T-Billy

1/8 or 1/4 with worms. Generally 3/8 or 1/2 with beavers and craws, but I'll go up to 1oz if needed to get through mats.

I put 11 LM in the boat yesterday in about 4hrs, fishing nearly identical water temp. I'm a fan of the 40's. It's all about sun baked laydowns for me. You want trees with close deep water access, and the gnarlier they are, the better they are. Heavy rod at a minimum, and XH is better. Straight 50# braid, and a snelled straight shank flippin rig. Jigs hang up too much in this stuff. I prefer a 3.5" beaver type bait and a 3/8 tungsten sinker, going up to 1/2 if needed because of wind. No messing around the perimeter. Ya gotta get into the thickest, bushiest parts, and TIGHT to the trunk. Start deep out in the treetop and work your way in. As mentioned above, sunny afternoons are usually best. That warm sunshine will move 'em shallow, and make them easier to target.

I spent the morning chasing those uncooperative muskie, once again without success. I found lots of shad up in the creeks, but no slimers with 'em, so I called it quits with them about noon, and picked up the flippin stick. Ended up with 11 LM before I called it quits at four. 10 bucks in the 1-2# range and this 3.48#. First one over 3# this year. Hoping to get out in tomorrows monsoon, but it's looking like lightning may scrap that trip.

NFL is heading that way. It'll be two hand touch soon.

I'll second Dwight on that one A-Jay. 131 is super smooth, and handles great. Not sure it's worth the $$$ though. Fins XS comes pretty close to it performance wise IMO, at a price I like a lot better. Fins is made in the U.S.A. Edit to add: Fins Infinity is also outstanding. It's colorfast black, and also very smooth 8 strand. It's more supple than the XS Big Game.

I picked up another Prorex rod. This one makes #6. I've been very impressed with them so far. Went with the 9'5" XXH this time around for throwing big rubber and big blades. I swore when I started this muskie thing that there was no way I was gonna be throwing pounders, but... here we are. Sorry tendinitis afflicted elbows and old broken wrists. We're all just gonna have to put our big girl panties on and suck it up together.

Wild thing... I think I love you. 😘😂

Watson was gonna be out after this year anyway. He makes most of his money in real estate. Not much to lose, may as well torch that bridge and have some fun at Boyd's expense on the way out the door.

Awe... James hurt poor Boyd's fragile feelings again.

Do ya see that Andy? Do ya? What we have here is a complete and total disrespect for the law. You can't allow that. No siree. You gotta nip it. Nip it in the bud. He's got to learn to respect the law. Otherwise he's gonna grow up to be one of those long hair dirty hippies. Next thing you know, he'll be walking around in jeans with holes in the knees too.

Yeah, light braid doesn't hold up well to rock, but 20-30 works great for weightless senkos, and holds up fine to weeds and wood.

Braid to hook has worked well for me. 😉

^^^ THIS^^^ Get some 1/4oz jigheads also. Super easy to use, and smallies love 'em spring through fall.

Did you check your spam folder?

Thanks Alex. I'm just happy to put one in the net. It's been super frustrating lately. That's my first muskie since 2/17. Six trips, around fish every trip with only a couple short strikes and a lost fish to show for it.

Bought all my Zillions from them. Japan to my front porch in 3 days each time via Fed-Ex. I don't remember if I got a confirmation e-mail from them or not, but to say Digitaka impressed me is an understatement. Same can be said for Fed-Ex.

Moneymaker is the more versatile rod, and definitely the way to go for what you described @Shinmothy.

😂

Yeah... I know it's only 28", but I spent six hrs fishing in a full blown 44 degree monsoon to catch it, plus six straight previous skunkings so, IT'S GETTING POSTED!!! 😂

Got out this morning for the first time since last Tues. Surface temp had dropped 5-6 degrees. I only had about four hours to fish today. I spent the first couple fruitlessly chasing muskie, then picked up the flippin stick for the last couple hours. I figured I'd find some LM in deep treetops, but much to my surprise they were shallow. All were caught from sun baked wood in 2'-5'. No bigs, but I caught four of these, and one about 2.5#. I get to fish a full day tomorrow. I'll split time between muskie and bass again. Well... I'll split time again if the muskie aren't chewing. 😉

ABSOLUTELY. It'll keep your out of trouble.

Nice @FryDog62!!! I didn't know they got that big in FLA.

I often see them carrying antlers well into March here in OH.

Glad your mom's recovering well @PhishLI. I'll add her to the prayer list for awhile.

The seat is similar to the Fuji seat that many companies use. I find it comfortable, especially with small framed reels like my Scorpion 70's. I don't know who makes the guides for them, but I've had no issues with the guides on my Cobb or Lancers. The only model Cobb I have is the "One More", 7'2" M-F. Nice 40 ton blanks.