T-Billy

Unable to find lightweight jig heads with a muskie worthy hook, I started rigging them on a 6/0 flippin hook with a bell sinker on the split ring as a keel weight. This changed the action more than I realized, giving it more body roll and less kick. The musky sure noticed. It caught fish, but not at nearly the rate I was catching them last year. I didn't even realize the difference in action until I put one on a jighead a couple weeks ago, then it was readily apparent. So... I went to the T-Billy Skunk Works and came up with this. I modified my Manic Mullet mold's 5/16 cavity to accept a 6/0 Mustad 32850. Problem solved to the tune of a 31", a 40", a 42", and a 44" in three trips under tough conditions since January 1st.

This is from a post I made last October. I had an awesome morning, with one of the greatest fish catches of my life. I bagged my first muskie on the new chatterbait at first light. The fish hit mid retrieve and we slugged it out through about 40' of shallow milfoil. As I got it close it made a hard run under the boat. I got it turned and it came back out going full tilt, turned in a semi circle, and rocketed up about 4' out of the water, as they're apt to do in the shallows. The fish came unbuttoned mid air, and sent my bait flying back at me, while I was ducking it, the fish landed ON THE FLOOR OF MY BOAT!!! LOL!!! So, I put in in the net to chill while I set the phone up for a pic. I get the green, uncooperative fish out of the net for a photo, and as I turn it horizontal, it goes ballistic, wrenches out of my hands, bounces off the deck, and goes right back INTO THE NET!!! NO FLIPPIN WAY!!! ? My first thought was of Paul's comment in Romans 8:31, What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Lol. Anyhow, twas a total fiasco, but my new bait is on the board with a 42". God bless Y'all, Tim.

Thank you for the kind words Katie. This year should have been even better, but I blew it by making a small change to my rig that ended up being a big deal to the fish. It took me WAAYYY too long to realize the issue, and it cost me a bunch of fish. Lesson finally learned though, and I've started 24 off with a few good ones. Fingers crossed for an epic March. Alex is absolutely wrecking them lately. Happy as can be for him, and looking forward to seeing more of those winter sows of his.

#AlabamaHawgSnatcher

Same two favorite lakes I've fished for decades, but with a bigger focus on muskie through all seasons. That said, there'll still be a fair bit of time spent chasing bass, especially in the dark from June through September.

Bubba. Stiff blade not the flex. I use my electric Bubba when I have a bunch to clean, and my 9" stiff blade when I just have a few.

You need more squirrels. I know a guy in Tennessee that might be able to help you out. 😉

Got out for a short trip today. 7:30 - 11:30. It was a balmy 31 degrees, with a cool refreshing breeze blowing 10-15 out of the north. The ol rock pile produced again, giving up a 40" and a 31". Gotta love those fat winter fish. Even that little 31" is built like a railroad tie. Both fish came about 10min apart around 8:30. Surface temp is down to 38.7, and the bite windows ain't open long. I gotta work the next four, but the extended forecast is looking better than it was. If it holds up, I may get out next Tues and Wed. Fingers crossed.

Whichever one the fish want that day. In really gnarly stuff it's always a flippin rig with a snelled straight shank. I throw both on MH to XH rods. That's a bait and cover dependent decision.

First time I've ever had the boat out in January. Not a bad way to kick off 2024. Forecast calls for teens and twenties by the middle of next week. I might get out next Tuesday for one last trip if the forecast holds. Then again, this is one crazy winter. I could be out again soon if it's open and we get a good warm front. A friend who lives on the lake, and has fished it for muskie for 39 years, recently told me he's had some epic days trolling big cranks in Jan and Feb if there's open water and a warming trend. Says he trolls them a 3.5 - 4 mph like it's summer. Go figure.

LOL!!! That Striker Ice suit is awesome. Super warm without being bulky, and it'll keep me afloat should I take an unintended swim. I was just telling the wife a bit ago, those are almost the same pic with a different fish. LOL. That rock pile is about 100yds long. Both fish came off the same spot on the south tip of it.

2 for 2 to start the new year!!! Same rockpile that gave up the 44" yesterday, gave up this 42" big headed old male today. I can't believe it took me so long to figure out why I was struggling this fall. My last trip last week, out of frustration, I put a 4.8 fat on a jighead and threw it on it's own instead of on the rig. At the end of the first retrieve I immediately noticed how much more kick, and less roll, it had vs the way I've been rigging them on the A-Rig. Unable to find 1/4oz jigheads with a muskie worthy hook, I started rigging them on a 6/0 flippin hook with a bell sinker hanging on the split ring as a keel weight. I didn't notice how much it changed the action but the fish sure did. Me being the dunce that I am, I just kept grinding away, getting lots of follows but few bites. I should have caught it far sooner. Oh well, better late than never I guess. 2023 will forever be remembered as "the fall that could have been". I'm good to go now though. I modified my Manic Mullet mold to accept a 6/0 Mustad 32850. It's a beast of a hook. I'll get to fish Thursday, and maybe next Tuesday and that'll be it for awhile if the forecast holds true.

I need a couple trolling rods, and a couple 9' MH muskie rods. Need some big rubber baits and more cranks. Gonna build some more bucktails and chatterbaits. It ain't gonna be a cheap year.

🤣 I've been called worse!!!

Happy New Year from scenic Leesville Lake!!! Ended a seven trip drought today with this super thick 44". Sure felt good to get that monkey off my back. Not a bad way to start the 2024 campaign either!!! 39 surface temp, air was low/mid 30's all day. Had an aggressive follow from a high 30's on my third cast, then NOTHING until I hooked up with this sow on a rockpile in 22' about 5hrs later. SLOW rolling the rig just off bottom.

They're delicious. Not as tender as younger deer, but they still taste great. Proper dressing and care of the meat is the key to good eating. That matters much more than the age or sex of the deer.

Congrats!!!

For sure. The Chad Shad is solid also. Switching to it when they wouldn't commit on the 22 turned several followers into biters for me.

It's a versatile well built reel reel suitable for lots of techniques. Mine's currently on small muskie crank/jerk duty.

That's kind of a scary question given your occupation.

They haven't been productive for me during daylight hours, but the loon 110 has been good in the dark at times.

I did more cranking this year than ever before, but it was for muskie not bass. The Llungen .22 short was king of the hill by a long shot. Designed and originally manufactured by my guide buddy, it's one mighty little (by muskie standards) crankbait. It may have put more slimers in the net than everything else put together.

Neds, tubes.

Pitching into a nasty tangle and feeling "tick", or better yet feeling nothing until I go to move the bait is more exciting than a top water blowup to me. Those soft takes are usually quality fish. To answer the OP, every piece of cover is different and I'll approach it considering wind, depth, sun, fish behavior that day, etc. Sometimes it's outside in, sometimes it's straight to the best looking spot first. As @Choporoz stated, known cover is also a factor. Say I'm fishing a large laydown that I know well. My first pitch is going straight to the prime spot that historically holds the quality fish. I'll not risk buggering up the sweet spot by getting hung somewhere else. A big laydown can hold several fish, but there'll be a spot or three that consistently holds the bigger fish.

😂 Prime pelts aren't worth much these days.