http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEjz-wAQLSA&feature=related

If you're reading this blog, watch this. We all, hawk or dove, need to recognize the men and women of all of the branches of the armed services on days that aren't JUST Memorial Day and Veteran's Day.

I done wrestled with an alligator, I done tussled with a whale; handcuffed lightning, thrown thunder in jail; only last week, I murdered a rock, injured a stone, hospitalised a brick; I'm so mean I make medicine sick.

What's really hurting me - the name Islam is involved, and Muslim is involved and causing trouble and starting hate and violence. Islam is not a killer religion, Islam means peace. I couldn't just sit home and watch people label Muslims as the reason for this problem.
21 September 2001, in the aftermath of the World Trade Center attacks

I always bring out the best in men I fight, but Joe Frazier, I'll tell the world right now, brings out the best in me. I'm gonna tell ya, that's one helluva man, and God bless him.
Ali, after the "Thrilla in Manila"

The Butterfly and me have been through some ups and downs and there have been lots of emotions, many of them bad. But I have forgiven him. I had to. You cannot hold out for ever. There were bruises in my heart because of the words he used. I spent years dreaming about him and wanting to hurt him. But you have got to throw that stick out of the window. Do not forget that we needed each other, to produce some of the greatest fights of all time.
Frazier

I said a lot of things in the heat of the moment that I shouldn't have said. Called him names I shouldn't have called him. I apologise for that. I'm sorry. It was all meant to promote the fight.
Ali

Hey Floyd - I seen you! Someday I'm gonna whup you! Don't you forget, I am the greatest!
To then-world heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson during the 1960 Olympic Games.

Why, Chump, I bet you scare yourself to death just starin' in the mirror. You ugly bear! You ain't never fought nobody but tramps and has beens. You call yourself a world champion? You're too old and slow to be champion!
To Sonny Liston before their fight on 25 February 1964

I shook up the world! I shook up the world!
After beating Liston

That all you got George?
To Foreman late in the Rumble in the Jungle in Zaire on 30 October 1974

I'm so fast that last night I turned off the light switch in my hotel room and got into bed before the room was dark.
Yet more '74 pre-fight build-up ahead of facing Foreman


I never thought of losing, but now that it's happened, the only thing is to do it right. That's my obligation to all the people who believe in me. We all have to take defeats in life.
After losing to Ken Norton, 31 March 1973

Cassius Clay is a slave name. I didn't choose it and I don't want it. I am Muhammad Ali, a free name - it means beloved of God - and I insist people use it when people speak to me and of me.
Announcing his conversion to the Muslim faith after first Sonny Liston fight

Got this in an email today, thought others might enjoy (thanks Joe!):

Subj: Re: His & Her Diaries





HER DIARY:

Tonight, I thought my husband was acting weird. We had made plans to
meet at a bar to have a drink. I was shopping with my friends all day long, so I thought he was upset at the fact that I was a bit late, but he made no comment on it. Conversation wasn't flowing, so I suggested that we go somewhere quiet so we could talk. He agreed, but he didn't say much.
I asked him what was wrong; he said, Nothing." I asked him if it was my fault that he was upset. He said he wasn't upset, that it had nothing to do with me, and not to worry about it.
On the way home, I told him that I loved him. He smiled slightly, and kept driving. I can't explain his behavior. I don't know why he didn't say, "I love you, too." When we got home, I felt as if I had lost him completely, as if he wanted nothing to do with me anymo re. He just sat there quietly, and watched TV. He continued to seem distant and absent. Finally, with silence all around us, I decided to go to bed. About 15 minutes later, he came to bed. To my surprise, he responded to my
caress, and we made love. But I still felt that he was distracted, and his thoughts were somewhere else. He fell asleep - I cried. I don't know what to do. I'm almost sure that his thoughts are with someone else. My life is a disaster.


HIS DIARY:
Missed a big musky today, but at least I got laid.

Just a few thoughts about the U.S. looking for a fight with Iran. Going to take the name of who gave this interview more than a few years ago out.

***************************************

Why, of course, the people don't want war. Why would some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best that he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece.

Naturally, the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship.

Gilbert: There is one difference. In a democracy the people have some say in the matter through their elected representatives, and in the United States only Congress can declare wars.

Answer: Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of
patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country."

***************************************

Sound kinda familiar? Name an enemy, scare the populace. Tell them without war, we're under siege or just waiting for disaster from this enemy, tell them if they're NOT for going on the war path you are un-patriotic. Worked in Iraq, I just hope it doesn't work so well going forward against Iran.

