spawn before Musky, naturally occurring Tiger Musky are almost always a result a and Male Pike coming late to the party and finding a fat Female Musky to take home vs. a Male Musky showing up early. As far as the Tiger produced in the hatcheries, I've heard that Musky eggs are easier to deal with (i.e., less adhesive) so they milk the female Musky and male Pike. If anyone else knows differently, I would like to know the real answer to this as well.

Not to be a musky snob, but let your son know that if he does want to catch that fish again (or any musky), I would advise against holding them vertically. With a fish that size, holding that way puts a lot of stress on it's neck.

A Tiger Muskie is a cross between a Female Musky and Male Pike. They are sterile in nature, hence why a lot of places stock them (i.e., to have direct management over what's in a lake). Plus, Tiger Muskie are easier to raise in a hatchery (don't require live food like a Musky) and are a little more agressive in the wild. The most obvious way to tell the difference between a Musky and a Tiger Musky is the marking, however, I have seen some pure bred Musky in the barred phases look like a Tiger. So the second way to tell the difference is by the tail. Pure bred Muskie have a pointed tail where a Tiger Muskie (and Pike) have a rounded tail at the tips. There is a third way and that is counting the pours under the jaw, but you'll never be able to do that looking at a picture and only comes in handy when you are holding the fish and really don't know what it is.

Wow! Nice Tiger! That fish is huge for a Tiger Muskie. What did he catch it on? Also, I hope you are planning a replica for that beast (assuming she is back swimming safely), because your son may go a long time before topping that. Congratulations to your son!