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Posts: 8863
| This is a fun topic that comes up every year.
Here are mine:
1. Fish with Suicks until I actually catch a fish on one. Don't ask me why, but I have never been able to catch fish on Suicks.
2. Catch a musky on a hot dog. Why: Why not?
3. Learn to cast over my left shoulder so I don't have to switch hands
4. Figure out all the different ways to weight and work a Hardhead
5. Spend more time on new waters
6. Catch a nice hybrid
7. Figure out why my suckers die when everyone else in the boat can keep one alive all day
8. Catch a musky on a #5 Mepps.
9. Learn the finer points of fishing with spinnerbaits
10. Catch a fish out in the abyss
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Posts: 149
Location: Appleton, WI | The year of 2014 is going to be learning how to fish suspended fish. Also it is not to spend so much on lures and use the ones I have that have never touched the water. |
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Posts: 410
Location: Wakefield, MI | Fish some of the larger lakes in the area
Be in the boat for a 50" |
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Posts: 192
Location: Quebec, Canada | Catch a musky on a pounder or a monster medussa.
Catch a musky on a boundy.
Use my new big dawg in proportion of the cost.
Edited by Drakl 2/11/2014 5:50 PM
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Location: Contrarian Island | 55"er...
oh and to not fall out of the boat.  |
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Posts: 638
Location: S.W. WI | Catch one on a Bondy.
A few more on TinHeads.
Fish (and catch!) on a new water I've been thinking on for a looooong while.
-Jon
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Posts: 2083
| 45"+ on my 10wt. keep saying I'm gonna fly-fish for them more and never do...this is the year. |
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Posts: 305
Location: Illinois | There is a fish that lives in a small area. It's hell to get to and difficult to fish, but this fish has been there 3 years in a row. I had her hooked two years ago and she wrapped me around a stump. Last year she played with me 3 different times but wouldn't eat. It would be easily my PB, and it's certainly personal at this point. I estimate I have spent 50 hours chasing her. Hope she wasn't caught and kept. That is my only goal. |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | Actually Win a Muskie Tournament.
Like BNelson,... Boat a 55"Muskie.
Fish more hours this season.
Try to figure out this HB 1198.
Go back to the basics more often. |
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Posts: 456
Location: Kansas City BBQ Capitol of the world | 1.) Make new acquaintances and friends on the Muskie waters I fish and through muskie fishing.
2.) Beat my Missouri personal best.
3.) Spend a week at Cass Lake, MN. and beat my MN. personal best.
4.) Nag the Missouri DNR to look at Muskie lakes to stock closer to Kansas City when the new management program begins in 2015.
Ron
Edited by rjhyland 2/11/2014 6:19 PM
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Posts: 720
| To have fun and catch some fish. |
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Posts: 131
Location: Lake St. Clair | 1. Beat last years total fish number
2. Beat last years number of fish over 50
3. Catch a 50 instead of always netting them! haha
4. Continue to understand LSC. After 2 full seasons of only muskie fishing, we have come a long way
5. Get better at understanding seasonal patterns
6. Meet some new people and fish with some new people!
7. GET OUT AND BEAT EM UP!
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Posts: 300
| My goals are as always, learn as much as possible, break my PB, continue to learn the waters my wife and I fish and have fun. I am also hoping to put more fish in the boat than last season. Hopefully some of them will be on tactics I don't utilize enough. |
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Posts: 2389
Location: Chisholm, MN | Learn the new lakes I moved near and dominate them.
Catch a 55
Maybe not be such a loner! |
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Posts: 2026
| Not break a rod on the hookset, still landed it, luckily.
Not break the reel handle on a hookset, lost that one.
Convince Mother Nature to not send 30 mph winds for the limited time I am able to fish. |
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Posts: 31
Location: Illinois | 1. Get my boy and his friends in my boat more and away from TV and video games!!