Oh, and btw, the man who was interview, Hermann Goering. If that doesn't at LEAST make you think, then I worry about our future as a nation.

Must be snowing somewhere, the negative nellies are out in force.

The haters.
The CPR Nazis
The jealous types
The WI sucks guys

They're all coming out of the woodwork lately. Should be a fun winter!

I love articles like this:

GAUHATI, India - Six Asiatic wild elephants were electrocuted as they went berserk after drinking rice beer in India's remote northeast, a wildlife official said Tuesday.

Nearly 40 elephants came to a village on Friday looking for food. Some found beer, which farmers ferment and keep in plastic and tin drums in their huts, said Sunil Kumar, a state wildlife official.

They got drunk, uprooted a utility pole carrying power lines and were electrocuted in Chandan Nukat, a village nearly 150 miles west of Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya state, Kumar said.

"There would have been more casualties had the villagers not chased them away," said Dipu Mark, a local conservationist.

The elephants are known to have a taste for rice beer brewed by tribal communities in India's northeast. Four wild elephants died in similar circumstances in the region three years ago.

India's northeast accounts for the world's largest concentration of wild Asiatic elephants with the states of Assam and Meghalaya alone estimated to have 7,000 of them.

"It's great to have such a huge number of elephants, but the increasing man-elephant conflict following the shrinkage in their habitat due to the growing human population is giving us nightmares," said Pradyut Bordoloi, a former forest and environment minister for Assam

WI Strain Muskies Dont Get Big:

http://muskie.outdoorsfirst.com/cnr_images.asp?view=detail&photoid=...

Enough said. Maybe its low size limits, spearing, overharvest by non-cpr anglers, forage base, degradation of spawning habitat, pollution issues....I dont know, but I feel pretty confident that the large fish we're seeing out of Mille Lacs that appear to be WI "strain", and that makes ME think that in the right conditions, they DO get big. Yeah, it takes them longer, but they appear to get as big, if not bigger, than the other "super strains" that are seen as the end all of what to stock.

I'd personally rather get a big fat girl, than a longer skinnier one. I've done both and.....

People who amaze me:

-those who exist without coffee (how do you even get up in the morning?)

-those who do not drool over members of the opposite/same sex, which ever is your prefernce.

-people who base their egostatic place in the world upon how many fish they catch.

Will update soon as the amazement of the world around me continues....

From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember'd;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he today that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now abed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks

Lane Myer: My little brother got his arm stuck in the microwave. So my mom had to take him to the hospital. My grandma dropped acid this morning, and she freaked out. She hijacked a busload of penguins. So it's sort of a family crisis. Bye!

Saw this quote out there, thought it might be applicable to muskie fishing or fishing overall in really rough conditions:

"Pete, there ain't no war here. And this is why you're not exactly a hero for taking these chances you take. You're more of what I would call a dickhead."

Ladies and gentlemen of the class of ‘97

“WEAR SUNSCREEN!”

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, “sunscreen” would be it.
The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience.

I will dispense this advice NOW!

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they’ve faded.
But trust me, in 20 years, you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked.

You are not as fat as you imagine.

Don’t worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum.
The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 pm on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Sing

Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts.
Don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.

Floss

Don’t waste your time on jealousy.
Sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind. The race is long and, in the end, it’s only with yourself.

Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.

Stretch

Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don’t.


Get plenty of calcium.

Be kind to your knees. You’ll miss them when they’re gone.

Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t.
Maybe you’ll have children, maybe you won’t.
Maybe you’ll divorce at 40. Maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary.
Whatever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either.

Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else’s.

Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don’t be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own.

Dance. Even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.

Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.

Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.

Get to know your parents. You never know when they’ll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They’re your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future. Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.

Live in “New York City” once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in “Northern California” once, but leave before it makes you soft.

Travel

Accept certain inalienable truths:
Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you’ll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble, and children respected their elders.

Respect your elders.

Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you’ll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.

Don’t mess too much with your hair or by the time you’re 40 it will look 85.

Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth.

But trust me on the sunscreen.

Posts: 4826

That's just WRONG!


But in the category of wrong-ness is the negative, sometimes VIOLENT attitudes people are showing towards their fellow man on the board. RELAX, have fun! If fishing isnt fun, and you're not making money doing it, time to RE-ASSESS!

