Thanks guys! I appreciate the compliments.

Yeah, that is a custom built Just Encase box that extends the front deck and makes it more comfortable for 2 guys casting with big equipment. Don’t quote me but I believe the box is 44″ x 25″ and is bullet proof!

John, the video is very high resolution HD so it actually does the same thing on my computer. However my iPhone seems to play it just fine (go figure). The audio is something we need to work on (that was a learning lesson) but should be understandable. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you see it better.

No need to apologize muskeye… 4 and 5 footers are huge! I don’t fish in them. If the lake kicks up that big I’m finding dry land… With that said, I’m sure my 1825 will see some 4 footers on the way back in at some point this year. I’ll report back on the performance!

I just got into the 1825 mx this year and so far I love it. I have been fishing mostly in Wisconsin and putting the boat in at landings that I figured I had no chance with. The boat is harder to get off the trailer than getting it back on… So if you can push it off… No worries, you’ll get it back out of the water. As for the ride, I haven’t had it on a ton of big water but I have it on Chequemegon Bay twice now and had to cut diagonally across 2 – 3 footers and was super impressed with the ride… I have a 200 on mine and love it. I actually had a guy laying on is back on the front deck as I was doing about 47 mph in decent waves (not 3 footers) but he was practically asleep up there. I would not be worried about the ride of 1825, unless you fish huge water every day and have back troubles. If you like to cast, you will love this boat. Fishablilty is awesome!

I think “What makes sense rarely gets implemented” is a product of laziness or lack of ability and/or funds to properly enforce any micro-legislation.

What I mean is that it’s easier for them to just shut everything down at night and basically make just being on the water a reason to get stopped. Rather than have to sneak up on people and try to determine what species they are after (not that it’s hard to hear cowgirl blades clanking in the night).

Laziness I tell ya!!

With the clear water up there this will make musky fishing really easy!

Thanks guys!

Yes, I do use the shallow dawgs as well. The double dawgs are just a different look. They have shallow pounders that they are selling at the shows now as well. These will get some rund time next year too

Thanks guys, the fish was 49″. Nice clean fish too. All the other fish we had caught before that one were beat up with spawning scars.

Yeah, Mike does a nice job with his camera mounts. He stays really busy in changing go pro batteries and memory cards!

I like to use a wire leader with any walk the dog lure. Topwater or suspending. It gives it the best side to side action. If it’s making the topwater ride too low, it might be too heavy along with the snaps and swivels.

Check out Stealth Tackle’s Leaders. They have a solution for everything. Lot’s of fluoro options. It’s all I use for muskies.

Yikes!

The musky really completes the wall! Congrats on the fish.

Sounds like some good trips planned out there… Also sounds like Canada is still most peoples desired destination.

The last several times I’ve been there was to the Winnepeg River system in Minaki. Great fishing but a bit of a haul. Think we might do Sabaskong Bay this year if we pull a trip together.

Contact with the weeds works in cabbage but stay poised and ready to pop/rip off the weeds. I like to pop the rod straight up in the air. I’ll also tune the dawgs so the head is sticking up up a little… this allows you to stear them through cabbage tips a little better.

Milfoil and junk weeds, curly leaf, etc… are another story. Coontail is usually down a little further this early in the year, but same story with that too. Tough to get your bait to come away clean when you bump into this stuff. But if you’re seeing a lot of fish and not getting bit… contact could be the answer.

Thanks for the kind words about the article

I use Toothtamer Rods a lot. They have a lot of different blanks in different sizes and actions. I’d look into them. They have a few really nice 7’6″ sticks that you’d probably like.

Thanks!

Yeah, I’ve been sort of leaning towards the Frabill grey suit… I almost always have to try stuff on. I can’t stand when something doesn’t fit just right. A lot of the big winter ice suits seem too bulky for casting musky baits but that Frabill seems to be alright in the armpit area…

I’ve heard decent things about the prop style Tyrant bait (I’m guessing its the spinjack) The Keyes Outdoors guys really like them. Never used one myself.

That Stormr stuff looks interesting but I think I’d have to try that stuff on and see it in person first. Anybody have it on their shelves around town?

I’ve given the Stryker stuff a quick look too. Looks decent but I haven’t talked to anybody that wears it (who isn’t trying to sell it)

-Thanks for the recommendations though guys…

I saw a topwater mentioned too, that reminds me that I’m definitely going to be grabbing some Big Mama baits this year too. Had some luck on a couple of them last year… Plus Musky Buster is back. They have some great baits in their line up. I’ll be checking them out too.

That’s some funny stuff right there!

That’s some funny stuff right there!

Brrrr! Another cold one today… Almost a repeat of yesterday, I lose or miss a fish and James comes in to salvage an otherwise miserable day! This guy knows how to bring the hurt to muskies!!

I do have to say, despite the less than desirable weather conditions, I had a great time fishing with James and Ben the past couple of days. Truely one of the best times I’ve ever had in a boat. Great experience!… Woulda been perfect,.. if only I had a nose warmer.

Nice! I believe an oyster based buollion works best… That or PBR.

Yeah, hit me up. I haven’t even thought about sucks yet… Man that is right around the corner though…

Hahaha… What a day! I had a great time with BK and Coley. I especially enjoyed watching their syncronized figure 8’s… I can’t wait to see that work.

It sure was a tough day of fishing but was definitely one of the most entertaining days I’ve had in a while. Thanks for making it out!

Oh, and by the way Coley… I just spell checked conversationalist. Guess what? It’s a real word. A real word that only a good conversationalist would use… haha

Thanks and lets do it again sometime…

Scott, Tim and Ben covered it pretty well there… and Yes, Thorne Bros. is still the place to go for all your musky needs. They have it all… except for reliable leaders I guess…

What ever you do, do NOT use a Thorne Bros. leader or any fluoro leader that isn’t tied and crimped. I’ve seen them break on a number of occasions. I am constantly making my clients remove their leaders because they are only crimped… With that said, I use fluoro leaders a lot. Bucktails, Dawgs, and trolling… Although lately I’ve been trolling alot with a solid wire leader… Sometimes I think it gives off a better vibration. Every leader I use is made by Stealth Tackle. They have a leader for every applicaton and I’ve seen hundreds and hundreds of muskies boated without a single failure on a Stealth Leader.

I’ve had to resort to fishing the river and WI lately but I think we may have turned the corner a bit here in the metro… Had 4 on and caught 2 yesterday finally… This little cold front might stifle the bite for a couple days though…

Fishing has been picking up a bit. I boated a 50″ on July 3rd before going up north for the 4th… I’ll get around to writing a proper report on here soon…

This sounds like a great event. Well done Michael to you and the Chapter for putting this on. It would be really fun to get my daughter out there one of these years… If I could just get the bass rod out of her hands!

Bummer man. My Monday just rescheduled for later in the week… If you’re interested, I could maybe work out a deal for ya on a trip.

Thanks again for all this feed back guys. I’m thinking that the fluoro leader is the way to go in most situations.

Hey Greg, it was great to meet you this weekend. This sounds like a good idea and I might have to take you up on that offer this year. Let’s stay in touch… Thanks!

Good talking with you Joe, Tim, Shawn, Ben, Greg and everybody else that stopped by. It was a great show this year. The turn out was great and everybody seems to be pretty excited for the upcoming season. I can’t wait!