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Posts: 8856
| With the opener over a month away, and nothing left to fight about on the internet, my thoughts have turned to where I am as a muskie angler, where I've been, and where I'm going.
Each year that passes puts me in a slightly different place in my muskie fishing evolution, as one might expect.
2004: Spent the year just trying to get my head around the basics - rods, reels, tackle, how to use them, and get some sort of idea what muskie fishing was all about.
2005: Spent the year and a small fortune buying every lure that someone else told me was a "good lure", in just about every color. Fished a lot, learned a lot. Talked a lot about what I thought I knew. Planned all my fishing around the moon phases. The weather did not cooperate. Neither did the fish. Ended the year wondering why despite having all the best equipment and fishing on all the best days I wasn't having 4 fish days and catching 48"ers every time out
2006: Determined to solve the mystery, by overthinking everything. Head firmly planted in tackle box. Added a good 150 lures to the arsenal. Did all the right things. Did them at the wrong times perhaps, and probably in the wrong places. Just because this glider is a good lure, doesn't mean I should throw it every time I fish.
2007: Realized that the key to catching fish lies not simply in working the perfect lure in the perfect color in the perfect way, as it does working that lure in front of a fish. I finally learned how to catch a fish on a figure 8 without scaring it away or boring it to death. I realized that lures are tools. You gotta use the right one for the job. You don't pound nails with a screwdriver, and there's no reason to carry 27 hammers around. And if I want to catch big fish, I have to fish where there ARE big fish.
2008: Well... NOW WHAT? There are a few specific things I want to work on, like finally spending more than a few casts at a time working soft plastics. They'll never work if I don't learn to use them effectively after all. Beyond that? Well, I'm over lures. I'm over moon phases. Finally figured out there's not an angler on this planet who can catch a fish where fish ain't. I think this year I'm going to just try to fish good spots during the times of year when the fish ought to be there, and fish at a depth that makes sense on that spot. Sounds simple enough 
So how is YOUR approach going to differ this year?
Edited by esoxaddict 4/17/2008 3:25 PM
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Posts: 16632
Location: The desert | I'm just going to fish. Hopefully learn a thing or two more about Pineview from Mr. Tiger himself (sorno). I'm also going to take bigger look at trout fishing on UT streams and apply that to the river here. |
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Posts: 1061
Location: Medford, WI | My approach is going to be spending as much time on the water as I can; and specifically, fishing earrrly in the morning and learning multiple lakes well.
I got a job up north working at Crystal Lake Campground (Vilas Co.) and will be living on Trout Lake so the oppurtunities are going to be great for me.
Also plan on fishing some deeper areas on lakes in hopes of contacting some bigger fish on a more consistant basis.
-Jake Bucki |
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Posts: 386
| I'm going to give myself a better chance working topwaters (at the right place, at the right time, of course, and throwing them more than a few casts before moving back to my ccnfidence lures)! |
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Posts: 1764
Location: Ogden, Ut | I think I'm going to try to not take it so seriously and have some fun for a change...
Last year I quit taking people who just 'wanted to go with me' and instead took and fished with people I genuinely wanted to be with. That was the best move I ever made.
S. |
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Posts: 929
Location: Rhinelander. | Its all about enjoyment. Enjoy your time on the water and rela. As muskie fishermen we overthink everything and think we know it all. In the whole scheme of it no little and get lucky every so often...Thats called fishing
Pfeiff |
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Posts: 1663
Location: Kodiak, AK | I'm moving to Michigan, and will be right on Lake St. Clair. It'll be the first time in ten years that I've lived where there's pike and muskie, and I wasn't just a visitor. So I plan to just spend as much time in the boat as possible, work with what I already know, and learn from there. The next four years are going to be the best four years of fishing in my life....and that's having lived in Alaska for a good number of years. (But Kodiak only has salmon; no esox!)
Jeff |
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Posts: 1530
| woohoo st clair. i plan on running my bigger thumpers more mid lake slow and steady. with a few new colors of baits in the line up i cant wait. |
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Posts: 556
| im just gonna go out and fish hard |
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Posts: 272
| In 2005, I made some mental, terminal and locational adjustments. The super hot temps that year made fish scarce where/when I was used to finding them, and I got frustrated because the "same ol' 'ting" just wasn't working.
2006, moved to a new location in WI. We had our first child in September.......fished 4x after that day that year. Learned couple really big bodies of water early in the season, made some good friends, adjusted tactics, but still struggled. Hot weather blues again got to me, but I was moving more bigger fish than ever with my new tactics and locations.
