Mattlures Hardgill got crushed by this 38"er

Very nice, is the bait still useable?

Well, I could be a jerk and tell you thats a half starved sublegal fish you are holding improperly, or I could say nice catch.. I'm torn...

Nice muskie man I bet you needed to buy a new swim bat

Nice, were you targeting muskie or was it an accidental catch? It looks like a see a leader in your picture but if I was fishing a custom painted hardgill in muskie waters I'd be using a leader too, even if I was after bass.

Even big old 'skies fear the beard!

Bait is perfectly fine. One of the front trebles got a hook broken off but other than that no problems.

Was that a swimbait or a jerk bait. And you could have washed that ski off for the picture too. LOL

Was that a swimbait or a Jerk bait. And you could have washed that ski off for the picture too. LOL

Just wanted to get a pic and get it back in the water.

Mattlures Hardgill got crushed by this 38"er

Beauty man! Congrats. Do you fish Musky often or just when they hit your bass stuff? I love musky fishing but once you go to Canada and musky fish...no where else is quite the same. I picked off my first IL musky in the Fox River back in May this year. Caught on a 1/2 oz Red Eye Shad, Orange Craw color.

Lots of musky here in our waters, Caught one 2 weeks ago fishing a senko on spinning tackle, 10lb braid. Took me a while to bring it in, Didnt measure it but it weighed 16 lbs.

Beauty man! Congrats. Do you fish Musky often or just when they hit your bass stuff? I love musky fishing but once you go to Canada and musky fish...no where else is quite the same. I picked off my first IL musky in the Fox River back in May this year. Caught on a 1/2 oz Red Eye Shad, Orange Craw color.

Been fishing this spot specifically for musky the last two years and just now getting them to show some interest. I've had a ton of follows this year but this is the first one I have hooked up with here.

I've had them hit an 3:16 8" Freestyle trout and a 3:16 Rising son this year without getting hooked up.

Most of the follows have come on the 3:16 OG Wake bait (matte bone color) cranked down, a High Power Herring ripped around grass clumps or a Born Again Armageddon (perch trout) cranked down.

Been fishing this spot specifically for musky the last two years and just now getting them to show some interest. I've had a ton of follows this year but this is the first one I have hooked up with here.

I've had them hit an 3:16 8" Freestyle trout and a 3:16 Rising son this year without getting hooked up.

Most of the follows have come on the 3:16 OG Wake bait (matte bone color) cranked down, a High Power Herring ripped around grass clumps or a Born Again Armageddon (perch trout) cranked down.

Do you ever throw any bucktails? I like the Mepps Musky Killers or Double Cowgirls (the smaller ones). Black/orange or black/silver/blue. I've caught a majority of my musky from bucktails alone. Seeing musky follows is a rush, I still remember my first time. I'll never forget that moment.

I'd be willing to bet a barracuda tube would get a lot of muskie strikes. I've caught many of both species and there are quite a few similarities in how they strike, follow or veer off without striking at all. I even have used a figure 8 for cudas with success.

I'd be willing to bet a barracuda tube would get a lot of muskie strikes. I've caught many of both species and there are quite a few similarities in how they strike, follow or veer off without striking at all. I even have used a figure 8 for cudas with success.

I agree they would likely hit that.

Figure 8's are out of the question how I am fishing for these things unfortunately. Most of the time, the water is mid chest on me. Even if it were only knee-deep it would be tough.

The cuda tubes actually were developed for stripers, as I heard it, from a gent in Maryland. The is supposed to resemble an eel............I make them a few ways, this style is the only pic I have, that's a 12/0 limerick hook, it's bent and that what gives it the spinning movement.

Interesting.

Might need to be a bit meatier through the body to get a 'ski to chase it. You're fishing a lot more clear water than I am.

Ever split the tag end of that tubing to give it a forked tail look?

Interesting.

Might need to be a bit meatier through the body to get a 'ski to chase it. You're fishing a lot more clear water than I am.

Ever split the tag end of that tubing to give it a forked tail look?

That's true, cuda's like calm clear water, a much harder catch in dirty water. Never tried splitting the tail, most of my cronies make them similar to mine.

I did make a mini version and used it for bass, I was surprised as I got struck.

Hell, I'd be adding Krystal Flash and all types of things to it.

That thing would look like a disco ball coming through the water.

Any more ski's lately SpeedBead?

nice fish, but thats on helluva swimbait stick you got there. May i ask what brand? or custom?

Any more ski's lately SpeedBead?

I wish man, got a case of the newborn at home. LOL, it might be a while until I get back out there.

As for the rod, it's a Low Down Customs Production rod, heavy action. I think I am allowed to post a link, if not I apologize to whoever deletes it.

http://lowdowncustomrods.com/swimbaitrods/production/

I wish man, got a case of the newborn at home. LOL, it might be a while until I get back out there.

I hear ya. I have 4 month old twin boys. My fishing time this year has been close to non-existent. I was expecting that though coming into this year so it's all good. Plenty of years to come.