T-Billy

All my good worm stories involve a bottle of el toro, and should not be told here. 😆 They probably shouldn't be told anywhere actually. That rot gut will make you take back stuff you never stole.

Gonna be a bunch of big names looking for a new home. I'm a fan of the every fish format and I'm happy to see it return, but I'm far less than impressed with Boyd and Co. Quite the poop show they've been putting on.

Forget fluoro for this task. 50# 832 is the way to roll in cover. That zillion will serve you well, so will most other aluminum frame reels. I'm partial to Lew's Pro SP for pitching. The light shallow spool starts up fast which aids in pitching lighter baits, and holds plenty of braid for the task.

Couple of thick, beautiful fish there @A-Jay. Very nice.

MUSKIES SUCK!!! 😂 7.5 hrs of chucking an A-rig and double 10's and all I got was one lazy follow and a tail nipped off to show for it. Fortunately I haven't lost my touch with the ditch pickles. I pitched up a limit of these lttle guys in about an hour and a half and called it a day.

I caught these two 4 somethings on a double 8 bucktail back in August on the same trip. I figured I'd catch one now and then on big blades, but two in one trip surprised me. Also managed a couple slimers on that outing.

First two fish on the rig for fall 23. 41" and 36". Lost a mid 40's and a high 30's on it also, plus another half dozen follows. They're eating it up in the creeks where the water's in the mid 50's and there's small schools of gizzards balling up. Still too warm in the main lake basins at 61, and no shad schools there yet. First fall fish in the fur hat yesterday morning. Barely over 30". The hat needs to step up it's game. This kinda performance is unacceptable.

I've tried quite a few, and IMO 832 is king in cover.

Case reopened. My Ark rods require a bit less weight added to the butt to get the balance I want, compared to Dobyns Sierra or Kaden lines. Length and Power being equal. Dobyns rod balance is WAY overblown IMO. Same here. When palming it, I want it to balance on my middle finger so the tip rests around 9-10 o'clock when I open my hand. Doesn't have to be perfect, just in that neighborhood. I don't balance my moving bait rods. I prefer they be a bit tip heavy.

Lowes or Walmart usually.

I balance all my bottom contact rods with those rubber slip on furniture feet of the appropriate size. I pour the needed amount of lead into them and quench in water. Works like a charm and doesn't look bad.

Coontail or milfoil. Not sure from those pics.

Mid 50's all the way down to 38. Sunny afternoons are best. Shallow wood is your friend.

This company is aptly named. @AlabamaSpothunter nailed it.

The Ark will be faster, lighter, and more sensitive, with a much better quality blank, and guides.

Got some much needed action this morning. Took a double skunking over the last two days. We got some cold rain over the weekend that caused an early turn over. The main lake basin looks like tea, and the water up in the creeks has dropped as much as 14 degrees in a few days time. The crankbait bite is GONE. They're shallow, but buried up in the weeds and not being very cooperative. This morning I got a follow each on a 10/9 stagger, double 8's, and the little #6 Vibrax. Put on a single #8, gold on gold, and that was the magic combo. Both fish crushed it mid retrieve and had it choked. Caught them about 20min apart and just like that, the window slammed shut and it was right back to no action. Then came the floatilla. I got invaded by 8 other boats on about a 10 acre spot, and every other spot I wanted to hit had boats on them, so I called it a trip. Happy to get the skunk out of the boat. Working the next four, then off for four. Hopefully the lake's in better shape by then. Skinny, beat up, blind in one eye 37". Poor little fish has lead a rough life. Thick beast of a 39.5".

All these jigs tend to catch better than average fish.

I started targeting muskie outside of the cold water periods for the first time back in August. August 10th to present, I've put 34 over 30" in the boat, with 9 of them being over 40". Hopefully I'll add to that number this morning. The forecast is looking good, with colder temps and a consistant SW wind for a few days.

S.W.A.G Some women always get'm.

Congrats on the AOY Katie!!! You certainly earned it, Hammer. 😉

I've heard that big fish like spinnerbaits. Maybe you should try one of those.