2007, somewhat got back to basics and was rewarded nicely. Due to a slight case of fatherhood, I didn't get out much, but broke the 50" mark twice, learned a ton more and made even more friends.
In '08, I plan to combine the "back to basics" with new knowledge of new areas and hopefully I'll get out more now that the kid's a little bigger. |
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Posts: 156
Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs | sorenson - 4/17/2008 6:49 PM
I think I'm going to try to not take it so seriously and have some fun for a change...
Last year I quit taking people who just 'wanted to go with me' and instead took and fished with people I genuinely wanted to be with. That was the best move I ever made.
S.
You took the words right out of my mouth. This season will be surrounded with having fun on the water and not being so critical. I think though this mentality is easier on musky fisherman veterens than a beginner or novice to the sport.
Stick to the bread and butter sometimes that's all you need.
Edited by needa70lber 4/17/2008 11:23 PM
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Posts: 1303
Location: WI | 08 will be my first time out with a guide. I'm going to try and throw rubber stuff more, as well as dbl 10's. Work on my trolling precision and tactics and overall just try and have a better attitude. |
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| I am going to put as much time on the water as I possibly can. You can't catch them from the basement. Just got my first boat so I am going to be learning the finer points of boat control and how to approach situations. Going to give fly-fishing a try as well, but only when it makes sense. This is only my second year really targeting muskie so I am still trying to find the baits I like. Going to try a few different gliders this year as well as some different topwaters. Hopefully this year I can find a few "confidence" baits. I get to fish with a guide for the first time (big thanks to Ace's Guide Service again for donating a day to the Vermilion outing!) and I am going to try and learn as much as possible from him as well as from the other guys at the outing. Try to stay more positive on the water, find myself getting frustrated too much. Most of all I want to enjoy being on the water and to make sure I am always ready if the fish give me a chance. |
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| Just Fish.
Learn by doing.
..... |
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| I'm going to try my best to remember my camera instead of beer |
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Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | Spend more time on the water and fishing more mid-lake structre/open water. |
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Posts: 1168
| When I pushed too hard it began to feel like work. Took a step back, started enjoying it more, and the return on investment went way way up. This coincided with a purposeful attempt to avoid circling the same old weedbed in a figurative sense. The simple act of not wasting as much time on the figurative weedbed greatly improved the intelligence I feel I have on the water and it has paid off.
Simply stated though....it's more fun thinking than it is to consistently bang the front part of my head up against a brick wall and be left wondering why I have a headache. I'll continue to do more of the same.
Edited by ulbian 4/19/2008 1:03 AM
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Posts: 2865
Location: Brookfield, WI | I've been thinking if business picks up I might buy a new driver. If it stays slow, I'll probably stay with the trustworthy Taylor Made. If things get even worse I'll probably even give up Titleists and start playing 18 for $15.00 Top-Flites. They don't hold the green well, but what are you going to do? Titleists are $48.00 a dozen.
As for fishing, who the hell knows? I drove by both Pewaukee and Okauchee several times this week. They looked fishy. Maybe someone will take me fishing.
Kevin
I support the Dodd/Crowley IVPI proposal.
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Posts: 412
Location: Waukesha, WI | MuskyHopeful - 4/19/2008 11:11 AM
As for fishing, who the hell knows? I drove by both Pewaukee and Okauchee several times this week. They looked fishy. Maybe someone will take me fishing.
I'll get you out there Kev. Iron Man trail too if schedules work out? I spent way too much money to have the boat in the garage. Get your tackle and iced tea (plus favorite additive/preservative) ready.
I learned more last year than years past. Why is that? I fished more. More of the same hopefully this coming season.
Mike |
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Posts: 56
Location: Appleton, WI | Experience is a key factor. So, yes, just get out there and fish hard. But, as mentioned, it is important to make it fun. That is my goal this year. |
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Posts: 271
Location: davis,IL | I've been thinking it's time to get Dad his FISH! Funny but I actually look forward to going home from our trips and go back to work, just to rest up for the next adventure. It's a lot of work, but it's a blast also! Ol' Dad has old timers ( no not that) he likes to fish Bluegill here at home, so I drag his butt to Ontario to fish for something other than bait.
Edited by muskydope 4/20/2008 2:01 AM
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Posts: 56
Location: Appleton, WI | My motto: You do not have a Friday without a Monday to precede it. So, embrace the Mondays! Fishing is just a few days away. |
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