2. Fish more! At least 30 times in my boat this season!
3. Catch a decent fish on my home water in Podunk Illinois!
4. Keep the Team Jerklip Big Fish Trophy in my garage!!!
5. Boat that elusive 50 in MN this year!
6. Keep hands hook free all year long!
7. Learn new baits and have more fun!!!
8. Keep my wife happy!(this one will probably be the hardest)
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Posts: 32955
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Catch big bluegills for the Worrall Cabin fish fry and post the images during the Spring Bay Summer Outing just to annoy some MuskieFIRST 'guests'. 
Stand by...the rest of my 2014 goal is all about this place. It's going to be cool.
Oh, and I want to Muskie fish as much as last year. |
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Posts: 8863
| BNelson - 2/11/2014 5:52 PM
55"er...
oh and to not fall out of the boat. ;-)
*Sploosh!* "oh, sh*t, Nelson's in the lake... and I got a fish! NOW what do I do?!"
After 40 years fishing, and a decade chasing these stupid muskies, that is still one of the funniest things I have ever experienced on the water!
I am laughing so hard I've got tears in my eyes!
Edited by esoxaddict 2/11/2014 7:24 PM
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Posts: 668
Location: Wisconsin | esoxaddict - 2/11/2014 7:19 PM
BNelson - 2/11/2014 5:52 PM
55"er...
oh and to not fall out of the boat. ;-)
*Sploosh!* "oh, sh*t, there goes Nelson... and I got a fish! NOW what do I do?!"
After over 40 years fishing, and a decade chasing these stupid muskies, that is still one of the funniest things I have ever experienced on the water!
Ok, I have heard this referenced many times, but don't know the whole story. So, how about sharing, it sounds soooo funny. |
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Posts: 324
Location: Waukee, IA | 1. Fish more.
2. Fish smarter
3. Fish harder
4. Catch new Iowa state record.
5. Have fun doing 1-3...just in case #4 doesn't work out. |
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Posts: 313
Location: Bemidji, Lake Vermilion | Fish more.
Catch more.
Think less.
Do more. |
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Posts: 247
Location: Grand Marais, MN | wont be able to fish muskies for probably 3 years, so my goal is to figure out some lake michigan stuff here in milwaukee |
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Posts: 720
| See ice out here by June opener. |
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Posts: 246
| Fish more, to busy last two years.Have a 40 and 50# er.Time for a fall fat 60#er is my goal till I die!
Gmanny |
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Posts: 8863
| It's a long story, Clammer. I wish I could find the thread from back then. I'll try to shorten it.
This was maybe 2006 or 2007? I was a few years into musky fishing, pretty hardcore about the whole deal. I had been out something like 15 days without as much as a follow. Cave Run, Northern WI, Central WI, Southern WI, IL... And I was MAD. All my life, if there was a fish, I was the guy who would catch it. Muskies? No deal. So Brad agreed to take me out fishing one night on the Yahara Chain. Moved a few fish, caught a 36 and a 41 that night. I don't remember at what point this happened, but I hooked a fish. Not a great fish in hindsight, but back then this was a choir-of-angels-singing kind of moment... So I've got this fish. And I'm waiting for Nelson to get the net, because the fish is DONE. It's just sitting there like "okay, net me.." I'm watching the fish. Tunnel vision. All of a sudden I hear this giant splash. I look back, and Nelson's in the lake. I start to panic, because I've never hand landed a fish. I don't know if Brad can swim, and he's overboard. I don't know whether to sh*t or go blind! Meanwhile, Summer (Brad's dog) is sitting there between us looking at me, and Brad, and me, and Brad like "what are you morons DOING?!" I've got a guy in the lake. That's kind of an emergency. I also got a fish. That's kind of an emergency, too. Fish? Nelson? Fish? Nelson?
As it turned out, Nellie was able to climb back in the boat and net the fish.
I found out later what happened: When he went to grab the net (in total shock that I had actually caught a fish), he knocked one of his rods overboard. (As many of you know, rods float, but not for very long) In an attempt to grab the rod and keep it from sinking, he reached out just a bit too far, and gravity took care of the rest. Somehow, and I will never understand how, Brad managed to survive this whole experience without ever getting his hair wet. How the hell do you go head first out of the boat and not get your hair wet?? In any case, that was my slump buster. After that day, I never went more than a few days on the water without a fish in the net. I've had some great laughs since then, but that one still takes the cake.
