Susky River Rat

@Stratocat_Joe I do not run live scope. I cannot comment how that works with spot lock. I mainly fish rivers with the occasional lake. So to be able to stay on an area in current for me is key. I do not use shallow water anchors because of the added weight on the transom. Outboard jets are very finicky with weight. I know people who do run them with jets I just prefer not to. I also never anchor. It’s a pain unless I’d choose to catfish which is once a year. even in lakes I will use spot lock to position myself. I like that I have no worries about boat control and can just focus on fishing. I can also love 5-10 feet in any direction spot lock again and now I can fish a completely different angle or depth. Keep in mind the boat will want to spin bow into any current or wind. When I do not have spot lock on and am just drifting and I hook up I will hit spot lock to now blow by the area I caught the fish while I’m fighting it. I can honestly spot lock has put more fish in my boat. I do notice when I am in heavy tree cover or underneath a bridge spot lock can act a bit unpredictable. This is nothing I would give it up for though.

I would never have another TM without spot lock. I had an edge before my terrova and spot lock is one of the most valuable/useful things for me. Terrovas have spot lock a wired electric foot pedal and a remote. I know it sucks but, I’d just buy a new one. Boat stands for break out another thousand.

If it ain’t a Ned rig it ain’t worth throwing……. Kidding. I do like to make bottom contact and smallies in the river seem into it. Summer tim and ultra shallow I throw top water,spinners,cranks. Fall into winter jerks Ned’s tubs and drop shot sometimes.

@TnRiver46she will go on the boat we have gone down to stonewall for musky but it was more of a vacation than just a fishing trip. There has to be other things for us to do. I have to spin in the right way. So donates to butter her up would be welcome ?

@gimruis the big V isn’t a numbers lake anymore. Most people are going there for mid 50s. Todays angler did a whole thing about it. Lee was guiding up there in its hay day.

This sounds like an awesome idea. I know I can honestly say unless it was a very close body of water for a day out I could never pull this off. I have to keep my wife happy first lol. She doesn’t say to much about my fishing or what I spend on it. Spending time away from here to fish would be a big no no.

@Cody28 would it be possible to be a co angler in the tourney? Do that till you can get the boat you really want.

@Cattnot something that get used often but, when you need it it’s worth it’s weight in gold.

@Catt I’m to busy dodging rocks but, I try my best to eat on the run as well. @A-Jay I always have a roll of charmin on the boat.

It depends on a few things. Genes, structure/cover, and food. The short answer is yes you could correlate big pickerel could equal big bass. My guess is if you have big pickerel you’d have a slightly smaller population of bass with good genes and better size.

@santafish tap their name then there should be something that’s like an envelope tap that and it will open up the PM.

I take a monster for my morning coffee. I take a chewy granola bar or some pretzels or jerky. I take water and a power aide too. I am not a big eater through out the day. my dog has all the treats and water he could ever want though.

Z-man why? Ned rigs.

@T-Billy I understand time of year etc. still a 60lb fish would be a record. We are also far from peak weight season. I spent years only targeting musky nothing else. I have enough musky gear to feed a small family for a year if I’d sell it.

If it’s free it’s for me.

That is amazing work man! That’s hot unforgiving work that you’ll never know exactly what you’re getting into till you start tearing something apart. My hats off to you. I’ve just been a welder for the last 15 years. I’ll stick to welding rather than doing what you do.

Do you have otters? A musky would have tried to rip engulf it or rip it off and take it. They are blind in front of their mouth they wouldn’t nibble something apart. That os why musky strikes are generally so aggressive. They are ambush predators just like a bass. edit. Could have been a turtle as well.

@scaleface once musky get to 40” they start to get their shoulders on them. That’s when you start to seem them get girth.a 40 compared to a 45” musky becomes a whole different looking fish girth wise. I have no doubt it was probably between that range. Could it have been bigger 100% it could have. I know everyone talks about 50” but, anything over 40 is a quality fish. Those fish are escape artists. I think a lot of it has to do with they have a bone structure for a mouth instead of cartilage. Unless you get s hook buried they are just skin hooked.

My hands used to be that way all the time nature of the beast. A solid 40” on bass gear will feel like a 60lb. If you caught a 60lb you’d have a record fish. Musky are very impressive fish. Now that I am 95% into bass I’m still waiting for all these 50” musky to bite me off at the boat ramps. It’s a shame you couldn’t land it and get some pics! Love seeing big muskys.

The musky are all the bass. Kidding. I was down there on a fishing trip of my own and there was a state wide BASS championship tournament going on it was October. I was musky fishing but, I think only about 3 people got a bag limit both days. It does seem like a hard lake in that respect. I only have limited time there though.

@santafish used to be. I have not been to marsh in probably two years. I haven’t musky fished since last October. now I just stay on the susky for bronze backs 95% of the time.

Great group of guys and gals here. Enjoy all the knowledge and banter you’ll find here.

I do not use them

@santafish I used to fish marsh creek a lot. It was for a different species though.

If I would have hung out with people like me especially about ten years ago it would not have been good. Nothing would have been a bad idea. Hospital or jail bound would have been likely. I would say most of my friends over lap about 20%. 50% for me would not be good lol. Sounds to be like you’re in the honey moon phase of a bromance.