Done for the year
esoxaddict
Posted 10/30/2008 4:59 PM (#343196)
Subject: Done for the year





Posts: 8779


Looks like I'm probably done fishing for the year... Season 5 comes to a close.
As is tradition, I like to reflect on the past season, what I've learned, how I've changed as an angler, and what my accomplishments were.

What I learned this year:

1. When muskies want to eat, there ain't much you can to do stop them.
2. When muskies don't want to eat there ain't much you can do to make them.
3. East winds really DO suck as bad as everyone says
4. It's just fishing, and it's supposed to be fun
5. Anybody who has to try to prove how good they are? Ain't.
6. I'd trade a week on crap water for a day on Eagle.

Caught my biggest fish this year, 49.5. First thought was "crap, almost 50" I must be stupid, that was a fish a whole lot of guys would be jumping up and down over.

Didn't fish even half as much as other years, probably only put in 15 days this year. Other than that, all I have to say is:
Hmph.

I'll probably fish next year.

California_Muskie
Posted 10/30/2008 9:00 PM (#343218 - in reply to #343196)
Subject: RE: Done for the year





Posts: 299


Location: Ontario, California
A look back on the year is a good thing. I do the same thing and document what I learned and made mistakes doing (for all species). Congrats on your PB. Hopefully after 5 seasons now you can put it all together and have an even better year in 09 with a bigger fish.
Mr Musky
Posted 10/30/2008 9:17 PM (#343220 - in reply to #343196)
Subject: Re: Done for the year





Posts: 999


Esox Addict, what state did you do most of your fishing in?

Mr Musky
MuskyHopeful
Posted 10/31/2008 7:28 AM (#343230 - in reply to #343220)
Subject: Re: Done for the year





Posts: 2865


Location: Brookfield, WI
Mr Musky - 10/30/2008 9:17 PM

Esox Addict, what state did you do most of your fishing in?

Mr Musky


Denial. Pretty much his whole life is spent in that state.

Kevin

Warmer today.

Edited by MuskyHopeful 10/31/2008 7:29 AM
jonnysled
Posted 10/31/2008 9:06 AM (#343245 - in reply to #343196)
Subject: Re: Done for the year





Posts: 13688


Location: minocqua, wi.
the sucker bite just started!
nwild
Posted 10/31/2008 9:13 AM (#343247 - in reply to #343245)
Subject: Re: Done for the year





Posts: 1996


Location: Pelican Lake/Three Lakes Chain
I love to hear the done for the year guys this time of year. More space for me!

The last several years I have been seeing more and more people out on the water this time of year...until this year. I don't know the cause but the lakes are empty, and I like it!

Ditto on the sucker bite jonny. It is just getting going for me.
MACK
Posted 10/31/2008 10:30 AM (#343264 - in reply to #343196)
Subject: RE: Done for the year




Posts: 1080


esoxaddict - 10/30/2008 4:59 PM


What I learned this year:


5. Anybody who has to try to prove how good they are? Ain't.





:thumbsup:

Nice job on the 49.5"!
esoxaddict
Posted 10/31/2008 10:44 AM (#343267 - in reply to #343264)
Subject: RE: Done for the year





Posts: 8779


Thanks Mack!

Normally I'd fish until my baits bounce, but I kinda blew my fishing budget (and then some) a bit early this year. Which is ok, because the fish aren't going anywhere. They'll be there next year. And that 49.5"? Well... She'll be 50", and I know where she lives!
Billy D
Posted 10/31/2008 10:58 AM (#343269 - in reply to #343196)
Subject: RE: Done for the year




Posts: 29


Had probably one of my best years muskie fishing, caught a good number of fish. But still time to try get a FAT 50" before season is done.
TIME TO SOAK A SUCKER AND TIME TO BUST OUT THE POUNDERS!
esoxaddict
Posted 10/31/2008 12:08 PM (#343274 - in reply to #343196)
Subject: Re: Done for the year





Posts: 8779


I neglected to mention that most of the time, their "mood" lies somewhere in between "smash anything that moves" and "not going to budge for anything"... That, to me is the fun part of muskie fishing -- figuring out what it takes to turn follwers to eaters, nippers to biters, lookers to followers, etc. Which is a combination of lure selection, cast precision, presentation, depth, and being able to convert fish on figure 8's. All of those are skills anglers develop gradually over a period of many years. 15 days on the water since last year? Not enough to make significant progress in that department IMO.

ToothyCritter
Posted 10/31/2008 3:06 PM (#343300 - in reply to #343196)
Subject: Re: Done for the year





Posts: 661


Location: Roscoe IL
leaving for Vegas this weekend, bears game next & a family deal after that. I'm not sayin its over since this is the best time to be out. But it dont look too promising.

What did I learn this year?
Those teeth are much sharper than you think!
Chicks dig muskie scars!
Fluro leaders rock!
Clear water is a blast to fish.
Speed kills (I knew that already)
White can be the best option when it's slow.
Suckers out perform everything in the fall. (At least for me)
Tigers skis are beautiful!
Fishing new waters can pay off bigtime!
Pointerpride102
Posted 10/31/2008 8:58 PM (#343324 - in reply to #343196)
Subject: Re: Done for the year





Posts: 16632


Location: The desert
For those criticizing his decision, I didnt see any offers to take him out fishing to keep him fishing till the end of the season.

Sounds like you had a fun season EA. Best of luck next season.
sworrall
Posted 10/31/2008 9:25 PM (#343331 - in reply to #343196)
Subject: Re: Done for the year





Posts: 32885


Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin
EA,
You aren't alone, there are too many folks whose budget didn't stretch as far this year. Normally, I'd be done and the boat winterized so I can bowhunt, but this year I decided to fish Muskies up to rifle season, and bowhunt second season. I usually sit in the tree and reflect about the fishing season's success and failures; this year that'll wait for a couple weeks yet.
Wanna Ski
Posted 11/1/2008 12:26 AM (#343345 - in reply to #343196)
Subject: RE: Done for the year


If your put in the normal crowd of muskie chasers, and follow everything in the books and tv then you probably had a less than average year. It was quite a normal year for those of us that have been doing this for more than 15 years. Old patterns came back, old reliables came back that have not worked for the past 5 years, we've been spoiled for abit now. But if you can help it don't put the boat away yet. Not aleast until you break off your tail lights on your trailer when backing into a frozen lake and your boat drops through the ice because there is one little open spot of water in the middle of the lake.