Edited by esoxaddict 2/11/2014 7:55 PM
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Posts: 397
| catch my first 50 on LOTW this summer so i can ring Frank's bell at the bay store camp |
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Location: Eastern Ontario | Did he save the rod?
Lot of guys looking for a 55 so I'll look for a 56 even tho my current PB is 54.
My plan would be to spend at least one day a week on the Larry from June 15 till Dec 15 weather permitting also spend some time casting where trollers don't go.
Edited by horsehunter 2/11/2014 8:16 PM
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Posts: 410
Location: one foot over the line | Break the 50 pound mark on some local flatheads, also lookin to break into the 60 inch sturgeon range. Get up to the cabin as often as possible and spend as much time as i can up there chasin the toothy critter, If i could get a 51, that'd be great, if not, i hope to put some new guys on some fish. Put a few more gills in the freezer, finish the exterior of my house, and have a few beers. |
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Posts: 1247
Location: On the Niagara River in Buffalo, NY | Make it to a Muskiefirst Outing, last one I fished was the one I ran in 2003 on Chautauqua Lake! Catch a Great Lakes Spotted Muskie 56"er or better! Catch my 1st muskie with my 8wt fly rod! Last catch an Arapaima over 200 lbs over the next 5 weeks in the Guyana rainforest, getting on the plane in two hours?
Edited by LarryJones 2/11/2014 8:07 PM
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Location: Eastern Ontario | Good luck with the Arapaima MR. Jones |
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Posts: 668
Location: Wisconsin | esoxaddict - 2/11/2014 7:52 PM
It's a long story, Clammer. I wish I could find the thread from back then. I'll try to shorten it.
QUOTE]
NICE!!! Thanks esox, great story. Love the "hair" comments and the "choir of angels" was pretty special as well. |
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Posts: 208
| Open water by opener. |
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Posts: 483
Location: NE PA | LarryJones - 2/11/2014 9:06 PM
catch an Arapaima over 200 lbs over the next 5 weeks in the Guyana rainforest, getting on the plane in two hours?
super jealous about that. good luck man |
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Posts: 210
| 1) I got a local fish that has been a 5-year quest. Had two misses during those five years. That quest is gunna be in its 6th year, I wonder how long a fish can live, and will she still be there in 2014.
2) Find ways to spend more time with good and new friends on their waters, and my waters.
3) Try to avoid changing the WANT for a new setup (based on a Big Nasty or a Thorne's Predator) to a NEED. |
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Posts: 1358
Location: Lake "y" cause lake"x" got over fished | I am setting some higher goals for myself...
30 fish boated (yes, 30 for me is high)
fish more rubber
Switch baits less often, give what I am using a much larger chance to succeed or fail.
Fish baits I built more.
Perfect my glider figure8
last but not least, as always, have fun and relax on the water with friends and beer
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Posts: 86
Location: colorado | Paramuskyhunter - 2/11/2014 4:02 PM
. Also it is not to spend so much on lures and use the ones I have that have never touched the water.
Now That's just crazy talk |
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Posts: 86
Location: Plymouth, MN | That's simple, have a more productive season than last year, which should be easy. |
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Posts: 84
Location: Knot on the WATER | All of us to stay healthy, and win the PMTT, again...... |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | get my daughter on the water more ... |
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Posts: 1292
Location: Walker, MN | horsehunter - 2/11/2014 8:17 PM
Good luck with the Arapaima MR. Jones
+1 that would be a dream trip for me too. |
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Posts: 1828
| 1. Get a picture with my son (who will be 7 months old by opener) and a musky.
2. Help my wife finally land one.
3. Break my local-lakes-personal best.
Others:
- Fish as good with company as I do by myself. Keep focus and fish smarter, no matter who's with me. Unless my kids are with - then just keep it fun.
