Has anyone experienced a much tougher season than last year, or do you think it’s just because summer is generally tough?

9 hours ago, throttleplate said:

I actually now prefer the river over the lake because the variety of fish i catch has increased.

I am bored of lmb and prefer smallies which are very abundant in the rivers in minnesota and north dakota along with big pike and muskie in the baldhill dam in N.D.

I hear ya.  Nice to mix in the brown bass variety, and other species of fish too.  The most abundant fish around me that I target are largies.  That's just because the smaller lakes near my house have respectable populations of them.  I'd like to target smallmouth more but the nearest locations are Mille Lacs (which is 90 miles) or a river (which is subject to high and low water levels).  There are three lakes near me that have tiger muskies and I like targeting them this time of year as well.

Ironically, I am going to Mille Lacs next Tuesday for an all day outing.  Brownies are on the menu.