Susky River Rat

I normally run 10-20lb braid usually suffix 832. I know some will cringe but, I run about 6ft of Berkeley vanish 17lb on everything for a leader. I do this because of how rocky the susky is. It will just tear up braid l. The only time I have a failure in my line leader or other wise is when breaking it out from a snag. Now I have been bit off by musky. Tooth proof is not my intent though.

@Swamp Girl and @Jigfishn10 this is the issues with fishing a super shallow river with lots of rocks. @A-Jay that sounds like some very intense training. I do not mind fishing in the fog it’s just the river is not very friendly for it. I plan those adventures to where I can run with no issues. unless something happens like it did that day to me.

@Swamp Girl one time I had fog roll in on me fast. About 15 minutes. I had to be up on plane in my boat to get through the area I needed to go through. It was a very come to Jesus moment where I put a lot of trust and luck into my gps. Same with if I get stuck out in the wind. Not a I’m going to swamp the boat issue but a I can’t read the water issue.

@gim there is a picture. The story is the guy who caught it knew the new paper and a commission guy at the time took a picture and that’s all she wrote.

Not a bass record but the PA State musky record is going on 101 years.

@WRB it is right around 40 degrees when this starts to happen.

Welcome aboard! I did a small stint of musky fishing in NJ. I’m in PA.

I was thinking the same thing. I don’t have any experience with weather or body’s of water like that. I have heard how on big bodies of water they can see it raining on one side and it’s sunny on the other so that’s where they stay fishing. @T-Billy I’ve been out musky fishing during complete white outs. I know the deal.

@WRB in Pa when trout season opens is the official get your ass on the river for smallies. They start crushing them early

Musky guys would have said one more cast the boat isn’t flipped yet! That is insane. I am glad they are ok. My biggest fear is getting caught in a bad storm.

The only DD I could post is my foot in one of those bass sandals.

I think it will be a mixed bag. Not all the big or small fish left. The better question will be how has this effected bass that can still breed and their breeding grounds?

Pick me in drinking tonight. Draft yuengling lager!

@Ohioguy25 thsi time of year doesn’t matter. March once you find them schooling really doesn’t matter either April to may they tend to enjoy to sun up very shallow.

I should sharpen hooks more than I do. Very guilty of not doing it till I lose a fish. The reason we can file them sharper is because the chemical will be left on for a certain amount of time than neutralized. This is fast and works good just not the best. Almost all musky guys get brand new baits and sharpen the hooks right away before it’s even thrown. I am not near as picky with bass stuff but, if I get snagged good bet I am sharpening hooks after.

till there is a consistent warming trend that typically starts mid March the air temp will have little to do with anything other than comfort for you. Now high water will get fish to move and eat anytime of year. You just have to know the area to fish when it’s high.

Happy New Years! Be safe, be healthy and be happy. Keep those drags singing and bait monkey grinning.

You can use any technique without FFS. FFS just makes it more efficient. You won’t cover dead water and you will have instant feed back on how fish are reacting. It takes the guess work and wondering out. The guys who are really good at it are the ones who can tell or have a good idea what species they are actually casting at.

@Jar11591 In Pa the fish and boat commission is funded by boat registrations and fishing licenses being bought. No tax dollars unless their is grants from the state involved. This is one reason why there was a huge uproar a few years ago when they wanted to use part of fishing license fees to fund the highway projects.

@MediumMouthBass @gim usually people using live bait here are for flatheads and they catch their own gills.

@gim is it your state or Wisconsin where if you take live bait you need to have the receipt and showed your livewell was filled with water from the bait shop? @TnRiver46 honestly I think most avid fishermen/woman follow the dry and drain. No one wants to spend the money on this stuff than of mold filled or smelly gear.

Serious question. How the hell are you going to dry your bunks? The carpet on mine stays wet for a solid two weeks in my garage.

Personally, if possible I would give up lakes and ponds. I would go for a stream or river. a drop shot would also be an option for this thr weight may get junk on it but, the bait will be visible.

@looking45 exactly! I wish I’d follow this wisdom though lol I am terrible for jumping right off the gunwale onto the ground. One day it will bite me in the butt.

@Junk Fisherman you ain’t the only one