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Posts: 1220
| Yea, I know, a post like this can turn against the writer, but my reputation as more of a fish talker than catcher is already set in stone. And, I’m not a guide who is forced to always say it’s a fantastic bite. I’m saying this is a tough year, noticeably tough. A great fish Saturday afternoon made me realize it’s been way too few for a guy who goes out just about every single day. Yeah, I’m hurting this year and not 100% on my game, but I’m out there, trolling when I have to, and saying this is shxxty year so far. So, aside from the guides, bait sellers, resort owners etc., do you agree? Well do ya? |
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Posts: 2327
Location: Chisholm, MN | 100% worst fishing I've ever seen. Canada and Minnesota. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | yup, guys I chat with who fish Vilas Co a lot say it has been tough. Guys in MN are not getting the normal action they are use to... Canada has been slower than normal overall. weather systems? did water really ever warm up deep in the basin this year? It may just be a really good fall then  |
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Posts: 133
| I agree %100. July for me has been absolutely garbage. I said before on the lake of the woods thread that I feel like the days and times the fish are "on" is so few and far between this year. But we did stick a 52" last night so all is not lost!!! |
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Posts: 20219
Location: oswego, il | I have hardly been out, seems like every weekend has been extremely hot or something going on. Before that it was cold fronts every weekend. Have only been musky fishing 3 times, that's never happened before, salmon fishing once. Been to heidecke once. Got 3 nice bass trips in early in the year. Looking for things to improve! |
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Been absolutely awful for me so far. |
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Posts: 267
| Howdy,
Fishing on my section of LOTW (Andrews Bay area) has been very slow this year as well. Lots of theories as to why, but no one really know for sure.
Take care,
Ruddiger |
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Posts: 705
Location: Alex or Alek? | Compared to last year(first year living in an area that allows me to fish a couple times a week), this is year is terrible. I was averaging seeing at least 3-4 fish per trip after work last year to maybe 1 this year. I keep telling myself the crazy spring put them into a funk and they will turn on at some point. |
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Posts: 1425
Location: St. Lawrence River | Been tough one for me personally, but there have been some huge specimens taken in my circle of anglers lately. Couple over 55”.. |
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Location: MN | Worst year ever. Last year was tough too but not as bad as this year. Fish were going crazy yesterday tho. Really needed that day with how bad it’s been up until this point. |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | Local lake is too warm to muskie fish and the days too hot for me . Some are still fishing and I`m hearing about floaters. Been doing reasonably well on Lake Ontario salmon. I never start trolling the Larry till mid to late Aug so salmon for another week or so. |
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Posts: 200
Location: Twin Cities | Think I've had 2 follows all year, haven't hit it hard yet but usually been out once a week |
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Posts: 1220
| Phew! Glad it was not just me! I was taking measurements for a tube with my mouth on one end and the exhaust pipe on my truck on the other. |
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Posts: 2327
Location: Chisholm, MN | Junkman - 8/6/2018 10:52 AM
Phew! Glad it was not just me! I was taking measurements for a tube with my mouth on one end and the exhaust pipe on my truck on the other.
Haha! Yeah I think we all are on suicide watch! I have not heard any "good" reports. Some people are getting some nice fish here and there but nothing consistent. |
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Posts: 387
Location: SW Ohio | IDK but it seems to be pretty good for a friend of mine and me. We’ve been catching fish either together or separately since late June. This weekend he, his wife and another friend caught three (biggest 39”), lost 3 or 4 and saw several more follows. My wife and I went yesterday and I boated one, we each lost one and saw several follows. Caught my personal best in WI in June and we’ve been doing ok at St Clair.
This is my third year chasing these fish and have learned a lot along the way, especially this year on out-of-state lakes. Compared to last year I think I’m ahead as far as fish caught or follows. Definitely need to work on my figure 8’s though. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | seems to me the guys on the water all the time are the ones that are hitting the short windows that there seem to be... most weekend warriors are not having great years...seems to me many lakes in the northern regions really never got warm. yes surface was warm but maybe not 15 to 20 feet down? warmer water they simply eat more.