- Break my overall personal best.
- Figure out two particular local lakes without my Sensei.
- Catch more than 20 muskies.
- Convert more followers into biters. Better, more persistent boatside work.
- Catch one on a new-to-me lure (Suick, any tube, or any topwater other than a LowRider).
- Don't buy ANY new baits. Save for another good rod. |
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Posts: 619
| Fish more docks, bullrushes, and try some shallow areas tight to shore. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | ah yah Jeff that story is funny and makes me laugh to this day... we could probably start a new thread and share stories about falling out of the boat... I fell out one other time after setting the hook hard into a big fish in MN, I took a step or 2 back upon setting, rod loaded, fish came unpinned but my momentum took me backwards, as I stumbled back I had 2 options...land on 5 or 6 rods on the front deck or go over...I chose over.. caught myself on the gunnel as I went over... Cory Painter just stood there in awe laughing at my acrobatics... and I didn't get my hair wet!
Edited by BNelson 2/12/2014 9:11 AM
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| NM state record. |
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Posts: 1405
Location: Detroit River | Besides catching more & bigger fish than last year my primary goal is to lose 30 Lbs. so that the fish look bigger inj my pictures. |
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Posts: 833
| 1.) Get my oldest his first fish, he is 5
2.) Get my first 50 (I bought a bumpboard so no more near misses!)
3.) Double my catches from lsat year (35-ish is the goal, time permitting)
4.) Spend more time on new waters, fish the St. Croix some more
5.) Learn to fish D&R and add that presentation to the mix
6.) Fish more with good friends than I did last year
Edited by Brad P 2/12/2014 9:27 AM
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Posts: 2389
Location: Chisholm, MN | jaultman - 2/12/2014 8:43 AM
1. Get a picture with my son (who will be 7 months old by opener) and a musky.
2. Help my wife finally land one.
3. Break my local-lakes-personal best.
Others:
- Fish as good with company as I do by myself. Keep focus and fish smarter, no matter who's with me. Unless my kids are with - then just keep it fun.
- Break my overall personal best.
- Figure out two particular local lakes without my Sensei.
- Catch more than 20 muskies.
- Convert more followers into biters. Better, more persistent boatside work.
- Catch one on a new-to-me lure (Suick, any tube, or any topwater other than a LowRider).
- Don't buy ANY new baits. Save for another good rod.
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Posts: 205
| catch more then 1 fish |
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Posts: 1202
Location: Money, PA | 1. Get my two boys out on the water more with me...They are 8 and 10 y/o
2. Fish Ohio more.
Edited by ShutUpNFish 2/12/2014 1:11 PM
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Posts: 633
| Get out and fish more.
Get out with my kids more.
Learn some new waters.
Don't be afraid to change lures more often. |
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Posts: 10
| Catch a 56+ Incher |
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Posts: 1358
Location: Lake "y" cause lake"x" got over fished | Forgot to add... Catch my first 50"
V\Can't believe I forgot that.. Something might be wrong with me. I am going to go take my temp |
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Posts: 994
Location: Minnesota: where it's tough to be a sportsfan! | "See ice out here by June opener." That is COLD very COLD Bondy!!
Scary part is how close to true it could be for many of us!!! My 2014 goal would simply be able to go Muskie fishing allot more than last year!!
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Posts: 785
| My goals in general, but would love to achieve in 2014;
-Catch a 50"+ out of an Iowa lake.
-Actually land a 55" or bigger musky. The "actually landing" being the part that has proved difficult so far. |
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Location: Grand Rapids, MI | Kinda lofty but that's what goals are for...
