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Posts: 4266
| Yup, calling it quits, more or less, as a Muskie angler. Between my back problems, and now undiagnosed problems in my knees and legs, I just can't handle it physically any more.
If the State of Wisconsin allowed trolling, I could continue, but I will be limited to those bodies of water that allow trolling, and of course MN. I can get a 'Disabled Fishing License', but that only allows trolling with an electric motor. How the hell can I get to 3mph with an electric motor?
I'm going to keep a couple of my light action rods and small lures just in case they figure out what is wrong with me, but I'll be leaving my gear and any notions of throwing lures for hours at home. After my last trip to Vilas County, I found out that it was lots more fun and easier on my body to drop shot for smallies, and eat bluegills every night.
Once I'm done separating my gear, I'll have rods, reels and lots of lures to sell.
I knew that I'd have to hang it up someday, I just didn't think it would be so soon, but my body says it's time to go back to fishing for walleyes, panfish and bass with spinning gear, but I'm holding on to some trolling rigs, and will start heading an hour West to Madison instead of hours and hours to the North.
I'll still keep making lures, that doesn't punish my body as much as using them. I'm heading North next week to see if I can get into some of that awesome Smallmouth action, and maybe some Blugills and Walleyes for dinner. I'm glad that I've always been a multi-species angler, because I've already got all the gear that I need, but the Muskkie stuff will be on the BST board.
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Posts: 409
Location: Almond, WI | Sorry to hear that. Have fun with what you can handle. |
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Posts: 20219
Location: oswego, il | Beav, I hope there is something they can do science improves every day, my grandfather recently has his stomach anurism refixed. The technology they used was less than.a year old. Its all but bulletproof now. 20 years ago he would not even be with us. Things change hopefully for you as well.
pontoon boat electric motors are pretty big. |
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Posts: 1348
Location: Pewaukee, WI | Good fishin' Beav in whatever endeavor you seek to pursue. |
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Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | Too bad. Archery has a way to hunt with a cross bow if you are unable to use a bow... should be the same for fishing.
JMO |
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Posts: 171
| Your health and family are far more important than some fish. You will now have a lot more time for other activities life has to offer... which can be equally as fun and challenging. Bluegills and Crappie, to me anyways, are just as fun to catch as Muskie. You the man Beav. |
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Posts: 66
Location: North Central, Indiana | Beaver, i almost know how you feel. In the last couple years i have had a torn bicep repaired, lower back surgery and now double knee replacement. Im 6 weeks into recovery and doing good they say but it gets harder every year to get out there and throw them big lures. |
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Posts: 2753
Location: Mauston, Wisconsin | Sorry to hear this, Beav. I know what you mean about leaving the muskie gear home, if I'm on a muskie lake with muskie gear, it very, very hard to not be fishing for muskies. I have done it, but it takes some determination. Somehow Steve W. has found fishing nervana, seems like he's got the right idea too. My Canadian trip next year is to a trophy multi-species lake, muskies, pike, walleye, smallies, lake trout + jumbo perch...... Mind you I'll still be on a muskie spot at the witching hour.  Dedicated muskie fishing w/o trolling is brutal for us older folks- You can always soak a sucker! I actually do quite well trolling for muskies in Canada. I think you have the right perspective, just go have fun!
God Bless!
Al
Edited by ESOX Maniac 9/22/2013 7:37 AM
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Posts: 556
| Beav---I have found that when I leave the Musky Gear at home--and just take the wife and boys out FISHING----For anything that will bite--not only do we have a great time--but I have found it much more relaxing to just sit and watch a bobber that run and gun. you should definitely keep a few light rods around and keep on fishing in whatever way and method you can----You know that's is when you will catch your largest musky also..... Keep on doing what you can and maybe things will improve. You can also keep messing with your lure thing to stay involved. Good Luck and stay healthy !! |
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Posts: 2753
Location: Mauston, Wisconsin | Beav, This is my idea of fun! We'll see if this link works, if not I'll attach the pic.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=236058279787753&set=t.100001...
