T-Billy

You've been there, done that Katie. Blood stained jeans are just part of the muskie fishing game. Teeth have only rarely got me, but those gill rakers draw blood on a regular basis. Gloves are for wussies and children. ? ? Bowfin teeth will absolutely do that Woody. A bowfins mouth would be a terrible place to get a finger stuck. They have jaws like a vice, and once they bite down on something they're not big on letting go.

ME TOO!!! Lol. Here's a little preview teaser. ?

Nice @gimruis!!! Those tigers are gorgeous fish. I wish we had some in our lakes. Good job with the bunghole who cut you off too. Always enjoyable when you catch fish behind them and get to heckle 'em about it.

Story of my year right there. Everything is running late this year, and once a pattern does setup, it doesn't last long. I've had a good year, but it's been a challenge staying on 'em. That said, things are setting up for some mayhem over the next couple months. Mostly muskie, but hopefully I'll manage to put a few more big bass and eyes in the boat too.

Ark, Tharp, Money Maker. Better than a lot of rods that cost much more. If you're gonna be fishing them mostly in the jungle, then I'd recommend the Invoker 7'4" Mag Heavy.

Happy to hear they got Mrs B taken care of. God bless y'all.

Caught my first fish on my newly built mag size chatterbait this morning. I got on my spot right at the morning major and on the third cast it got smoked by this thick 44 incher in about 2' of water. I lost another shortly after, at boatside. It was about 40-42". Came unbuttoned while I was reaching for the net. Three more follows by low 30's and then it was like fishing the dead sea for the next three hours so I called it. Happy to have some success on the chatterbait. It's been a bit of a challange finding a hook I'm happy with, but I think I'm good to go now.

An idiot can't do what you do with that bait. You've also added to your bag of tricks this year and put up some truly impressive numbers. You're a pretty well rounded angler IMO. Maybe add a heavy action rod to your bag of tricks next year and fish that deeper thick stuff more vertically would be my only suggestion. Even from that tippy canoe you'll land a high percentage of those big bites.

I think a big key is the KISS system. Learn to locate fish, then find a couple techniques you're really good at and GRIND.

Well there ya go @gimruis, all ya gotta do is whack a giant buck on opening day, then you can muskie fish. ?

I feel for ya. Some states have some silly fishing regulations. Get out there and throw an A-rig with some 4.8 Keitech Fat's on it if you get a chance this fall once the water gets into the low 50's, all the way down to high 30's. Ya might just experience the best muskie fishing you ever have. It's easy fishing compared to blades and cranks too. Just find some big baitfish schools around structure and SLOW roll that thing.

Early December fish. 40 degree air, 40 degree water. Happy Hillbilly. Late fall is monster season. EARLY spring is also monster season.

Fluoro being invisible underwater is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on bass fisherman. It being low stretch comes in second.

Weather, more elbow room on the water, and a higher potential for a BIG bite.

Congratulations!!!

Beaver type bait on a flippin rig is #1 for me in that situation. Heard all my life that fish avoid dead grass. Figured out a couple years ago that's a load of bull.

Got on 'em pretty early this morning with three aggressive follows on a crank shortly after daylight. They were following close and snapping at it , but just wouldn't commit. Moved to some shallower milfoil and managed these two on #8 blades. First fish came about 08:30, second around 09:30, then a drought until I called it around 13:00. Both pretty thick fish for this time of year. 36" and 39". Back to the grind for the next five days. Forecast is looking good though. Water might be below 70 next trip. Saw some small shad schools today. They'll be putting the feedbags on soon.

Brothers from other mothers? ? ? My wife showed my grandkids a pic of me from my high school yearbook, now they want me to grow a mullet again. ? ZERO chance of that happening.

Straight 30# or 50# Sufix 832.

Words to live by.

I wouldn't normally bother with taking a pic of a 28", but after cranking for nearly 9hrs for THIS bite... oh it's getting it's picture taken, AND posted!!! LOL. Bout a half hour later I caught this 36". Meanest muskie I've ever caught. They'll usually shake their head to pull away from you when your trying to slip your fingers under their gill plate to pick 'em up. This fish was actually snapping at my hand while I was trying to get a handle on her. Took her 5 or 6 tries, but she got me. She's so mean, I named her Marci, after my sister. ?

LOL. I bow only to Jesus. That said, I'd go broke fast fishing for money against those other three you mentioned.

I keep you and Dee on my prayer list as well Hammer. God bless y'all.

Your dad and my maternal Grandpa were a lot alike. Your description of your dad fits my gramps to a T. Gramps was a radio man in a B-24 in WW2. They hunted german subs over the English channel. He's been gone 35 years, and I still miss him something terrible. He was the greatest role model in my life. I was very blessed to have him, and a couple great uncles who took an interest in me in my life. My dad was an alchoholic bum.

If there are deep weeds available, burning a crank through and over them has been the ticket here in OH for the past month. Coontail and milfoil in 10-14 feet is where I've been finding them. Water's in the mid 70's here, and they want it moving FAST. The Llungen .22 Short has been the allstar for me, with a double 8 bucktail getting honorable mention. This pattern has put 25 fish between 30" and 46" in the net since early August.