Serious partial read below:

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- U.S. Army Spc. Gerald Lee Meeks says all he wanted in Iraq was to "keep everybody alive, all my buddies."

That hope was shattered last month when a roadside bomb blew up one of his best friends, and Meeks had to carry his slain buddy more than a mile back to base.

"I didn't want to believe it until I actually had to carry his body bag, which was pretty bad," he says, making a fist with his left hand and smashing it against a wall. "We had to carry him two clicks [kilometers] all the way back here."


*you dont need to read anymore to see that what is going on there and Afghanistan, the Phillipeans, the Gaza....it's just sad. someone's kid, someone's dad, someone's best friend.....doesnt really matter the politics, people are dying and there doesnt seem in any of these cases like there is a happy ending in sight. the reasons that the bad guys are bad (believe it or not its from poverty, oppression and hopelessness...why else does someone think that their earthly life is so crappy that they sacrifice it for a dream of martydom) are sad. what we have to do to stop them from doing more bad things, is sad.

Sorry for the downer moment.

Another great article:

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/fishing/news/story?page=brees_on...

Best post I ever gave the yank. Need to make sure it doesnt fade from memory:

OldTimer - 5/25/2007 8:58 PM


Two Days with Norm = Muskies in the net.

Can I make a humble suggestion?
Pay attention and listen to Norm's ideas this time instead of arguing with him and telling him why he's wrong about muskies like in the bar up at Presque Isle.


Thanks, OldTimer, whoever you are. I'll take that under advisement. Could be you weren't listening too closely to the conversation Norm, Sled, and I were having at that time, however, as I certainly wasn't arguing with Norm about anything he knows. The idea that I would know more about fishing than Norm, or just about any of the regulars that contribute ideas about fishing to this board, is at the very least, absurd.

What I did argue was my belief that there are many underrated nuances to working various baits, and my lack of skills and experience made me an inferior fisherman compared to many others that were at that outing. The conversation began based on a thread I started (The Sledgehammer vs The Light Touch) about having a light touch while working baits. It was Norm's contention that working baits was less important than being in the right place at the right time. Others that responded to that initial thread, Steve and Beaver come to mind, felt having a light touch was very important.

My premise was that if I and another more experienced fisherman were in the right place at the right time at the same time, that the other fisherman would have a better chance of catching a fish than I, simply due to superior skills at working baits like a Suick. Much like a golfer with a well rounded overall game, one that can execute a multitude of different shots requiring a deft touch, I believe that a fisherman with a good set of hands will have an advantage. I've experienced nothing in the last year that leads me to believe that is an unsound argument.

We eventually agreed that a more skillful angler is more likely to catch a fish given equal conditions and locations. My point was that I had somewhat limited my chances over the course of my first muskie fishing season as I had not become as accomplished at the mechanics of fishing as I initially thought I would when my Plan was first formulated.

Maybe you were drunker than I was and missed some of the nuances of the conversation. That's fine. You're a self professed anonymous OldTimer. It was probably past your bedtime.

Thanks for your concern, but believe me, when guys like Norm, Sled, Andrew, Joel, Koepp, Troy, Lambeau, etc. have made any suggestions whatsoever, I do nothing but listen.

Kevin

Come on, Hodag, take your best shot.

Interesting article:

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/fishing/news/story?id=2840597

3 fish in the boat so far this year. This sucks. Spring has sucked. Now I am boatless and between contracts, that REALLY sucks. Whine whine whine. Poor me! When is someone taking ME fishing?

Ok, the pity party is over now. Going to try to get back to blogging. I suck at keeping it up. But, I got inspiration from Gilbert Arenas who plays for the Washington Wizards. Check it out some time, good read. http://www.nba.com/blog/gilbert_arenas.html

I need some more Shack Attacks. I need to find a dealio on a stereo for the new Tuffy. I need to clean/oil my reels, they're grinding like crazy.

I NEED TO MAKE SURE MY DRAGS ARE LOCKED DOWN!!! I am FINE missing fish, heck I do it all the time, but each time I miss one, it's the detail I missed/screwed up on/should have done better that kills me!!! GRRRRR!!!!

Blog on bloggers.

If you caught all the biggest fish that you saw, would you be as excited to go fishing day after day?

In the end, Ranger vs. Tuffy vs. Champion vs. whatever....or Okuma vs. Daiwa vs. Abu vs. Tica vs. whatever.....Professional Edge vs. St. Croix vs. Lamiglas vs. Loomis vs. whatever....

