T-Billy

Beaver, deep in the jungle. Honorable mention goes to the chatter bait.

@gim, It's all about blades, cranks, and top waters around weeds in 2'-12' here right now, with lots of fish in the back end of the bays, especially bays with creeks. Dunno how similar your lakes fish.

I just went and ordered a hard cover myself. I haven't read it in over 40 years. You're 100% correct about today's youngsters not reading. No Hollyweird movie can match the one you create in your mind while reading a good tale.

It doesn't fire me up like it used to. I have 5 nice bucks on the wall, and we don't have any other big game to hunt in OH. Plus my aunt sold my happy hunting ground after my uncle passed. Anymore I'd rather be musky fishing in the fall. I didn't hunt last year so I'm out of venison. I'll get out long enough to put a couple does in the freezer this year and call it good.

The grocery bill skyrocketed once he was no longer hauling a live trap full of dinner home every day. 😂

Taking me back to my childhood. I read that several times. Talk about a read that'll fire up a young imagination!!!

Apples and oranges given our greater population density. Also, I put that many hours in every couple weeks and there's been a couple times this year when I went a few weeks without a fish.

The girl at the marina told me this morning that they've had a steady parade of Amish coming through buying licenses since the warden explained those concepts to a whole pontoon of them, while writing their citations last Saturday.

I hope to get there, but it's kinda just an arbitrary number at this point. If getting there was a big deal, I wouldn't be pulling the bait away from those low 30's. Any fish over 30" counts, but I'd rather not risk injuring/killing those little fish. They're an unruly handful to deal with at that size, kinda like teenagers. 😂

It's a valuable skill to have. I don't have any waypoints on my sonars. I use triangulation to get me roughly on a spot, and then use my sonar to make small adjustments to stay on it.

Thanks Katie. My wife agrees, though I'm not sure why? I don't know how she puts up with me. The woman has the patience of Job. 😂 I had a good numbers day yesterday. I caught 6, lost 3 and raised about that many more. No big's though. 33x2, 34, 35, 36, 38 I added another 36, lost two, and pulled it away from a couple low 30's this morning. I also had a low 40's come in hot, but it wouldn't quite commit. These 30 somethings are dragging down my average size, but the season total is now at 62. This seems to be the SOP in August/September. Lots of mid size fish with an occasional big'n up in the weeds. The average size will go back up as we transition into fall.

I had the same thing happen with a 38" muskie yesterday. I got lucky and was able to flip the net and bag it. More often than not, they shake off when that happens.

I'll cover water until I find fish, then I slow down and pick that piece of structure/cover apart. Once done there, I'll fish similar spots until the fish tell me to do something else.

When something comes along that interests me. That's not often anymore when it comes to bass. After 4+ decades of fishing for them, I mostly just roll with a handful of proven and prefered techniques. One of the things I'm really enjoying most since getting into muskie fishing is the learning aspect. What's old has become new again.

Ya gotta admire his ambition!!! 😂 I got started about 11:30 and this was all I could come up with before daylight. I got this nice, thick for summer 43" about 07:15 though, and raised a few more 30 somethings before calling it quits a little after 08:00. I was surprised at the lack of action in the dark. Water temps are down 10 degrees over the past week and a half. Currently at 70-72.

IME Post front = Buried up in thick cover, sometimes a little deeper.

Nothing picture worthy for me today. 33", 34", and a 37", but Tammy got a nice thick 42". Fun day on the water with my awesome wife.

Amen to that sister!!! I had a good day as well. Five muskie plus nine follows, no bigs, but it was steady action by muskie standards. 33"x2, 34", 35", 37". Season total now at 51. The cooler weather is forecast to continue. Highs in the 60's and 70's and lows in the upper 40's and 50's. The bite should be heating up over the next couple weeks. The cooling water should bring some big girls shallow.

You forgot one. 😁

Time I would rather spend doing something else. Cut it short in June so it turns brown, then I just have to mow the weeds once or twice until it greens up again in September.

Absolutely.

I was gonna get a pair for my great grandson, but they didn't have any small enough for him.

YZH, XT, SIEGE All good choices at a good price.

Praying for a full and speedy recovery for your mom.

10" single strand wire has served me well for most baits. I use 18" of coated seven strand for quick strike rigs and jigging leaders.