Yes, This is a Skeeter SF150 bass boat w/ down rigger's, we were running boards for walleye & pike.
Have fun!
Al
Edited by ESOX Maniac 9/22/2013 10:02 AM
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| I would also suggest jig/creature fishing, really effective for Muskie and you get bonus fish as well. I don't think WI has banned it yet.BR |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | plenty of good trolling options out there ... GB and St. Claire to name a couple, 1 close and 1 similar distance to nw, i hear they have big muskies in em too. living down there trolling kings, cohos and steelies is what i'd be doing a lot of.
get a minn-kota vantage and a permit for the ones you can't. if there is a will, there is always a way.
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Posts: 1916
Location: Greenfield, WI | You know your body, but I would hope that it isn't hanging it up but rather picking your times...don't ever give up! |
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| Why would you quit all together when you can occasionally head to lakes that allow trolling?!? Plus, WI is at least talking about legalizing trolling in the near future. Seems like an extreme reaction to me, anyway. Where there's a will there's a way. If you've lost your will, then I get it. |
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Posts: 1023
Location: Lafayette, IN | Well Beav, I know we haven't exchanged many posts but I've always enjoyed and appreciated your stories and your baits. I've been on this board since Jan 2003 so I feel like I kinda know ya. I hope you'll continue posting here and I wish you the best of luck as you retool your hobby. There's a way to enjoy the outdoors even if we can't do it with the same intensity we did when we were younger. I believe there are so many more memories to make and stories to tell in your future. Be well my friend! |
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| Well smack me arse & call me Sally! Leave it to Beaver (not the show) to raise me from Davey Jones locker...lol...had a crap load of good times on here years ago dude, but we all at some time must retreat & regroup; I too have slowed down in a variety of physical endeavors, but mentally I have yet to peak...in fact my brain has swollen to twice it's original size; I'm pretty much a Dell computer, processing crap 24/7...;)...kick back & have a Milky Way or a Pay Day & Coke Cola & reflect on why Velveeta cheese is so freakin' expensive...take care bro, we'll always have the best of mammaries...:)
*Monica sez hello, just told her I saw yer post; she well remembers all the hours I spent on here when this first started up...good to see Al, Todd, Steve L, BenR, Stevedawg etc around, even talk to dougj once a year...hang tight my brother, the sun will rise tomorrow...I HOPE! Look for me at the mall in December, I'll be in a sled & a fake beard stuffed w/ pillows...
Edited by Sponge 9/22/2013 7:14 PM
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Posts: 1023
Location: Lafayette, IN | Holy Smokes, Sponge! You've been creepin' on MuskyFIRST this whole time? I'm not surprised. Nice to see your name again. Hope you are well. -Steve |
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| Sorry to hear about your ailments. It is never good when you have to give up what you love. On a side note, I have a 14 foot Crestliner Deep-V and I just put on an 80 lb. Thrust trolling motor. On max it gets the boat going 3.1 mph (give or take and depending on how much gear I have with me). I'm not sure how big your boat is, but if you increase the size of your trolling motor, you may get to troll at 3+ mph. |
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Beav, I'll fish pannies anytime with you. Since my truck tossed a head gasket deep sixing my vacation to Eagle, we will probably fish pannies this week. Sponger, good to hear from you, and glad you are well. Sorta. Not the glad part, the well part. |
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Posts: 4266
| Guest#1, read my post again. I said that I am no longer going to be Ardmore Muskie fisherman, but I'm done with big,heavy lures, and targeting muskies everywhere that I go. I plan on leaving for a SMB camping trip right after I get a few steroid injections on Monday. Yesterday I set aside 4 combos to sell because they are made for big heavy lures. I set aside a dozen 10" HRs, some big Bulldawgs and other big, heavy lures to sell. I kept 4 rods and reels and a bunch of 6 and 7 inch lures with my daughters help. The last few years we have focused on using lighter, smaller lures and I will continue to. I have to learn The Madison Chain and troll there, and of course bass fish. I don't see what's harsh about taking it easy on my body, especially when my DR tells me to. If you have never lived with chronic pain, then you wouldn't understand.