It's all King Kong vs. Godzilla. Figure out what is in your price range, find out the positives vs. negatives, and make your choice.

No one product is perfect for everyone. It's what you think, what fits you best, what you believe in. Some people think Kong would kick Godzilla's ass, some think the other way around. . I personally think Godzilla would womp on Kong, but thats just me.
-----

Drew says:
its going to be winter forever

Steve Worrall says:
I am afriad so, yes

Drew says:
and i am never going to fish again

Drew says:
but i will be moderating muskiefirst til i die

Anyone notice "Winternet" has started early this year?

One last comment for today:


You can lead a horse to water, but you cant make him drink.

Tons of people on site today, no one yappin. Yap away. Creating dumb questions to get you to talk gets old. TALK!

Please dont forget the chats from years past. Seriously, I know I had, but took a few minutes and perused Doug Johnson's chats from the past, and I realized again there is a TON of great information in the old chats.

PLEASE DONT FORGET THAT MUSKIEFIRST IS MUCH MORE THAN JUST A MESSAGE BOARD!!!

And, if things start falling into place like I figure we can make them, hopefully the message board will just be a small piece in a much larger puzzle.

Stay tuned.

2358 user log-ins yesterday, which might have been our most ever. Yes, we do watch these things, and YES we are trying to get better.

A few thoughts I figured were worth putting down on paper of things I SHOULD be getting to:

-"Ask the Pro" articles: easily done, just need to get a few of our Pro-Staffers together via email, and have them all give the long/short answer on a singular issue.
*need to put the group together, and start soliciting the questions.
-Radio Interviews: once Mr. Worrall is off the road, need to start getting him loaded up with people to interview.
*maybe one or two to talk about coming fall, one to talk about deep slow trolling, one to talk about sucker fishing, etc. etc. etc.
-MatchFISHING: prizes? more importantly, just getting the tourney rolling.
-Chat Schedule: thinking we might want to start a little earlier this year, maybe 2 a month til the "chat season" really starts up.
-Lake X Map Reading: always well recieved, I just need to get better on it.
-Contact manufacturers/reps/lodges: tell them we are here, and how they can/should get involved.


So many things to do, such a small staff we have. But such big egos our staff has.

Oh, and someday I'll get back on the water, hopefully.

I'm back, so its back to the NFL (no fun league) at MuskieFIRST.

Andy Myers was amazing, the fishing was fantastic, and it really sucks to be home. The thing about Eagle that struck me the most was how much it really challenged me. Fishing spots I'd fished maybe 4X before, either in years past or in the preceeding days, was a huge challenge. Knowing where to have the boat off structure, and how to attack the spots most effectively was a challenge, a MONSTER challenge.

After my boat went down ill, I was without my 75lb wireless MG, and the Power Drive on the camp boat was a struggle. 50lbs is more than enough, except when you SUCK with running it. To be honest, I was to a degree afraid of blowing all around spots, and not fishing them at all effectively, so I stayed out of the wind much more than I should have. In retrospect, I should have sucked it up, dealt with the half-powered battery on the PD, and fished the wind. We had a LOT less action out of the wind than we did IN the wind, and we spent much more time out of the wind, than in it.

There's always next year, and it will be at Andy Myers http://www.andymyerslodge.com and hopefully I'll get it done a little more effectively.

Also, my wife Nikki was the BEST partner on this trip. We struck up a good schedule of me fishing early, then picking her up after breakfast, but then she was a total trooper and stayed out til dark (starting at 10:15AM). She learned the weagle, and boated a 40", and was a swipe of a tail away from a 46". She was great when I was freaking out about my boat, and how she was as a fishing, and overall, partner, really made my trip. Thanks Baby!

Leaving in 2 days for Eagle....then its 8 days of fishing (and of course driving) for monster muskies. Even BETTER than the fishing is NO WORK and no MuskieFIRST monitoring. I'm always interested in seeing how much our members "take advantage" of my absence by posting things they know I would otherwise delete if I were monitoring.
But HA this year we've got Lambeau....who I know takes certain pleasures in enforcing the rules.

Have fun fighting HIM while I'm gone!

My mid-tem report card:

-more hair, less jerks/gliders: my back is very happy, and I've been having some action on the fur. the gliders have been put in cold storage til just before turnover, but the magic suick is still flying, and had a fish rip the reel handle out of my hands on Saturday. I wish I'd gotten to see that fish.
-better boat control: new boat, new trolling motor, still working the kinks out. I just need to focus on focusing on the depth at hand, and more visualization of each spot.
-fish shallower: I have, but my fish are still coming off deeper breaks.


