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Posts: 8781
| How do you catch these %^#&% fish? 
I've disproved the time on the water theory, the 10,000 casts theory, the full moon/new moon theory, and the prime times/major minor throry.
I've disproved the "match the hatch" AND the "contrast the hatch" theory.
I've fished pre-frontal days, post frontal days, cold fronts, warm fronts, light, dark, and in between.
I've fished weeds, rocks, cribs, points, saddles, humps, current breaks, holes, and inside turns.
I've burned bucktails, slow-rolled spinnerbaits, twitched crankbaits over the tops of weeds, I've worked the areas where there are a ton of baitfish, I've worked the areas where there are no baitfish. I've worked the windblown shorelines, the deep rocks, and the shallow bays. I've worked the slop, gone up top, downsized, upsized, sped up, slowed down...
I tried natural colors, I tried bright colors, I've tried trolling the primary and secondary breaks, the abyss, and everything in between.
I've fished wind from every diection, or none at all. Low pressure, high pressure, rising and falling pressure.
I've twitched, jerked, ripped, burned, jigged, cranked, tapped, swooshed, dead sticked, and snap-jigged.
Aces, Bagleys, Bulldawgs, Cranes, Depthraiders, Ernies, Fits, Gapen's, Hawg Teasers, Jackpots, Mepps, Pacemakers, Reef Hawgs, Suicks, Topraiders, Vipers Weagles, X-Raps, and a host of other lures in every color of the rainbow.
And in the last 37 days of fishing I caught exactly ONE fish, which might grow up to be 30" by next year... |
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Posts: 136
| There is one question that needs to be asked. Are you fishing confident? Yes or No? |
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Posts: 469
Location: Downers Grove, IL | EA,
Have these lakes been stocked?
thedude |
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Posts: 654
Location: MPLS, MN | http://muskie.outdoorsfirst.com/board/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=28... |
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| You crack me up! It's gotta be the Karma...... You left that little blue cooler in my garage & every time I take it in the boat we get skunked! Can't explain it? It's in the basement now!
Wait till this fall & I'll take you out with me. I'm not hitting it that hard this year but come October that will change. Call me so I can update you on when to take some time off work.
Mike
815-218-1902 |
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Posts: 8781
| Confident?
In WHAT??
I don't think I could fish much better. If I could fish every day I could get dialed into the patterns a little better, but it's not like I start the day throwing gliders, or try to work bulldawgs in the slop and weed up every cast. I fish spots that have been known to produce fish, I follow the forage, and I work my baits effectively. I keep in touch with the guys who fish those waters all of the time, so when fish are being caught I know where and on what. We're always pretty conscious of having two different presentations going in two different colors, we change up when things aren't working. I've even gotten desperate and decided to go completely against conventional wisdom.
You just can't get a pattern going when nobody in the boat has moved a fish all day.
Dude, they TELL me there's muskies in there, but I'm startin' to wonder!!
Mike
Karma, huh? I bet that Morrison broad put some sort of hex on me... It ain't the cooler, bro! If it was I'd have had some luck since I forgot it at your house! Which reminds me
I'M GETTING TIRED OF WARM BEER, MAN!
LOL
Edited by esoxaddict 8/4/2006 3:58 PM
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Posts: 2865
Location: Brookfield, WI | EA,
Perhaps I'm uniquely qualified to answer this since I am 1 for 6 and have never caught a fish casting. Did you ever think maybe you're just trying to hard? There was a long thread on another board not long ago addressing which is harder, being a good golfer, or being a good musky fisherman. Maybe you remember it? There were a lot of ill-informed opinions in that thread.
I know how hard it is to be a good golfer. I also know from experience that when I'm playing badly, I press. The more I press, generally the worse I play. Trying too hard typically doesn't work. I often found I needed to relax, stop hitting balls, goof around on the course a little bit. More often than not I would make a couple birdies or smash a few drives while goofing around, and then the scores would start to come.
I picture you out there firing cast after cast, swearing your head off. Maybe you need to go bass fishing. Relax, Screw around a little bit. Get the smell of fish back on you. Your luck stinks right now. Man, even your buddy bailed on your Eagle trip.
I think you should just go and catch some fish, any fish.
If you've already done that, and it didn't work, take up golf. I'll give you a couple lessons. It's easy to get good at golf. LOL
Kevin
D@mm!t Zig, something's shredding our walleyes.
Edited by MuskyHopeful 8/4/2006 5:10 PM
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Location: Northern Wisconsin | it sounds likes confidence problems. just fish. you will start finding/seeing fish and things will
start clicking. just keep your lure in the water and dont waste time changing lures, changing spots
so much. cast, reel, do your figure 8 i L turn and fire it back out there. just try to relaxe and have fun.
once you get one on a trip it usually gets a little easier. |
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Posts: 1120
Location: West Chester, OH | I pretty much resemble that, though my one fish was slightly larger, & I'm beginning to believe that I'm just a bad fisherman.
