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Posts: 7010
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | Curious what others' fishing plans for next year look like....
For me, after finding more of a love of just being out (usually kayaking) even when it's not for muskies (for shame!) I see a bit more of this next year.
Really hoping to hit some smaller rivers in TN and the UP this year for muskies from the yak, but going to chase the big toothies in Canada a couple weeks while not forgetting the great open water salmon/trout we have right near me. A few muskie trips to the north + river fishin locally for brownzers.
I have a busy plan. Hopefully LIFE allows me to do so!!!
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Posts: 7010
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | AND to never look at fishing as "wasting time on the water" by making sure I'm geared up to deal with both conditions + emotional preparation for success versus non-fishy seeming conditions! |
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Posts: 36
| I have 10 days in Canada planned already. Vacation from work approved so good to go! We have been going to the same place for 25 plus years and look forward to it every year. Other than that, walleyes at Fox River a couple of weekends, a couple of Smallie trips to N WI, and possibly a couple of muskie trips to MN - if I can swing the time. I cannot use up all my vacation as my wife wants to do something with me as well. I want to save a week to bow hunt too so I don't get on the water as much as I wish I could... Happy New Year! |
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Location: Athens, Ohio | I hope to go out tomorrow for my New Year fish. m |
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Location: PA Angler | Hoping to get up camp in march. Start fishing a little earlier this year. Opening day of trout will be in April probably go after them goldens for a couple weeks. |
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Posts: 32798
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Little bit of everything adding up to a lot. |
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Posts: 1212
Location: E. Tenn | Tendonitis in my casting arm is about healed, won't head out for musky til February (since it's a two hour drive each way, and I'd like the sun to set after rush hour traffic has peaked). Looking to head up to Cave Run for the Rattle Trap bite in March. Still heading to Oneida Co. in June and Sept., the crew's working on an October trip, and there's rumblings about a trip to Canada in July..
Edited by miket55 1/2/2024 9:24 PM
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Posts: 609
Location: Bloomington, MN | The big trip locked in is for 9 days on Great Slave in early July. A week at Plummer's for Lake Trout and Grayling, then two days of Pike fishing out of Yellowknife. I will then do two weeks in September in NW Ontario. I was thinking a week on Lac Seul first, but that may have changed to Stork Lake (Long Legged Chain). Then over/down to play bumper boats on Cedar (Thanks MHTV). We also will dabble in Cliff, Canyon, and possibly the Indian Chain. Pelican Lake in Wisconsin will also be fished for sentimental and mental reasons! The lake can cough up a fish occasionally. |
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Posts: 47
| Always wish I could fish more. A couple of days in April for lake trout. A weekend or two for pike in May. Musky trips early summer and early fall, then a couple of days in late fall. Georgian Bay until turnover-ish then end in the Kawarthas. |
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Posts: 7010
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | sworrall - 1/2/2024 7:36 PM
Little bit of everything adding up to a lot.
Including Spring SMALLMOUTH bass trip with Andrew!!!! |
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Posts: 599
Location: Duluth | To catch a 3lb Brook Trout, that and to make it back on the annual musky trip with the guys.
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| CincySkeez - 1/3/2024 12:19 PM
To catch a 3lb Brook Trout, that and to make it back on the annual musky trip with the guys.
3lb Brook Trout? You looking at catching one of those Lake Superior "coasters"? Knew a guy that used to make a trip up to the U.P. every year to fish for those off the river mouths near the Porkies. |
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Posts: 599
Location: Duluth | North of 8 - 1/3/2024 12:24 PM
CincySkeez - 1/3/2024 12:19 PM
To catch a 3lb Brook Trout, that and to make it back on the annual musky trip with the guys.
3lb Brook Trout? You looking at catching one of those Lake Superior "coasters"? Knew a guy that used to make a trip up to the U.P. every year to fish for those off the river mouths near the Porkies.
If I told ya, well then....
Not lake Superior watershed, but I do have a few coasters under my belt. |
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| Ha! Well, good luck, hope you achieve your goal. Back in the '90s while living in the U.P. there was a story about a guy catching a 9 lb brookie through the ice on a spring pond lake. He and everyone else were astonished. Then, the MI DNR came out with a story that the fish had been part of their hatchery brood stock for a number of years. I guess in the name of bio diversity, they eventually stop using them and they take them and release in remote lakes. The fish was indeed a giant, but had lived most of its life in a protected hatchery |
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Posts: 1212
Location: E. Tenn | CincySkeez - 1/3/2024 1:19 PM
To catch a 3lb Brook Trout
I'd love to see that... brookies in my neck of the woods live up in the mountain creeks where a huge hole in the is a plunge pool the size of a bathtub. One crawls on their hands and knees through and under the rhododendrons to get to it..