Edited by BNelson 8/6/2018 11:12 AM
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Posts: 77
| I"m having my best year ever. More fish and bigger fish. |
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Posts: 20219
Location: oswego, il | slopmaster - 8/6/2018 11:12 AM
I"m having my best year ever. More fish and bigger fish.
I would protest that. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | if a guy catches 2 last year at 40, and this year has 4 over 40 they could say the same too |
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Posts: 3147
| Just gonna keep casting till the Minnesota legislature legalize s marijuana. |
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Posts: 2327
Location: Chisholm, MN | And most of the people here are talking about MN, northern WI and NW Canada. You can't compare other parts of the country to what we are seeing here. OH and IL are nothing like this area and are most likely seeing completely different patterns than we are. |
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Posts: 815
Location: Waukee, IA | happy hooker - 8/6/2018 12:41 PM
Just gonna keep casting till the Minnesota legislature legalize s marijuana.
Por que no los dos¿ |
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Posts: 620
Location: Seymour, WI | The lake that I fish the most (which is not a musky lake) has been very tough and very different this yr. The cabbage weeds are way behind and very sparse at best. It seems to me like the cold spring late ice off just killed off most of the cabbage weeds and the game fish are not there this yr. That's my theory anyway. |
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Posts: 815
Location: Waukee, IA | My worst season also, but my hours on the water have also been pretty low. Super cool spring that went directly into brutal heat really messed up a lot of the normal late spring/early summer patterns. A lot of the days that the water temp seemed perfect the air temperature was 95 do I stayed home. Not blaming the fish for this year, mostly myself. |
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Posts: 427
| Kirby Budrow - 8/6/2018 12:41 PM
And most of the people here are talking about MN, northern WI and NW Canada. You can't compare other parts of the country to what we are seeing here. OH and IL are nothing like this area and are most likely seeing completely different patterns than we are. Nope for the most part Ohio fishing is as slow as it is up North. I fish several times a week and most days I'm the only boat chasing them on several different lakes during the week that are usually very crowded if the bite is on. I get short windows on rare occasions where I think O K this is the day things start getting better. So far I've been wrong! 30+ years and this is by far the worst I can remember so far.
Edited by 7ovr50 8/6/2018 1:29 PM
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | happy hooker - 8/6/2018 12:41 PM
Just gonna keep casting till the Minnesota legislature legalize s marijuana.
This gentleman has it right, as usual. |
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Posts: 1144
Location: Minnesota. | Quite agree Marty. I've not gone out a lot, mostly a few full wks. on the Big V but even that was very poor! Saw some good girls....saw....not a single hit in July-time.
Not gone out since b/c I left my boat up there for a return trip end of August. Geez how I hope things pick up otherwise I'm gonna buy a fiddle and take up music lessons!!
Best of luck with the health stuff. I'm struggling too but getting better. Dizziness and back spasms this past week. A real PITA... |
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Posts: 20219
Location: oswego, il | happy hooker - 8/6/2018 12:41 PM
Just gonna keep casting till the Minnesota legislature legalize s marijuana.
Can you say pizza shortage? |
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Posts: 36
Location: Stone Lk Wi | Buy stock in Doritos |
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Posts: 1828
| Sure seems like this conversation is had every year. Less than a handful of trips for me, so I can't comment on the action.
I will say that I think BNelson is right on the water temps. I've seen water over 80 degrees but after a cool snap it's back to low 70's in a flash, and that usually doesn't happen. More than likely the mean water temp of each northern system has been lower than average this year, perhaps by a lot. |
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Posts: 833
| Locally the fishing has been weird, but this year has by far been the least I've fished since I took up the sport, so I wouldn't put much stock in my mileage. |
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Posts: 3147
| I would say the true barometer of this would be answered in Wisconsin,,Minnesota s stocked fisheries may be the result of decreased stocking or second generation fall off.