Have you ever considered that? |
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| A man's just got to know his limitaions. |
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| Why am I so lucky? Prayer. |
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Posts: 34
Location: Bloomington MN / Price County WISC | A good GARAGE SALE will settle you down. Just let us know date, time, and place. We all go through a slump. I've had several in my 41 years of hunting muskies. You are not the first guy to think about giving it up. First of all get out in that boat on a lake that you know there are fish. Now slow down, think about any thing but muskies, make some slow casts and take a break. I don't know what kind of shoreline you have to look at but I'll just sit and watch the critters come out of the woods to the water. Just take it all in and remember you are there to fish, not catch. This billion dollar industry can't change and call it's products "catching rods, catching boats,etc". You've got to take the importance of boating a fish and set it off to the side unless you're tapeing a weekly TV program, then you have a problem.
Now get out and start enjoying what you like best, and take your time doing it on a lake that you know. Practice your presentation and delivery with a plug you trust.
Good Luck
Frank |
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Edited by Sponge 8/23/2006 9:16 AM
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Posts: 223
Location: minneapolis | Take the Sponge advice ! That is too freaking hilarious !!! Now I have a question- How do we get the Sponger to the fall outing ?  |
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Posts: 20219
Location: oswego, il | EA, you can take another aproach too and goto wally wierd and put condoms in the old lady's shopping carts. Who knows maybe you could meet one, she may be loaded, you could be her little "gummy" bear, literally! |
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Posts: 374
Location: Bemidji | You have to fish where the fish are and not fish where they aren't. Start fishing for some 'eyes. |
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Location: Athens, Ohio | I've fished with this man.
He's got good baits, good presentation, and we certainly were fishing where the fish are.
He casts all day, not a doodler. He can't seem to catch them, either.
Ah feel yer pain, m |
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| The truth is there is no "fairness" in this sport -- We had 14 guys fishing their tails off (12-14 hours a day) 3 weeks ago in Canada --Fishing was slow , several guys shut out for the week, My brother who has fished the Manitiou for over 20 years got shut out. It was tough BUT my mother in law who has never caught a ski , who does'nt know how to cast , leaves the dock and was back in 10 minutes with pic's of a 47 incher caught trolling with her rod in a holder, sippin a pepsi. Thank God I lucked into a 48 earlier in the week. But my point is excellent fisherman get shut out all the time , 37 trips seems excessive , but I foresee multi-fish days in your future. If you fish musky you had better enjoy fishin' b/c there ain't much catchin' going on. ManitouDan |
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| Just fish...and shut up. |
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Location: Apple Valley | Sometimes fishing is not fair!!!!!!!! Last Thursday night I went fishing with my 18 year old son. I was fishing for Tigers and my son was fishing for bass. I had a nice tiger follow my hellhound (lazy follow). So my smart ass son tells he is going to catch that Tiger. He puts down his spinnerbait he was throwing and grabs a rod with a #5 Shad Rap. First cast, My son yells get the net. That S.O.B
Caught my Tiger!!!!!!!!!!! 42" long and my son is still laughing at me.
Brian |
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| Take all your change out of your right pocket and put it in your left. Turn your visor around and upside down. Make a sacrifice to the musky gods by throwing your favorite bulldawg into the lake you hate the most. Take your next favorite bait and put it on and don't change it until you catch a fish. That broke my last dry spell! |
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Posts: 96
| Read Spoonplugging by Buck Perry. Find the fish. Catch the fish. I'll put you in my prayers. musky39 |
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| There is no crying in Muskie Fishing.... |
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | Addict,
Was good to fish with you and I know you know what you are doin......just in a slump....so am I. You'll get out of it. Keep bothering Slamr to get you on some good water.....and come up again towards the end of august and we'll go back and nail them couple out of Oconomowoc! Keep at it! Good luck!
Mike |
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Posts: 34
Location: Bloomington MN / Price County WISC | They recognize your boat !!! You have to get a new boat before this affliction becomes a permanant psychy problem. Let us know how it works out so we can self heal our selves. |
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Posts: 5874
| Wait a minute. You wear a visor?
Lose the visor. Problem solved. |
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Posts: 548
Location: MN | TS - 8/5/2006 8:30 AM
Just fish...and shut up.
Kinda harsh.... LOL |
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Posts: 8781
| Hey TS
You ain't exactly killin 'em this year, either bro!
And just for the record
I do NOT wear a visor!!
I just fish. And fish, and fish...
And I'm going to keep on fishing until it stops being fun, and if that ever happens, I'll go back to bass fishing. Maybe move to AZ, go into real estate
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Posts: 221
| maybe....
are you wearing new deodorant or cologne that gets on your hands...baits been dumped in gas...hands have gas on them from filling the tank...perfumey, scented soap...
just a guess.
Bad luck to ya...(It bad luck to say G-Luck)... |
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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | Try wearing a visor then. |
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| yah I seem to have good luck with the visor...just keep pluggin away and you'll find an eater..
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Posts: 8781
| Now that I think about it...
All the fish I've caught were on someone elses's lures, or lures that someone else gave me.