My biggest... a whopping 9-1/2"..
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Posts: 168
| miket55 - 1/3/2024 11:44 PM
CincySkeez - 1/3/2024 1:19 PM
To catch a 3lb Brook Trout
I'd love to see that... brookies in my neck of the woods live up in the mountain creeks where a huge hole in the is a plunge pool the size of a bathtub. One crawls on their hands and knees through and under the rhododendrons to get to it..
My biggest... a whopping 9-1/2"..
Here's one a wee over 7lbs.. Thickest brook trout I've ever laid eyes on. First cast of the day for the oldman.. I think that was the only fish of the day as well, lol!
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Posts: 599
Location: Duluth | BillM - 1/4/2024 10:21 AM
miket55 - 1/3/2024 11:44 PM
CincySkeez - 1/3/2024 1:19 PM
To catch a 3lb Brook Trout
I'd love to see that... brookies in my neck of the woods live up in the mountain creeks where a huge hole in the is a plunge pool the size of a bathtub. One crawls on their hands and knees through and under the rhododendrons to get to it..
My biggest... a whopping 9-1/2"..
Here's one a wee over 7lbs.. Thickest brook trout I've ever laid eyes on. First cast of the day for the oldman.. I think that was the only fish of the day as well, lol!
Sheesh, Nipigon river? |
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Posts: 377
| Continue 30 year tradition of spring and fall musky fishing trips to Vilas County and introducing musky fishing to grandkids. |
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Posts: 168
| CincySkeez - 1/4/2024 1:00 PM
BillM - 1/4/2024 10:21 AM
miket55 - 1/3/2024 11:44 PM
CincySkeez - 1/3/2024 1:19 PM
To catch a 3lb Brook Trout
I'd love to see that... brookies in my neck of the woods live up in the mountain creeks where a huge hole in the is a plunge pool the size of a bathtub. One crawls on their hands and knees through and under the rhododendrons to get to it..
My biggest... a whopping 9-1/2"..
Here's one a wee over 7lbs.. Thickest brook trout I've ever laid eyes on. First cast of the day for the oldman.. I think that was the only fish of the day as well, lol!
Sheesh, Nipigon river?
You bet. I don't think they grow them anywhere bigger  |
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Posts: 1212
Location: E. Tenn | BillM - 1/4/2024 11:21 AM
miket55 - 1/3/2024 11:44 PM
CincySkeez - 1/3/2024 1:19 PM
To catch a 3lb Brook Trout
I'd love to see that... brookies in my neck of the woods live up in the mountain creeks where a huge hole in the is a plunge pool the size of a bathtub. One crawls on their hands and knees through and under the rhododendrons to get to it..
My biggest... a whopping 9-1/2"..
Here's one a wee over 7lbs.. Thickest brook trout I've ever laid eyes on. First cast of the day for the oldman.. I think that was the only fish of the day as well, lol!
Wow.. what a beaut!
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Posts: 32798
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Slamr - 1/3/2024 10:31 AM
sworrall - 1/2/2024 7:36 PM
Little bit of everything adding up to a lot.
Including Spring SMALLMOUTH bass trip with Andrew!!!!
Absolutely. We'll go harass them on Pelican and Tomahawk. |
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Posts: 1
| I'll decide in a few days |
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Posts: 366
Location: SW Ohio | Planning on fishing at least the first two PMTT tournaments this year. Call me crazy. Would like to hit a couple different musky lakes in OH. A young friend I coached in archery lost her mom before Christmas. Found out during a lunch with her and her dad that he likes fishing so I plan on getting him out a few times throughout the year. We have a pretty good local lake that has an assortment of fish to chase. |
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Location: SE/WI | Winter season, hopefully chasing ice muskies very soon along with walleyes, crappies, pike and maybe if we get good enough ice to chase some Lakers on Geneva.
Early spring, the usual steelhead in tributaries and once the ice is out pre spawn muskies, maybe a Kinkaid trip and finish up spring with WI river walleye run.
Early Summer, lots of local waters weekdays after work for musky/walleye sprinkle some bass/crappie in plus a trip to Presque Isle to hit Armour lake, got work in the area for 2weeks up there so will take full advantage while there.
Summer summer, local waters weekdays after work and WI river on the weekends for musky, walleye and flathead.