But what about the long established wisconsin lakes that have had muskies forever are they off too??? |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | locals here are doing well from reports i'm seeing, nothing different year over year, one hit his 100 mark early this year ... still no big fish in Wisconsin though. heard about a 53.5 caught today. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | hmm interesting some locals that you know I've heard have had slow years..... and some others I know that fish up there have said it is slow... does catching 100 without knowing the hours to do it tell "the rest of the story"? not really. how many you got this year Sled? |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | i just watch a few guys, talk to some here and there around town. maybe they aren't on your list. |
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Posts: 221
| Been tough in western MN as well, but that means the fish will hopefully be extra dumb this fall. |
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Posts: 416
Location: Madtown, WI | I've spent more time fishing quarters out of kid's mouth than any real fishing the last couple of summers, but from reports and limited hours on the water it does seem like fishing seems to be getting tougher with each season. Every year there is different theories, like spearing or that you're just asking the wrong guy (muskies are tough afterall). I have to think the drastic reduction in WI stocking this century has had a significant impact, especially with the number of anglers increasing year after year. A similar situation has to be playing out on LOTW with the rusties wiping out weeds for spawn. You guys in MN will have to come up with your own theories though |
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Posts: 109
| These negative responses to someone else's report is precisely why we will never be able to effectively organize against the political forces threatening musky fishing....because EVERYTHING becomes a peeing match. Generally speaking it appears to be a difficult year, but that doesn't mean that some are having better years than in the past.
Edited by Conservation Guy 8/6/2018 6:26 PM
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Posts: 69
Location: Pine River MN. | This year has been a bust for us. We haven't fished nearly as often as we usually do, but we haven't even been seeing anything lately. |
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Location: Northern Wisconsin | I am in Northern Wisconsin and having my best year yet for numbers and doing decent size wise. 40, 45, and 48 within the last 2 days. A lot of people don’t adjust to conditions and just try the same old spots with the same old lures. Just tossing mag dawgs and big blades isn’t always the best option yet every boat is doing it! That or a FB. A lot of my go to spots from years past aren’t producing but spending more time on secondary spots has paid off. |
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Posts: 252
| I just returned from fishing 8 days in the lakes around Hayward and had two follow ins. Also went out with a guide. I put in a lot of fishing hours, caught lots of Northerns and bass, but no muskies. We cut our trip short and drove 15 hours to get back home and I caught two muskies as soon as I got home.
I love Northern Wisconsin and we will go back. I just hope that next time, the bite is better.
We fished the Tiger Cat, Lost Land, Spider, Teal, and the Chippewa Flowage while we were there. |
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Posts: 1735
| Not directing this towards anybody at all.
But aren't fisherman liars? How many here do you really believe are telling the truth about what they caught, what they didn't catch, where they caught it, on what, what time,what day.................................
I find the threads interesting but I don't know that I really put a lot of stock into whats said.
Maybe I'm reading everybody wrong, if so I apologize. |
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Posts: 238
Location: Rhinelander | Its been a tough year in northern WI for the guys in my circle, not just my boat partner and I. Is it a combination of weather and yearly increased fishing pressure? Cant say for sure but northern WI isn't what it used to be especially for 45" and larger fish.
I dont want to hear about a great day with 3 under 40".....who really gives a rip unless you're a new fisherman. Some may take this as snotty....but way to many musky fisherman pounding northern WI waters vs even just 10 years ago.
Hope I'm wrong but the years of close to empty boat landings and good populations of big fish (45" and larger) is probably over.
.....and yeah before someone chimes in..... count the fish over 45" the guide has, that hit 100 total fish. He's a nice guy and running a good business but what he catches in a year fishing full time for big fish my partner and I would at least double with us only fishing weekends with minimal days during the week after work. (10 years ago numbers, not today) Some may say the fish are still there, you need to try different locations and tactics. I'll listen if you have over 20 fish to date this season (northern WI) 45" or over. That's only about two fish a week since season start.
Edited by Hodag Hunter 8/6/2018 11:21 PM
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | My hamster can beat up your cat.
And I don't even have a garage, you can call home and ask my wife. |
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Posts: 320
| sworrall - 8/6/2018 11:12 PM
My hamster can beat up your cat.
And I don't even have a garage, you can call home and ask my wife.