Goals for the rest of the season:

-stick with using the best tool for the job
*meaning, using whatever lure best fits the time, the conditions, etc.
-better at boat control, be it casting (keeping a good eye on the depth at present, and visualizing the contours to come) or trolling (learning to use my gps/sonar better).
-being more open to using new presentations: JIGS for example. more cranks/twitch baits as the water cools.

14 in the boat so far. after a really quick start, back to my usual summer slump.

Just to dispell a little rumor here: we at MuskieFIRST are not AGAINST any other website. We OBVIOUSLY compete with other sites, saying otherwise would be a lie. However, we're not like ANTI-Nut, or ANTI-101, or ANTI-MHM. We do compete for your attention, but we do fully realize that other sites are just a click away.

We truly believe that we will get, and keep your attention by consistently offering a high quality product for your (the user) viewing. I can GURANTEE we will screw a bunch of things up. We'll probably (though this was a goal to not do for 2006) make promises that we won't keep. We'll probably owe people stuff that they won in contests, auctions, etc., and it will probably take an inordinant amount of time to get to you.

When it comes to the above, I gurantee you we're working on improving, but at times, we suck. However, we're going to try to do what we do as well as we can. If that makes us the best, then yay for us. If others are doing whatever that is, better than we are, then we can just try to get better at whatever that is.

We will NOT attempt to be everything for everyone. That is the beauty of having a number of choices of sites to view, and become involved in. We might like to think that MuskieFIRST offers something for everyone, but we are probably wrong in that to some degree. There are things, call them qualities, of the other boards that we are not going to try to imitate. There are probably things (lets loosely call them "policies") that M1st does, that those who run the other sites think are down right stupid.

Each different board reflects, and attracts a different kind of personality. And, in some cases, that makes MuskieFIRST look better, for others, that may make us look worse.

We're just going to try to be who we are, who we have been, and try to get better at that!

Slamr

Internet pro, weekend angler, or guide? Why does this concern so many people? Someone tell me why this matters! Other than for a select few, muskie fishing is a hobby, or a sport. Yes, we're dedicated in a way that is probably UNHEALTHY, but very few of us depend on it for a livelihood.

For those who do, more power to you. I know I personally wouldnt and probably couldnt drag my ass out onto the water day in and day out to put clients on fish. Clients who can barely cast, clients who break rods, reels, clients who dont want to fish in the rain, or the cold, or the heat. But for the rest of us, why does it matter?

Like it or not, muskie fishing is growing. I hope it grows more and more. I personally love that I now have a zillion reels to choose from, as many rods, and more baits out there than even ToddM could accumulate. As much as I do throw bucktails and suicks, its nice that these a mud puppy, and a pikie minnow arent the only choices for muskie fisherman to throw. The added people do add more pressure to the lakes, but their numbers also add to the rosters of those who can voice their opinions on stocking, size limits, and season dates. Boats are now built with muskie fisherman in mind, we have 2 magazines to choose from and 3 major muskie focused websites to read while not fishing (read, working).

MOST would agree thats a GOOD thing, but of course some dont. But being that the sport is growing, the majority of muskie fisherman arent able to spend every free waking moment on the water. Maybe its family obligations, or distance, or boatless-ness (great new word, I think), or maybe muskie fishing is a love, but not the only loved activity available. For those of you who do spend all your free time muskie fishing, GREAT! But for those of you who dont, or cant, I think its a shame when others in the muskie community would make you feel like you're less worthy because you're not able or willing to put as much time in.

Just fish.

if someone is positive in their approach to whatever, and doenst break our rules, then everyone is encouraged to have a "presence". MuskieFIRST tries to have EVERYONE in our community, not just beginners, not just experts, not just high thinkers, not just partiers, not just Wisc. fishers, not just people from Indiana, etc. etc.
So a X, for whatever he is, positive or negative, wont have that much impact either way when you have 300+ contributors.
Versus other sites where its a core of 15 people contributing, you have one strong personality positive or negative, then you have a real impact from that singular personality.
See my point there? Its not about me, its not about Worrall, its not about Lambeau, or all the guys in WI, or MN, or Canada....its about everyone who fishes for muskies. Different approach, call it a "community approach". Its not the approach everyone shoots for, its not the one that everyone wants or likes, but we're almost 5 full years into this game, and our growth is faster now, then ever. So, to get where WE want to be, its been successful. But, everyone's different.