Holy ####, man my lures have fish repellant on them!!
Nelson, did you whiz in my tackle box? |
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Spells like that happen. To near everyone. I remember Tony Rizzo telling me he hadn't boated a fish in weeks one year; it takes a real deal angler to ask what to do or even make the comment. It's nothing and everything, it's timing and lure selection, it's weather and how your hat fits...
Your next few trips could net you several fish. |
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Posts: 691
Location: nationwide | I am in the middle of a slump on the flowage and have not caught (or seen) anything since June. It is depressing for sure and I relate it to timing. I get the Sawyer County Record and people are catching fish out there . .. .but not me. I have fished early in the morning and late into the evenings along with some middle of the day trips as well but no no avail. I have been on the water during what what I would consider to be very good times as well.
I am in the right areas because I have seen fish, just nothing chasing my lures. I talked to Ty and am fishing some of the spots that he says have been "hot" but still nothing. It is somewhat the nature of the beast in muskie fishing I guess. I have kept a good attitude through it so far and when out I am expecting something to happen most casts.
I remember years where I was on the other end of the spectrum and was catching/seeing fish when other people were struggling so it all evens out I guess.
Keep fishing hard and things will turn around.
Corey "rally killer" Meyer
Edited by muskymeyer 8/7/2006 2:03 PM
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Posts: 8781
| Aw come on man -- if you're gonna make fun of me at least log in so I know who you are! |
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Posts: 661
Location: Roscoe IL | Sorry Jeff, that was me. I forgot to log in. It was removed anyway...... I thought it was funny. Sometimes you just have to laugh at these things. It works for me. If it was easy everyone would do it.
Again, call me so we can get you set up for this fall.
Edited by ToothyCritter 8/7/2006 12:58 PM
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Posts: 1316
Location: Madison, WI | Just keep pounding the water. I'm 1-24 from last season into this season.. I tell ya I only catch fish when my wife is in the boat... I think they see my ugly mug and swim away.. |
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Posts: 723
| it is all a test in futility, everyone has droughts, I was with a guy on opening day, he boats 5 fish from 37-44, the rest of the season, he has 3 solid weeks booked for fishing 3 different bodies of water, and comes up with one 34" fish!!!!!! I have had some serious droughts that ended with a big fish, or as sworral said, next time out you could bang a bunch.
If these fish came easy, everyone would do it. you'll get yours. |
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Posts: 20219
Location: oswego, il | EA. will you be at the meeting wdnesday? We can talk about that slumpy thingy. |
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| Listen to the guy who suggested a problem with bad scent on yer lures. One fellow once on here was very convincing that muskies have a poor sense of smell, at least relative to eyes and maybe pike. He said I was likely wasting my time putting slimy vasoline-type fish scent on my cranks when trolling at night. I did it anyway and I caught fish, I believed it helped. Still do. Now, before I started in the spring my baits had zero gas/oil or bug spray scent. Honest to gosh, I put my baits thru the dishwahser over the winter. Like 120 hard baits. Took a few washes and lots of time unhooking those trebles from the baskets. I hand washed hair baits in a hot tub of soapy water. Clean clean clean.
I try very hard to never spray bug stuff in the boat* and always wash my hands after putting the boat in, opening the vent on the gas tank, pumping the bulb, etc. I wash my hand with gritty toothpaste, works GREAT and such a handy container.
So, to build some confidinky, go thru the motions to be clean, including the dishwasher with a couple fav baits, and let her rip.
Also, always dip yer net in the lake as you set out, so the fish will swim into familiar water, and, flip a silver coin into the lake as you leave the landing, saying, "To the lady of the lake."
*Never allow bug spray to hit the glass/plastic of yer fish finder. Makes spots that are hard to remove. |
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Posts: 8781
| Todd
I'll be there. Might be a couple minutes late, but I'll be there.
as for anything on my lures?
For as much time as they've spent in the lake I can't imagine there's anything on them, except maybe some algae, mercury, agricultural and residential runoff, and whatever comes out of 10 million jet skis and pleasure boats...
LMAO, maybe I should rub some pike on 'em
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Posts: 136
| Once you stick on they will next 5 will come easy. That's how it works. Don't fish angry. |
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Posts: 8781
| Fish angry?
Is that possible? I mean you're fishing, what's there to be mad about?
I get dissapointed at the end of the day when we didn't even see a fish, but I don't get mad about it. ****, when fishing starts making me mad its time to quit fishing you know?
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Posts: 267
Location: Lake City,Pa. | Well try this when nothing else works, do a Musky dance or jig then spit out the back of the boat! I have to buddys that do this and it seems to work, LOL. After they did a their little dance, they put 2 in the boat in about 1/2 hour, go figure. And I have to say I have tryed it and my wife just has to laugh. The rule is just have fun it will happen!! |
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Posts: 62
| Maybe you need to fish new water.
Get away from the million jet ski's and pleasure boaters.
PM me if you would like to discuss further. But I might be able to help you where you fish the most. Sounds like the same place I fish.
Thanks!
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Just one question