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| my list
#1 location
#2 timing
#3 presentation
#4 pace
#5 bait
#6 color
#7 knot and leader
#8 line
#9 reel
#10 rod
probably each of these variables could be broken down into a top 10 list for that variable, what's your list of controllable variables? Please feel free to add to or eviscerate this list as you feel neccessary.
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| #11- People you decide to let in the boat with you. |
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| #12. But not sure that it should be this far down the list would be Boat position for the proper casting angle.
#13. Choosing the right lake at the right time.
Let Em GO...Let Em Grow.....Mike[:praise:] |
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| Musky One I agree but I would include lake choice under location(1), time of year/day under timing(2) and boat control under presentation(3) and they were my top 3 controllable variables.
Beaver not only WHO but WHERE THEY GET TO STAND. There are a bunch in this group I would prefer to have fish behind me!! And sponge bob never gets into my boat until I have already eaten my lunch. [;)] |
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| FSF,
Good topic... but too vague for such a detail freak as myself. First thing I'd do is consolidate your list into less items and more generic categories such as location, presentation, and equipment. Then have a million details for each [:halo:] .
I feel location and timing are the same thing. A good spot ain't a good spot if the fish are not there. Once you find the location that is holding fish, your presentation is next. Problem is, often your presentation is critical for determining if you have the appropriate location at the right time. Presentation has an infinite number of variables including boat position, all the stuff revolving around your lure (depth, speed, color, etc.), and the motiviation of the muskie (how aggressive are they). The more aggressive the fish, the easier it is to determine location AND presentation. As the fish become less aggressive, everything gets more difficult.
Its all a matter of priority, your strategy of determining those priorities, and how to respond to the ever changing variables involved. Your list contains many things that WE are in control of all the time. Those should be "no brainers" such as sharp hooks, good equipment, etc. and always be incorporated. Then you can focus your time and energy on the ultimate two components.... location and presentation. Both of which I feel go hand in hand. Neither are ever a sure thing, constantly changing, always challenging us to adapt, and make the sport of Muskie Fishing the most exciting, challenging, rewarding, and HUMBLING past-time we all can enjoy.
Location is always priority #1. Then go from there.
jlong |
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| Gee Jason, and after I spent hours perfecting this list, well close to hours, well close to an hour, well at least 5 minutes anyway, there ya go!!
I can understand your take on location but the truth is that any lake may have several spots capable of yielding a legal fish on say
August 28th, but some spots-like a bare sandbar, may be barren at high noon and have a group of fish cruising it at dusk and after dark. You also have to time your spots throughout the year. Whenever I am getting information on a lake or someone is talking about a spot they caught one from, I always ask what time of year was that? So I view knowing or recognizing locations as one aspect and view the timing of hitting that particular spot as another thing entirely.
I will guess that when fishing new lakes you have come upon areas the just ring the musky dinger but you realize it might be a night spot, a fall spot, or an early season spot.
You tuck it away for future reference. This is why I consider timing and location as separate entities. You are capable of identifying a musky spot even though it may not be the time to fish it.
And I agree presentation would have many subheadings but I would not park my lure or color choice there. Presentation can however narrow the scope of choices to be made in both lures and color. |
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| We are really in control of very little when it comes to musky fishing. Jason is right on about sharp hooks and good equipment. Boat control is definitely different than location. Keeping your boat in position to make casts right where you want them is key. There are so many factors to boat control. There are obvious things like not being blown into your spot by the wind or knowing the structure you are fishing well enough not to run your boat right over part of it because you didn't know the rock bar, weed bed or whatever didn't just go straight forever. There are other subtle things to boat control like keeping the big motor in the water and turned one way or the other to act as a keel. Someone could write a book on boat control!!! The fish may or may not be on a certain structure, but your odds are increased if you are in control when you attack it.
Also, you are in control of how well you can cast. Backlashes happen to everyone sometimes, but they shouldn't happen that often. That's just time wasted when your picking out a backlash. Knowing when to make the long bombs as opposed to shorter casts. Just being able to make the long bombs without getting a backlash. Being able to put a cast just where you want it. Casting ability is all about practice and very much under one's control.
The last thing we can control that is maybe most important is attitude. Attitude is being on the water for 12 hours, back hurting, arm aching, hungry, thirsty and not seeing a follow all day. Your next cast is a crisp as your first cast. The lure hits exactly where you want it. You reel it in exactly how you planned using perfect form and follow it up with a perfect figure eight, eyes tuned in to the follow you know you're gonna have. REPEAT.
Fishing a few tournaments lets you know exactly how little control you have.
Here are two familiar quotes you'll here after getting skunked at a tourney. "The winning team was fishing where? Really? Huh." (i.e. you never figured out the location)
"They caught the fish where? No way dude!!! I pounded that spot half the day!" (i.e. maybe bad timing, maybe wrong presentation)
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| You just answered mine 1st6ft!! LUNCH---> both controlable AND uncontrolable,depending on the location of people fuel...."lunch location" can make or break a trip + you'd be surprised at how much "fuel" I need to keep this 175lb. frame in shape! The best thing to do is have each lunch located w/in reaching distance of the owner/bringer, + to avoid conflict bring the same type of lunch + the exact same amount; that way one can concentrate on fishing + not on staring at the other persons' cooler wondering if he has 1 more coke, Pay Day or Velveeta cheese sandwich than you do....the honor code applies here. Should a conflict arise, you should stop fishing immediately + head to the nearest marina to re-stock....if trolling then bring double what you normally would![:0] [:sun:] |
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| I started reading this just before my lunch ended this past noon. I ran out of time and had to go back to work, but I noticed no one touched on attitude.. Until Bob Bobcock got in and did a great job on it this afternoon.
Like Bob said one of the most important things is "Attitude". Try going out on the water complaining about the wheather, people at the boat launch etc and you will have a bad day. But if you look at the varibles in a positive light and use the tools you have to successfully break down those varibles, you will be successfull.
You can have all the best baits in the world, the best graph, boat, rod, reel, line and even your lucky fishing hat and still not be successfull without a possitive attitude.[;)] |
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| Oh..and did anyone touch on not being able to go fishing because of other family stuff.. Thats a variable we all face.. |
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| Wrong answer JASON-STER!!! A diamond ring blows the "family variable" out the window!!!! Now that I'm no longer independently wealthy....but what the hay???...I just bought my freedom as the last indentured southern servant!! Ho ho ho ho what a feeling......[:0] [:sun:] |
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| Great conversation. I too would have to agree with attitude. How many times has the beginning musky fisherman pulled the brand new bait out of the package, not sharpened hooks, terrible not, no leader and caught the biggest fish of his/her life on the first day. They haven't had enough time to establish a bad attitude. I have been in the boat with some great fisherman that lose the PMA after a day of pounding only to have that fish of a lifetime come screaming to the boat. It only takes one cast so you have to be ready at all times.
The others on the list will lead you to consistency - which is what we are all after................ |
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| OK I will ammend my list and put concentration in there just below the lure position.
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| Who
What
Where
How
When
Why
Who you fish with...
What you fish with...
Where you fish with 1 and 2
How you fish 1,2,3
When you fish
Why you choose 1,2,3,4,5
and Boat Control!!
Jlong will recognise these as something other than fishing variables....other than boat control.[:0] |
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| Yes.....ONE MORE.....FRIDAY FLASH BACK WINNING POST!!!! |
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