T-Billy

I wouldn't worry about it in your waters. Those ain't exactly highly pressured bass you're chasing.

In the waters I fish, gulls will lead you to the white bass all summer, and put you on giant schools of shad that are loaded with suspended muskie all through the late fall. I never saw a cormorant in OH until a half dozen or so years ago. They've become a nuisance in a short time.

I can vouch for the Lexa in the HD series. I've been VERY happy with mine. Happy enough that I now own three 300's and four 400's.

Sorry to hear. I'll be keeping you and the rest of his loved ones in my prayers. God bless y'all.

Congrats. Enjoy your retirement. Prayers for your continued recovery.

I see Boyd caught two fish for 4# and 39th place on day one. That's a solid day for him. Y'all suppose he'll give himself the boot at the end of the year, or give himself a "legend in his own mind" exemption?

AFW stainless wire and a haywire twist leader is how I go about it.

Not high end maybe, but I've been very happy with the Ark Invoker 7'6" XH. The 40 ton blank is plenty sensitive and has proven durable. It's a lot of rod for $150 IMO.

Welcome aboard Vantage. I just bookmarked your site. This is great to see. One of the things I've enjoyed as I've gotten into muskie fishing is the cottage industry aspect of it. The majority of musky baits are built by small companies right here in the U.S.A. I wish you success and look forward to shopping your site.

ABSOLUTELY!!! I've taken many a walk into the woods in lieu of entering one of those things in summer. It's a sweet gig as far as truck'n jobs go, all but a handful of days a year. It's ALWAYS my call whether I go or not. Company doesn't get a vote.

Roger that. Double chains on the tractor, singles on the trailer, a quick prayer, put it in first and idle outta there at 3mph with the seat cover locked twixt the cheeks. Our ice is pretty well gone here. I was down around Marietta today. The OH river is up several feet, but I didn't see any ice. Local lakes just have some bergs floating around. They'll be melted away in a day or two. Might get a little muskie fishing in next week.

I had to visit the blue room on a well pad last week when it was 5 degrees. I was kinda nervous about sticking to the seat!!! 🤣 Then I got to descend an icy 15% grade with two switchbacks, with 8000 gallons of stuff that makes gasoline seem tame behind me. #CRUDEHAULERLIFE #MAJORPUCKERFACTOR!!!

Ice and logs.

I don't try to emulate anyone. I just do my thing.

Impressive!!! The last one I had like that was when an unnoticed overhead limb stopped my spinnerbait dead just 10' or so off the rod tip. It was similarly epic.

Similar deal here. They had me start the evening before. 4 pills, then drinks. More drinks early the next morning, then nothing for like 5hrs before the procedure. The prep was no fun for sure, but wasn't as bad as I expected it to be. Worst part was starving all day. I'll make sure to get a morning appointment next time.

You'll want to fish more vertical once the weeds are up. Some days they'll be in the pockets, some days they'll be buried under the canopy. Fishing vertical doesn't necessarily mean straight down. Just think in terms of short pitches to where your line is at a 45 degree angle or less. That gets your bait in and out of cover cleaner, and makes it easier to move the fish up out of it. You'll have more control over those beasts of the bog this way. They can pull that light canoe of yours around horizontally on a longer cast, but they ain't gonna pull you under when you're over top of them. You have the leverage advantage in close. Lol. Never take a knife to a gunfight.

You'll be armed with some heavier artillery this year. Lock that drag down on your H stick and don't give em an inch.

I'd call it a coal/diesel hybrid given the amount of diesel burned mining the lithium and shipping it to China, where it's processed at a coal powered plant.

Glad you're all clear. Prayers for your brother.

5# LM, 4# SM, and hopefully a muskie big enough to eat either of them.

Tough to beat in it's price range. Same can be said for all the Ark series.

Agree with this 100%.

Those boat prices make me feel blessed to live around small waters. I bought my 20HP Suzuki in 20. Picked up my 16' Polar Kraft Jon in 21, built an all aluminum deck and floor in it, and I'm all in at 11K. It works very well for what I do.

I bought my house last year for only a couple grand more than that Bass Cat. I put a steel roof on it, and still came in about 9k under the price of that Ranger. I can't imagine spending that kind of money on a boat.