Can you say MUSKY!!!??

[TimK]

That's great, because I can't - still.

Got out this eveing, 9/16, and fished the road bed, NMZ and the shoreline before and around EP#2. Used Super Shad Raps, Suick's and in-line spinners. Nada, nothing, not even a visible follow. I'm beginning to wonder if I purchased what will turn into a really nice bass outfit or an overpriced catfish outfit.

Surface water temp is down to 68 - was 71 on Saturday. After the wind died down the surface came alive with fish.

I WILL be out this weekend - come on crappy weather!!!

I also have a trip booked with Ron Faulk in Oct. Is it cheating to use a guide?

At least I didn't lose a $15 dollar lure this musky outing. And I have finally purchased a lure retriever as advised; a Frabill 12'. Not the 18', but it was on sale and they didn't have the 18' and I figure better something than nothing.

Thanks for listening to me whine.

Gripe time:

What is with the guys who load their boat, kayak this time, and then pull an entire 20 feet past the ramp???? This guy wasn't even in front of the dumpster - what a pain. Should there be a sign that says pull past this point when removing your watercraft?

[MUSKYMAN]

you will do well with ron fulk
he taught me alot and i boated 3 fish on oct 11 of last year
with him and i have now more confidence than i did before.
good luck to you
catch a big one
paul <"{{{{{{{{{{<<

[JTH]

TimK-

Have you tried any topwater baits lately?
Topwater can be the trigger this time of year.

I prefer prop-style baits like Stompers or Topraiders, but zig-zag lures like Jackpots or Top Preys will also work well this time of year.

Good Luck!!

Thad Hinshaw
Evergreen Muskie Guide Service

[TimK]

MM,

Thanks for the good word. Interesting date too; that's the day I'm booked for! If I have 1/2 your success with Ron I'll be very pleased.


JTH,

Thanks for the advice. Used the Suick a bit around some fallen trees. I adjusted the tail to give it more of a splash/pop when I jerked it. Looked like it was working nicely for a topwater. I don't have any topwater lures specifically but I can change that in short order. Thanks for the recommendations.


Question:

I'm using 65lb Stealth Spiderwire and a 100lb solid wire titanium leader. Too heavy? Maybe spooking the fish? I love the combo; strong, nearly unbreakable and casts w/o fouling the lure 99% of the time.

[JTH]

TimK-

I think 100# leader is big, but it's not scaring the fish.
As far as I know, muskies have no concept of a leader.

Keep pluggin' Tim and you will get one soon.
Good Luck!!

Thad

[davep]

#100 lb single strand wire leader is just fine and wont do any harm to the action of th elure or scare the fish. I use up to 174lb single strand with no problems. Remember, muskie shave no capacity for any form of thought. They are instinctive and dont "think" about whether they should hit a bait or not. "Dumb as a stump" is even giving them too much credit.

[TimK]

Thanks again.

I would have prefered a 90# leader but they only had 100# in titanium (I swear by that stuff) and so I figured what's 10#'s in this category. And I really like the solid wire. I've fished twisted steel leaders for years and am not really fond of them.


Dumb as a stump eh?? What's that make me since I can't get one to bite????:D

Got a couple of topwaters, hopefully try them tonight.

[NxtRecordholder]

TimK -

Don't get too discouraged. Look at the weather when you are fishing. Massive high pressure system with bluebird skies. Not exactly what brings out the appetite in these fish. They like clouds and wind. This weather is great for breaking out the telescope and looking at Mars (which I did last night), not fishing.

If you are going out with Ron, then you are less than a month away from catching your first musky.

[KevinWakeman]

When you go out with Ron, pay attention to every detail, he'll teach you a lot even if the weather is against you. Ask lots of questions and do exactly what he says and you'll catch fish for a long time to come. Nobody gets one every time, that's just how fishing works, but he's as close to a sure thing as you're gonna find in Illinois.

[Reggie]

Tim, I'll give you some great advise if your going out with Ron, throw away the great leaders you have. Some of them are junk.
Ive been out with Ron twice lately and although we have yet to stick a muskie, we have fished really hard. windy both times, cloudy and cold, and muggy hot. I'll take the bluebird weather, with warm sun. But back to the leaders, Ron will tell you that on both trips I had one of those leaders break, right at the clip, and they were new. He uses southbend, and now Ive switched back.
It would be sad to lose your first muskie because of a junky leader. Thats my opinion.

[TimK]

Thanks for the advice guys.

Reg - I know what you mean about the leaders. The first one's I bought busted on the third lure let alone a fish. Since then I've looked for heavy, heavy, leaders, snaps and only Sampo swivels. I've also added split rings to all my lures (when needed) so I didn't have to try and squeeze a heavy wire snap through a small eye.

Nxt/Reg - As far as weather? I know some conditions are better than others and I'll take a cloudy day over bright sun anytime, but if I'm fishing then I'll take what I can get. I read and heard for years that bass can't be caught mid-day in high sun; it's been those very days I've caught my largest bass so go figure.

I know I'll get that first Shab 'ski soon. Just a matter of time and TOW.

If it was easy it'd be called CATCHING and not FISHING.

Thanks again and again. If you ever see an old blue boat with the trolling motor mounted on the front in a very strange fashion, motor on by and say 'Hi'.

[davep]

Timk:
I know how you feel. These buggers are literaly dumb as stumps yet they can be very difficult to catch at times. So yes, If they are that dumb we must be idiots! Sucks doesnt it? I am with you!
As for leaders. I would not trust any store bought leader. Make your own and you will not regret it. I have never had a "homemade" leader fail. It adds to your sense of accomplishment and is alot cheaper.