He may look dumb but that’s just a disguise
He’s a mastermind in the ways of espionage
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Posts: 431
| So, not this is my opinion, I am thinking there are two reasons we may be seeing this. First, has the tactics we have been programmed, or brainwashed, to use lost their appeal? As mentioned above, still throwing big blades and big rubber!!!! Second, has this run its course? My self, I have become very disillusioned with musky fishing. And I restate this is my opinion. The constant exploration on the internet, getting to the boat landing at 5 am and its full, driving to Ontario and seeing people you know almost daily, the constant grandstanding of guides, the vast number of new guides. I find that I get way more enjoyment out of crappie and large mouth fishing up north than fishing for muskies. |
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Posts: 20219
Location: oswego, il | I don't know now, I am starting to think it's cave run legands fault too. |
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Location: Northern Wisconsin | Wow, 20 over 45” by August? I doubt many are even doing that in mn. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | if N. Wisconsin is a >45" destination? why drive to MN. or Eagle? 20 over 45" in N. WI. by August would be on a brag-board 18 years ago.
as it goes with all species, when you aren't catching fish, someone is. the butt-hurt is big in the air today ... OFM > Netflix this week!!
last week there was a big fish bite happening in MN too, one of my gypsy friends was on em ... that's a young man's game. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | catching muskies is not hard when you are on the water every day. 100 fish can be put in the boat by literally anyone with enough hours... what I always respect the most are the guys that tell you how many hours they fish for X # of fish...if you are around 4 to 5 hrs per fish by end of season on most WI/MN waters you are well above avg... always crax me up when a guide brags about 100 fish and then you realize they are on the water 100s and 100s of hrs to do it...oh and count 27"ers in the total...c'mon mannnnn
fishing is always different each year, lakes cycle, weather patterns, cycle, baitfish cycles, and water temps.... only thing a guy can do is try to adapt and find where the fish are. sometimes they just don't want bite tho...
Edited by BNelson 8/7/2018 7:12 AM
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | it's like golf, the course is the same for everyone and some guys own it even when it's playing tough. even tiger made triple bogeys when steve williamson (edit: williams) left his bag.
Edited by jonnysled 8/7/2018 7:21 AM
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Location: Contrarian Island | it is like golf, any ding dong can get 100 birdies if they simply play enough rounds |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | i agree with Brad, any tom, dick or pointer can shoot par
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Location: Contrarian Island | or guys that can't golf switch to fishing bass lol |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | "if you can't shoot par you should sell everything" ...
i just raised a couple golfers, they don't need me anymore. i can still find my way around the track ...
170/34/12/4/8.5/6 ... |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | I play in the low 80`s but I generally do a little better on the second hole. |
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Posts: 200
Location: Twin Cities | jonnysled - 8/7/2018 7:28 AM
i agree with Brad, any tom, dick or pointer can shoot par
Disagree, the amount of people that can shoot par is extremely low |
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Posts: 1760
Location: new richmond, wi. & isle, mn | Fish on! |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | jchiggins - 8/7/2018 10:20 AM
Fish on!
easy as catching a dumb bass!!! |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | i'll be pointer's net man on this fish ... at least he won't blame me as another excuse. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | i live in the basement here but come up for topwater when there is a good bite going. |
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Posts: 1760
Location: new richmond, wi. & isle, mn | jonnysled - 8/7/2018 10:36 AM
i'll be pointer's net man on this fish ... at least he won't blame me as another excuse. My dad always told me you could never get too good at netting.  |
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Posts: 1760
Location: new richmond, wi. & isle, mn | I need to get this up on my hummingbird on a split screen. I keep blowing my trolling run. Lol! |
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Location: Sawyer County, WI | Numerous > 45 and one 51 that I'm aware in my neck of the woods. Plenty of the typical Wisconsin mid 30s too. I've focused more on smallies this year (getting lazy I guess) but my neighbors are working for them and having success when they aren't golfing. |
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Posts: 238
Location: Rhinelander | jonnysled - 8/7/2018 7:09 AM
if N. Wisconsin is a >45" destination? why drive to MN. or Eagle? 20 over 45" in N. WI. by August would be on a brag-board 18 years ago.
as it goes with all species, when you aren't catching fish, someone is. the butt-hurt is big in the air today ... OFM > Netflix this week!!
last week there was a big fish bite happening in MN too, one of my gypsy friends was on em ... that's a young man's game.