Or am I just talking to myself here?

AJ

A little boy died today, in his parents arms, before ever really having a chance at life. He fought every day just to try to survive, and now his fight is over. The whole of the MuskieFIRST community's hearts go out to the family of Adam and Cheri Oberfoell.

The next time you think that it's important to yell at your mom, your dad, your son or daughter...or to get mad because you have to go into work a few hours early, or stay a few hours late....or you get mad because someone cuts you off in traffic...or a brother/sister muskie fisher says or does something you dont like on the internet, or on the water....take a few moments stock of all the wonderful gifts that you and your family have each and everyday. Instead of getting mad at a friend, a co-worker or a stranger, call your mom or dad, or son or daughter. Tell them you love them, and you're glad you could hear their voice.

Andrew

A few thoughts....

need to get that the swap meet details squared away, start shipping the 8000 things i have in my living room, set up the chat schedule, set up a few phone interviews, start finally writing my product reviews, find a way to build a real pro-staff.....then I guess I'm caught up

Anyone want to apply for the job of being me?

Taking applications....

AJ

FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!!!! Why do all of us fight so much in the Muskie Industry? If its not size limits, its taking fish out of the water, its how you hold a fish, or what the world record is, or what the best "strain of fish" there is.

Just boggles my mind how much ENERGY people put into fighting with other muskie fisherman. Personally, between my REAL job (as in the one that pays the bills), MuskieFIRST stuff, Kly stuff, and trying to be a good husband, I have no spare energy for fighting. Or maybe I dont have the passion that others have?

No clue.

AJ

Just got word of a great donation by Slammer Tackle: four 10" Slammer Shad Divers!!! All for the Kly Auction.

Also, for the Auction, Smokies Tackle Shop donated a Shimano Compre and a Shimano Calcutta!

This Auction will be even better than last years craziness!

Slamr

Oukachee KICKED OUR BUTTS.....not a single fish seen, let alone hooked or boated. Fishing Silver in Kenosha county on Saturday, we COULDNT possibly do worse, as long as no one gets hurt or otherwise that is!

In other news....Kly Auction II is on!!! Thursday, December 1st at 7:30PM! Great stuff will be up for auction: from Bull Dawgs by Musky Innovations, to Llungen Tails and spinnerbaits from Llungen LUres, to Castors and custom painted Weagles, Wabulls and Hughes Rivers!

If you want to help out a great cause, or maybe just get a shot at some great muskie stuff....be there!

Slamr!

*and yes, I AM TOTALLY keeping up my blog!

Yes, I am totally behind on my Product Review writing. I have all my notes ready to write two, but need to catch up with a few. Be patient, I WILL get these done, and you WILL like them, hopefully.

Other notes: Dave Dorazio signed up to do a phone interview for MuskieFIRST Radio, Hawg Seekers Tackle (http://www.hawgseekers.com) will be doing a Product Review with us.

Fishing Sunday with Josh Lenda, Bukes, The Dude and others out on Okauchee or Oconomowoc. Storms moving in, should make for some interesting times...

Slamr!

Had a great weekend in North Webster this weekend, though the fish didnt exactly cooperate. Popped a 34" right off Yellow Banks on Webster at about 7AM, didnt hook another fish for the entire weekend. Moved about 25 more on just about everything under the sun, but they definitely werent in an eating mood.

Spent about 3 hours field-testing baits for product reviews, and I have to say, there are some great baits out there that we neglect to use because the "hype" directs us elsewhere. AND, why are we getting away from our "stand-bys"? I used to catch fish on 10" jakes, suicks, depthraiders, jackpots....but so often, I'm reaching for hyped baits, and neglecting the things that used to catch me fish. Time to re-load the top 10 baits to the ones that have caught me fish more regularly.

MuskieFIRST updates:
-have a few product reviews done, just need to write them up.
-Howie Myer's phone interview will be up soon.....do NOT miss this one when its on site, Howie is a wealth of knowledge, especially if you fish Vilas County.
-True Glide is going to do an interview in the upcoming weeks.

Kly Auction/Tourney Updates:
-We just recieved 2 VERY cool gliders for the Auction from an M1st member in Finland
-If you're looking for a new net, buy a Frabill. If you knew what these folks contribute every year for the charity work they do, you wouldnt hesitate a second for where you're going to buy your next net.