Fall trip to either St. Clair or Green Bay and maybe back up to Presque Isle plus the usual tributaries for King salmon and cohos. |
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Posts: 82
| I’ve got plans to hit LOTW for about 9 days this summer. It’ll be my 16th year up there and look forward to it every year. Outside of that just chasing bass down here in FL. Have a tourney on Feb on the Harris Chain. Plan to bounce around after that and chase the bite. |
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Posts: 115
| first Musky fishing might be Jan or Feb full-moon camping 2-3days next to upper Potomac River western Maryland. Anyone with a tent and boat that wants to join message me. Tried to organize a trip last Winter but weather did not cooperate and only replies here were snarky and wimpy comments like "have fun camping in freezing weather, that would be brutal." So, if not interested or a wuss, just keep to yourself. This trip is for real men and women. |
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Posts: 112
| Minnesota is introducing a new C & R length state record category for most common game species of fish in the coming years. Due in 2024 is Tiger Musky. I am hoping to pile into close to a 50 incher and get my name in the record book, if only temporary. |
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| curdmudgeon - 1/8/2024 6:31 AM
first Musky fishing might be Jan or Feb full-moon camping 2-3days next to upper Potomac River western Maryland. Anyone with a tent and boat that wants to join message me. Tried to organize a trip last Winter but weather did not cooperate and only replies here were snarky and wimpy comments like "have fun camping in freezing weather, that would be brutal." So, if not interested or a wuss, just keep to yourself. This trip is for real men and women.
Great to hear the Potomac can support game fish like the musky. In the early 70s, I went to school at Indianhead Naval Base for EOD training. The river ran along one edge and the standing joke was that Washington would not have to throw a dollar across but could just roll it because it was so thick with pollution. The Navy EOD students were also divers and they had to dive in the river as part of their training. They and their equipment had to undergo serious cleaning after every dive and they got things like tetanus shots, antibiotics, etc. because of the contamination.
Frankly, just the smell of the river was enough to keep people away during the summer. |
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Posts: 386
| My plan is to just get out more - even if that means fishing for fish thar aren't muskies. I am coordinating with the usual suspects for some adventures - including a plan to get my first flat-heaf. U fortunately I'm still in the "find a weekend that works for everyone" phase. |
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Location: Athens, Ohio | 1. fish more.
2. fish better.
m |
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Posts: 115
| January full moon higher than normal temps in Muskyland. In high-tax MD ($9,000/yr property tax on 4 bd 1/2 acre) we can at least fish warm spells in Winter. However, after paying prop taxes we have no tackle left (pawned it, plus pawned my chess sets), so we try noodling Musky with our bare hands in 40 degree water.
https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/610day/610temp.ne...
might still try a 2-3 day Potomac riverside camping trip near Hagerstown,MD. PM if you have a tent, boat (mine is only a 1-man Lowe 1256), and are interested in joining. Campsite is National Park service, can reserve spot in advance, couple hundred yards from boat ramp, water at ramp is 4-6 ft (saw a 25 ft Bay boat use the launch once -I was astounded!), water gets slowly deeper to 35+ above dam. Allows all sorts of fishing from jerkbaits slow in sunny eddies to jigging Bondys in 25ft holes. Weather permitting of course.
Edited by curdmudgeon 1/19/2024 7:44 AM
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| One goal I have for next year is to try and fish creature/jigs for musky. Bought two, black and white in color from Violent Strike Lures. Read a very good tutorial by Mr. Worrall, rigged a heavy spinning rod up to throw them, but didn't. It is slow, methodical presentation and just didn't get motivated to do it. However, this winter came across some videos of pike and musky taking forever to decide to eat a bait and thought how this would be perfect for the finicky eater. Now, to see if this extremely old dog can learn a new trick. |
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Posts: 519
Location: WI | Avoid any big spring honey-do projects that keep my boat in storage until after Memorial Day. |
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Posts: 1284
Location: WI | Hit more small lakes, make it to lotw or the goon in addition to my usual lakes. |
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Posts: 32798
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | North of 8 - 1/19/2024 2:34 PM
One goal I have for next year is to try and fish creature/jigs for musky. Bought two, black and white in color from Violent Strike Lures. Read a very good tutorial by Mr. Worrall, rigged a heavy spinning rod up to throw them, but didn't. It is slow, methodical presentation and just didn't get motivated to do it. However, this winter came across some videos of pike and musky taking forever to decide to eat a bait and thought how this would be perfect for the finicky eater. Now, to see if this extremely old dog can learn a new trick.
I know this guy who lives a few miles away who'd be happy to show you the ropes. |
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