T-Billy

The number of people on this planet whose opinion of me is something that I care about is a single digit number. None of them have a problem with me fishing. 😉

Currently at 46, plus Tammy has caught 7. She just retired last week and will be fishing with me a lot more, so 100 for me is probably out of reach, but hopefully we can combine for over 100. I've made it a harder goal to reach by trying to target bigger fish over numbers. I've been fishing open water more recently and I've been pulling the bait away from anything under 3' when I can. Not always possible. You know how fast they are. Right now my average is 39.7", up from a 37" average last year. Before the water got warm I was running a 41" average at one point. The ODNR's muskie anglers log has the statewide average consistently around 37" so I'm pretty happy with where I'm at, but always trying to improve.

Sharing my feelings here about this situation would likely get me banned, so I'll just leave it at, love you two, and you remain in my prayers every day.

Don't be sorry, post as many as you can, and make sure you're wearing the raggediest clothes you have. 😉 😂

First night muskie of the year last night. 3 footer right at moonrise on a 5" Tuff Shad. Dunno why the fish pic came out so grainy, but the moonrise pic turned out great. I also lost one about 38-40", about ten casts in, on a 20:00 start. I fished until 05:30 and the only other action I had was the moonrise fish. Twas a grind. I did see several suspended fish in the short time I spent trolling. Gonna change up tactics tonight and spend some time jigging offshore structure. This latest heat wave has buggered up the pattern I was on last week.

I'm a day late and a dollar short as usual, but....... HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANDY!!!

The VFD is only a half block away....... They could PROBABLY get it under control before the house goes up.... Hmmm. 😂

I didn't say I wanted to get cancer while avoiding yard work.

I'm not a fan of yard work. I'll scalp that lawn in June and if it's a dry summer, I won't have to mow again until September. 😂

Tammy joined me this morning for a quite enjoyable 7hr trip. The fish were being a bit tight lipped, but they were chasing, and we managed to get 4 of 17 to bite. All four of those went into the net and all four ate in the 8. Three on blades and one on a crank. She kicked things off with a 35.5". Two casts after getting that fish released, I caught a 35.5" of my own. About an hour later she boated this 40.5" on a crank. It took me until about a half hour before we bailed to catch my second. It just squeaked over the 40" mark. All four fish decided to make me pay for picking them up out of the net. 😂

75-76 on the lake. Saw as cool as 69 in the creek, but the fish have left it now that the lake is cooling.

And.......... Number 42 is a 42". BOY I HOPE THIS TREND CONTINUES!!! 😂 She's a pretty girl. The milder temps have things heading in the right direction. Predawn surface temp is down 7-8 degrees over the past 6 days. I caught the 42 and moved four others between dawn and 08:00, then it shut down as the sun got on the water. Back after 'em early tomorrow.

I'm gonna need a bigger boat. 😂

NOOOOOOO!!!!!!! 😂 I love dogs, but I have no desire to have another.

If it's just fishing gear, consider yourself fortunate. Brown Uniform Santa just dropped off my 15th guitar the other day. 12 amplifiers. I don't know how many rods, reels, or guns I have. 🤦‍♂️I have issues.

On the water at 05:30, outta there at 11:30 before I melted. Thank God this heat wave is almost over. I picked up muskie #40 for the year up in the creek this morning, and it was a 40 incher. What a quinkydink. 😁 I also caught one about 33-34 up in that cooler creek water, and raised another two. That was it. Never moved a fish after about 08:00. The surface temp in the lake is back up to 83-84 and the fish ain't happy about it. The forecast is looking good starting Thursday. 🤞Let the cool down begin!!!

That's kinda the SOP when fishing deeper weeds. The bass are using that particular patch of weeds because of the structure it's growing on. Often when you catch one, there are several there. It pays to get a quick release and get that bait right back in there. 😉

On the water at 05:30. Outta there at 11.30. The heck with that!!! 😂 Forecast is looking good after Wednesday though. 🤞 Thanks for thinking of us Tom.

That would be a nice tribute, but you're a first ballot inductee yourself Tom.

I was thinking the same thing.

I'm following along, a decade behind you old codgers. Thanks for blazing a trail for me. 😂 #summerof69

RIP Tommy. We're gonna miss ya.

Yes @Swamp Girl, that's what I'm talking about. Fish will often be on the edges in low light and buried up in the thickest parts when it's sunny. Also, keep your eyes peeled for isolated clumps outside the main weedline. They're prime targets that often hold a quality fish.

That's a solid pattern here from June through August every year.

I wasted way too many years drinkin, druggin and just generally living a hollow life with no purpose. Since getting clean and sober 14 years ago, I'm doing my best to make up for lost time. You're 100% correct Katie, and the muskie fishing will be the first that I'll someday be incapable of doing anymore. If The Lord grants me enough years, I'll eventually end up right back where I started. Sitting on the bank, watching my bobber dance on the waves. At that point it will have been a life well lived, a life with purpose, and I'll be watching my bobber, just waiting on my savior to come take me home. Ha!!! Writing that made me think of Burgess Merideth sitting on that lakeside bench in Grumpier Old Men. I share his love of bacon. 😁