Thats all for now....for those of you who doubted I would keep this up....

Slamr

Product Reviews are coming! I'm just way behind right now.....

-Fish of 10,000 Casts DVD: will be done by Monday of next week.

-Musky Mike's Trolling Book: by next Friday

-H20 Tackle: hopefully by the end of next weekend.

Others are in the phases of testing.....but could be a while til they're all written up.
-Muskynightmare Crankbaits
-Bradrock Lures Mollybaits
-TrueGlide

Also, upcoming MuskieFIRST Radio Interviews:
-Howie Meyer (talking about Vilas County fall muskies)
-True Glide Lures

More to come, much much much more to come! We're just busy as can be, and can't get stuff out the door nearly as fast as we'd like to!

ALSO: Kly Tourney: now an open tourney, check the board for details.

Slamr!

A new era of MuskieFIRST is coming. More articles, more interaction with users, more great muskie information.
Watch closely, you'll see a shift.

Slamr
*and also, I'll be writing in my blog more often.

FRV Tourney on Saturday:

great tourney, great guys, the water is always tough. Fishing this day with the wife was more than worth the entry fee, and we'll be fishing it next year.

Hopefully my patterns will supply more successes come next year!

Fishing the opener at the Bring Your Meat Meat Part Duh! on Saturday, hopefully the weather and the muskie gods will be more generous!

AJ

tom says:
I'm going to flipin kill my boss

Drew says:
good to hear, if you kill your boss, i can have my believer back

tom says:
I have a bad feeling, they are going to suprise is with a 50bp rise
Drew says:
i will be nervous, for you
tom says:
actually, the way I'm positioned, It could be good, I'm heavy in steel stocks, so when the market get's it's ass removed, I do well
Drew says:
ok, i will be just happy for you
tom says:
ok
tom says:
I can't bitch, i'm up 72% over the past 52 weeks
Drew says:
dude, just tell me what to be
Drew says:
you da man
tom says:
lol
tom says:
bond pits (chicago) will be going crazy any second
Drew says:
ok
Drew says:
and?
tom says:
no and
Drew says:
ok
Drew says:
i think i work around the WORST sales people on the planet
tom says:
we have great sales people, they're just horrible at customer service
Drew says:
our people are GREAT at customer service.....
Drew says:
just suck at sales
tom says:
bond yields dropping in front of the fed.....wtf?
Drew says:
no shit
Drew says:
WTF!?
tom says:
yeah, I know, you don't care
Drew says:
no, i do care
Drew says:
i just have nothing to contribute
Drew says:
like reading a lake map for you
Drew says:
you care about catching fish, but the map means nothing to you
tom says:
lmao
Drew says:
i finally found a use for the Blogs on M1st
Drew says:
our greatest quotes
tom says:
anyway, bond yields rising at this point is an indication of a deflationary environment
Drew says:
and i figure, thats not good, right>?
tom says:
no, but that's actually not the reason, imho, it's because of china and japan
tom says:
inflationary hell
Drew says:
those bastards

Had ANOTHER candidate turn down a job today....now I'm 1 for 5 at this company....used to run 90% on acceptance.
Really really really feeling like quitting here and just working full time for MuskieFIRST. Then I wont get paid jack, all of the members will tell me what I'm doing wrong.....wait, no, not doing that either.
Excuse me while I have my own little pity party.

midnight, slept 5 hours last night, and 4 the night before....if I go three tonight, and two the next next, then one....anyone think I can eliminate sleep entirely from my daily repitoire?

Brian Worrall is much nicer than either Nikki or myself. Just spent 10 minutes talking to a man who I would like to beat over the head with one of the decorative muskie plaques at the booth.

Brian just got to the show, and he has NO CLUE what a Blog is, and he doesnt seem to be learning.

Can someone EXPLAIN the meaning of the word "blog"?

Then again, eventhough his dad owns this site, he probably wont ever use this feature anyways.

*its noon at the show....really slowing down.

Its 10:30AM at the Medina show.....I think I look nearly as bad as I feel.
Why is the guy in the next booth wearing camo pants? We can still see him!
Nikki has new shoes she bought yesterday, and as she says "THE BEST GODDAMNED $9.99 I EVER SPENT!"
Worrall bought a soda, and didnt ask me if I wanted one.
I feel like catpoo right now, and I think its time to go bug Jonesi.