20 over 45" in northern Wi by August was doable and done more than once a few years back in the day and no we didn't post our numbers/pictures then or now. You know that sled. Reason we fish out of state is for the 50" plus, something northern WI could never do on a consistent basis. Yes, there are 50's in WI and I've even caught a few...LOL.... but not the numbers MN or Ontario crank out.
I'm not butt hurt with the guys catching fish, because little ones can be had this year (still believe it's a below average year) but show me a guy with 20 over 45" this year? Guys that fished a lot years back and fish a lot now will tell you the size of WI fish is going down, not up.
Some lakes will tell a different story, as all waters go through their cycles, but on average it isn't what it used to be.
Edited by Hodag Hunter 8/7/2018 12:36 PM
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Location: minocqua, wi. | 20 over 45 and a 50+ in a season is a huge accomplishment and i don't doubt that from the pack you run with. |
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Posts: 238
Location: Rhinelander | jonnysled - 8/7/2018 12:48 PM
20 over 45 and a 50+ in a season is a huge accomplishment and i don't doubt that from the pack you run with.
To clarify I was talking boat numbers not per man for numbers by August. Personally my best season over 45" was in the upper teens. My partner hit that number or slightly higher also. He usually beats me. All the years kind of run together now.........
This year on our Canadian trip he spanked me with numbers and big fish of the trip. Last year I beat him in numbers but he got the big fish, year before that I got the whopper (biggest we have ever gotten) and he got the most........this year I think he was mad at me and came out swinging....I didn't have a chance. LOL
Edited by Hodag Hunter 8/7/2018 1:43 PM
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Location: Contrarian Island | to me a 45 is a ~49 or so in MN/Canada... so yah 20 over 45 in vilas area in the boat is darn good ... sad to hear it has gone downhill.
do you switch front to back or does Mark run the boat the whole time? that also can skew stuff. and how fast one runs the boat etc to give the guy in back "clean" water or water they already strained ...
Edited by BNelson 8/7/2018 2:06 PM
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Posts: 238
Location: Rhinelander | He runs the boat.
When we fish around home I don't believe there is much of an advantage in the front, in Canada there is a distinct advantage and even he is feely slightly guilty about this year...... just a little. LOL
Around home we will take my rig if his is broken or a lake I know better than him, there aren't many, and it just about kills him to fish in the back.
It's all good, we give each other endless crap in person, public and on FB but deep down I know he is a better fisherman. The guy is a machine and will probably die from exhaustion with a fishing rod in his hands. If we are on the water he does not take a break. Ever. We had 3 or 4 shore lunches in 15 days. otherwise food is hot sticks, cheese and crackers while the boat is moving to the next spot to cast. So I guess a shore lunch is a break....
We left for Canada Friday after work about 8pmish and drove to the resort, it was light Saturday am so we went fishing. Didn't go to bed until about 1am and on the water Sunday at first light. By weeks end our morning rise did get delayed but only because I put my foot down. 4-5 hours of sleep for two weeks straight makes me a little crabby. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | he sounds like my kind of wingman! no rest for the wicked...
we got a nap on the side of an island when we had a 1.5 hour thunderstorm roll thru last week. perfect.
Edited by BNelson 8/7/2018 2:40 PM
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Posts: 238
Location: Rhinelander | Trust me when I say I take enough breaks for the both of us!
Once he woke me up from a quick 10 minute nap to net a fish....turned out to be a pike. He laughed his nice try off.....I didn't see the humor as much as him. |
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Posts: 238
Location: Rhinelander | fish4musky1 - 8/7/2018 6:36 AM
Wow, 20 over 45” by August? I doubt many are even doing that in mn.
Are you joking? Guys that are fishing a lot hit the number quite easy in MN or Canada.
14 of our 29 fish were over 45" on our Canadian trip this year. (15) fishing days.