Sponger, my long lost brother! I love you and miss you, and can't tell you how good it is to hear from you. I knew that guys like you and Sworral would understand.
It's amazing! When you take all those Muskie lures and rods and net out of the boat, there's all sorts of room.
What I need, even for trolling, is a partner. Hard to find a retired/disabled guy who wants to share all the duties from uncovering the boat, unpacking, packing and readying the boat all within 15 minutes or so from my house. All the guys that I fish with are all still working, so those 'drop of the hat' fishing trips are hard to come by.
So yeah, I'm downsizing big time whether some people treat it as if it's an act of cowardice.
Most people understand, or will if they go through what I have in the last 5 years. |
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Posts: 1764
Location: Ogden, Ut | Ya gotta do what ya gotta do Beav. After what your back has gone through, I'm impressed that you lasted this long. I don't doubt though, that a bit of that stubborn streak will show itself in the form of a few more casts now and then in the future. Who knows, you may find significant relief from discomfort w/ the next medical discovery. Don't completely resign yourself to a fate you don't want, but in the mean time, have a blast w/ the smallies, bluegills and walleyes. Oh, and you can come out and troll for tigers w/ me anytime.
s. |
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Posts: 388
Location: Northern Illinois | Depending on the lakes you choose to fish in the future, who's to say that your muskie fishing will even "suffer" by fishing smaller tackle. I fish mostly 500-1000 acre lakes in Vilas and Hayward and small bucktails and other small lures seem to work alot better than the bigger ones. Granted, I don't get the biggest muskies in the world. I've only got to get out a couple of times this year. One of the fish I caught was in the spring on a jig and a 4" chub and the other was a 38 incher caught on a Mepps Muskie killer (only me and that muskie know what he did when he hit that lure 6 ft from the boat in 5 ft of water). I'm sure some of the more experienced guys who throw two pounders and catch 50 inchers all the time are ready to puke right now. For me, it's alot of fun though. I'm sure you already know this, but hopefully it will help to keep you encourged. Tony Rizzo got 3000+ of them and alot of them were with light tackle and lures. |
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| How old are ya? What is your greatest memory? Best fish? Don't leave me hangin'!
I haven't gotten to get out with my old man as much as I used to over the years and he can't take much casting anymore either and it is very hard to watch. I thought maybe we could reverse roles and I can cast for him and he could retrieve, like we did starting out. Who knows! I wish you the best. If you get too many follows from fish chasing the bass, or ever, and live in a state with MMJ, GO FOR THAT AND GET BACK OUT! However, you might end up seeing a lot more fish and become frustrated. |
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Posts: 2753
Location: Mauston, Wisconsin | Hey Beav, Here's the pic, I don't think the FB link works. LOL Trolling for big walleye's and pike w/ my muskie gear - board rod's are 9" Pro Edge built on XXX heavy St. Croix blank. The center flat line rod is a 10' surf casting rod, I use a outrigger clip attached to the rear deck to get the line down deeper and also aid in hook set. All are spooled with 65lb braid w/ 80lb fluoro leaders. You never know when some beast with teeth will attack. Actually shortly after Jazzy took this photo ~ 50" class pike jumped completely over the starboard yellow bird. One of those freeze frame wtf moments fishing, stupid fish!
Check this out too....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqUgY3g0VpI
Have fun!
Al
Edited by ESOX Maniac 9/24/2013 7:54 AM
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Posts: 6
| Hey Beav,
I have not posted much in the last few years. Used to have screename Doc. I feel your pain. I had severe back surgery 1.5 years ago and can't throw big baits at all anymore and can only throw 10's a little while. You have always been a great source for advice.
do the best you can and enjoy your time on the water!!
Keep fishing!
Niel |
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Posts: 255
Location: MadCity Wisconsin | Beav, I can show you a few trolling runs on the Madison Chain. PM me or Facebook message. Sorry to hear about your health issues. Best of luck. |
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