- Get my 12 yo son a new pb, he's now at 55"
- catch a 55#, 57" (or just get it done with one fish)
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Posts: 24
| 1.Catch a Tiger
2.Spend more time open water fishing
3.Fish Green Bay more often
4.Catch a fish on the new under dawg
5.Use gliders more often
6.Catch a 50" ( Caught a 49.5" this past fall) |
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Posts: 123
| can't believe nobody has said the obvious, 70lber, tagged and bagged, to end all the internet squabbles once and for all. |
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| will pass the rest of my life trying to caught the ottawa river 59x34
maybe in 20 years he will be that big who know |
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Posts: 1106
Location: Muskegon Michigan | 2013 was a financial disaster for Michelle and I. Prior years saw us fishing all the time. Michelle was winning Muskies inc titles and I was watching her catch huge fish on our baits. In 2012 she ripped up her Ankle and it never came back. Surgery failed to fix it and her career as a Registered Nurse came to an end. November of 2013 I was diagnosed with Cancer on my Lip. In January I Had it removed but the costs before January 1st were huge as we had no Insurance. Today we just want to be debt free by May and have found a couple ways to do that without selling our big water boat. My biggest Goal for 2014 is to Fish with my wife at least once a week this year. Would like to return to Lake St. Clair and the Upper Peninsula as we have not been to either in several years. Mike |
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Posts: 38
| My goals for the upcoming season are:
a fish 50"+
get one on topwater
Catch a spotted beast from the St. Lawrence
Buy more wood and custom baits and fewer mass produced/plastic baits.
More time on the water. |
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Posts: 243
| To catch a 50"+ out of a small lake that is my favorite body of water and gets a lot of pressure. Have seen a couple of them over the last 14 years, but the big ones are as lure trained as fish can get. Have been fortunate to put several 50+ in the boat, but catching one out of that body of water would make my season. |
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Posts: 357
Location: Duluth, MN | Double nickel!
And try not to take it so seriously... |
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Posts: 455
| If I could learn to keep my mouth shut that would be a good start. Doubt it though. |
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Posts: 164
| To not lose focus after a long day fishing and talking and to do a perfect figure 8 on every cast not a half nice tryed attempt. And to get a 50" out of the small bodies of water I prefer to fish. |
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Posts: 540
Location: Leech Lake, Walker MN | Same as every day and every year to catch the biggest one ever every day that's my goal |
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Posts: 16
Location: Moon Twp, Pa | Spend whole days and nights targeting musky only. (when the activity is slow I always switch up and fish other species for the action)
Learn more about and apply trolling techniques(bought my first boat last summer)
Boat a 4 footer or better
Get the old lady to boat her first musky |
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Posts: 63
| to catch my first musky. Mostly Tigers where I fish and I am new to fishing em. Went a handful of times last year and had one swipe at it but no hook ups. This year for sure. Cheers. |
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Posts: 455
| Hint. Tigers love small bright color lures. Rizzo wiz, rattletraps, spoons. |
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Posts: 35
| Catch a 50+ inch giant during the spawn. |
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Posts: 127
Location: SUN PRAIRIE WI | I have been able to catch muskies from shore but this year being my 3rd year with A boat I hope to catch my first muskie in the boat |
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Posts: 404
Location: Lakeville, MN | Get my wife out this season and hopefully get her hooked on a muskie |
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Posts: 17
| Holy Cow....I am cracking up again over the BNelson falling in the drink. I think that is where MJ got the name "hairspray" from....awesome...:) |
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Posts: 17
| Goals for 2014
*try and break the 52.5 PB that I got with BNelson this year.
*enjoy everytime on the water....beats being at the office.
*get MJ his first 50"
*Win muskie league with my partner BNelson again. Repeat!!
*fish up north more. |
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Posts: 58
| Don't care if I get one fish all year as long as its over 50!! And to def. get my son his first, he's fished hard and he deserves it, ill even take his over mine no doubt about it!!! |
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Posts: 1638
Location: Minnesota | my goal is to fish more new spots on mille lace lake this year.if I fish weeds I all ways hit vineland bay or the north shore .if I fish rocks I hit Hennepin or three mile. I know there are more spots then that thoses or just the ones I fish .so ill just force my self to fish new spots. |
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Posts: 1425
Location: St. Lawrence River | Also catch more Muskies on gliders. I never do well on gliders. |
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Posts: 68
| Catch one! |
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Goals for 2014...