Back in the day in Northern WI when we fished just about every Saturday and Sunday with minimum one day during the middle of the week after work. This equals 30 trips based upon 10 weeks from opener to August. Some days were 8-10 hours but others were only 3-4 hours but at the prime times.
Back in the day it wasn't really that hard to hit 20 fish 45" or larger if you put the time in. There were days we landed none and other days we had 2-4 per day 45" or larger. I do remember a stretch we had 11 in one week.........that wasn't the norm but ran into a good bite of big fish.
Things we then took for granted...... I can remember 4-6 fish days and only one over 45" and being disappointed. Had an eight day once on LVD of all places and none over 45" and saying WTF where were the big fish. Fished a lake after work one day before a tournament and quit because we smoked 3 over 45" in a little over an hour. Another small lake under 400 acres (3) different fish (3) years in a row at least one fish over 48". Never touched 50" on this lake but came close at 49.25". Many more examples of lakes that were barely fished beforehand but now exploited.
It just wasn't my fishing partner and I doing this either.....quite a few other guys also. Some guys on this board may admit and others that rarely if ever come to social media and post results had similar or better numbers too.
Looking through old pictures brings back a lot of memories and makes me even more disappointed. LOL
Edited by Hodag Hunter 8/7/2018 4:37 PM
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Location: minocqua, wi. | he could catch one in the kitchen sink ... |
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Posts: 1636
| I don't know about you guys... but, there are times where I will sacrifice time and covering water - and hunker down for ONE fish.
Numbers are nice... but, anyone who decides to slam their foot on the gas is most likely going to go fast.
I'm out for the hunt.
:)
Edited by Reelwise 8/7/2018 5:19 PM
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Location: Sawyer County, WI | Do any stats exist on how many 40+ fish get speared in MN or Ontario over an average winter ? |
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Posts: 612
| happy hooker - 8/6/2018 1:41 PM
Just gonna keep casting till the Minnesota legislature legalize s marijuana.
In NY it this will likely happen before years end. Consider both, however not simultaneously.
As for the post haven't caught any good fish this year. But this year hasn't lent itself to fishing. I hope things change as September approaches. Things usually turn around a bit then. |
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Posts: 20219
Location: oswego, il | Time per fish can be skewed as well. Some people have the time to travel to better fishing while some don't. Comparing time spent per fish is not only relative to the fisherman but the water they are on. Can't compare. |
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Posts: 8782
| You are a product of the waters you fish.
End of Story... |
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Posts: 107
Location: central illinois | This has been the worst year I have ever had. I thought last year was gonna be the worst ever. I still have hope to overcome terrible 2017 with the fall season coming. I think it’s gonna take a miracle. |
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Posts: 770
| my problem this year is I cant keep fish pinned..... I bet I have lost 3/4s of the fish I have put hooks into.... |
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Posts: 41
| T3clay - 8/8/2018 11:51 AM
my problem this year is I cant keep fish pinned..... I bet I have lost 3/4s of the fish I have put hooks into....
Ditto... it's also been the year where I've had to do the most solo fishing yet. I can't even blame my net man, it's truly just me failing at an almost beautiful rate |
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | This might surprise some folks, but how many times one fishes for muskies during any one year after 40 plus years of experience has near zero to do with catch rates per hour now on the waters I know well. In other words, I don't need to 'practice a lot', I just need to fish more hours.
It's not like I or anyone else forgets seasonal patterns over a few months learned the hard way with no one to 'network' with, no message boards or social media, a flasher for a sonar, no GPS and no 'hot bite' to chase across the country...just plain time on the water. I averaged 125 to 140 muskies in the boat a year with low periods like this one at around 85 when guiding full time, mostly on Pelican,. Bass lake, Moccasin, and Enterprise, with an average of 20 a year or so between 45 and 52. Some years better for big fish, some worse, this is over 20 plus years and was when the average density per acre in many of the waters I fiehd was WAY less than it is today.
Muskies are muskies, and we've seen this before if one has enough years under the belt. Increase pressure, decrease personal catch rates on most fishes, decrease time on the water during a tough bite and REALLY decrease personal catch rates,
What we are doing now to adapt to a tough bite on our local waters is spending more time on the water fishing muskies further afield (in my case I have a job to do when I fish, every time I fish, and most of the content we had to generate for clients has not been muskie related this year. That happens this year in the late Summer and Fall) and downsizing considerably. In the past when the bite was tough long term Keith broke out the modified Husky Jerks and Flicker Minnows, I broke out the creatures, and we started racking up good numbers again. Worth a try.
Man bun? Uhhhh, no. |
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Posts: 140
Location: Northern Illinois | Funny how the guys crying the most are the ones always preaching
the cream rises to the top...… it's not the fish, it's the fisherman, and then
they question anyone else who say's they are having a good year and catching
fish. lol. It's fishing, go out & fish. guys crying about fishing on vermillion & lake of
the woods makes me laugh, come on down & give the fox chain a whirl. lol.
Edited by Fishen-ski's 8/8/2018 2:38 PM
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Location: Contrarian Island | still managed 44 in the boat in under 200 hrs fishing... fish smarter, not harder!
overall the guys I chat with have all said it has been a bit off all year... hoping the fall is good.
Edited by BNelson 8/8/2018 2:48 PM
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Fishen-ski's - 8/8/2018 2:36 PM
Funny how the guys crying the most are the ones always preaching
the cream rises to the top...… it's not the fish, it's the fisherman, and then
they question anyone else who say's they are having a good year and catching
fish. lol. It's fishing, go out & fish. guys crying about fishing on vermillion & lake of
the woods makes me laugh, come on down & give the fox chain a whirl. lol.
That's a bit harsh.
I haven't seen anyone 'crying', just discussing a tough bite and declining fisheries. |
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Posts: 324
| Here’s a less than profound thought or 2.We are fishing.It’s what we do,what we enjoy,how we decide to spend our time and money.So,why not enjoy and savor it,just the experience of fishing and all it offers besides catching? The time will come when you can’t,or can’t do as much as you want,and trust me,you will miss it and all it used to give you.
Normally I’d likely have 80 days or so on the water by now,this year it’s been 8.Assorted reasons but I’ve missed it and especially the experiences it gives me beside the catching.Oh catching is key,and clearly a driver,but it’s really far from the end all of fishing.It’s a lot more gentlemen so keep the catching in perspective. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | ^yup ... |
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Yup for sure. Sidelined for three years myself. WAY better now. |
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Posts: 1144
Location: Minnesota. | DickP may have said most of it here...
I fly fish a good bit. Nope, not just muskies but most everything else to include some trout. Streams are really cool, that clear, flowing water. And yeah, there's a good bit of "Oh how lovely this and lovely that..." involved too. (me, I'd still rather catch a few but)...
A well known saying goes like "Many men fish their entire lives w/o realizing it's not the fish they're after..."
Well.....okay...*grins*.
DickP still got it right!
Edited by Jeremy 8/8/2018 5:46 PM
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Posts: 2269
Location: SE, WI. | R E L A X ......aka AROD! About fifteen fish behind last year....But size slightly better. Typically I've found, when there is a slow start first half of season, there is a flurry the second half. We can only hope....don't think I'll reach the 200 mark from "17", but will keep grinding through, 1 here, 2 there. It's Not over till the Fat Lady Sings! JD |
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Posts: 146
Location: Alsip, IL | 33 fish for me this season. 40 in my boat total. 3 over 46 from IL which for me is pretty darn good. I'm about 10 off last years pace and I bet I've spent 100 more hours on the water. However having moved to Southern WI I've really been trying to learn the 2 local lakes and they both have absolutely kicked my butt. I'm close to giving up on Silver Lake and Lake Geneva has not been kind to me either. I've fished it almost every week since the opener, multiple days and I've boated 3 fish with a 43 being the best one. If it wasn't for a 19 fish week in the UP in June this would easily be my worst year ever.
Edited by mecoltin123 8/8/2018 9:38 PM
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Location: Vilas | I fish deep water 98% of the time, either rowing or motor trolling if its too windy... the fishing has been tougher here, Vilas Cty, than years past... the fish I have caught tho are built extremely well... so they are definitely eating plenty.... |
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