Muskie Discussion Forums
| Moderators: Slamr | View previous thread :: View next thread |
| Jump to page : 1 Now viewing page 1 [30 messages per page] Muskie Fishing -> General Discussion -> Pieces of a big fish puzzle.... |
BNelson |
| ||
Location: Contrarian Island | So when you catch a big fish..after all the high fives, h*ll yahs, celebratory beers, picture viewings...you have time to reflect...well I think there is more than casting out a lure and reeling it in to catching a big fish...what are the pieces of the puzzle that put you there???? for me, I have had time to reflect...and I know what they are..more importantly, WHO they are...we all learn at our own pace, we all become better at our own speed...it's the people we have fished with and friends we have made that put us on a good spot with the right lure at the right time to catch a big fish...sure one person hooks and reels it in..but it took many people, and many years to get there... This is just a very short list of the people I want to thank, sincerely, for all I have learned and brought to my musky fishing game to put me on a certain big fish I was fortunate enough to connect with...I'm sure I missed some of you but this is a pretty good list... Cory Painter...probably the first "hard core" guy I got to know and fish with...he taught me alot about boat control and just general game plans for attacking the water. Craig Eversol... was fortunate enough to spend 10 days on Eagle with Craig a few years ago when I would call my game average at best...he taught me always keep your head in the game when on a big fish spot...that one second you are lazy guess who shows up behind your bait. It was great to be in the boat that long with a guy who knew boat control..big time..and he even runs a Maxxum! Donnie "Figure 8" Hunt...he taught me..well, he lectured me more or less on my lack of figure 8..he likes to do that to ya! but it worked...I now have a g*d d*mn good figure 8, Thanks DH. Lee Tauchen, he is probably the best all species fishermen I may ever fish with...he knows everything about everything related to fish I think...I think he might have gils for lungs...great guy, great fishermen, great friend. Howie Meyer..have only known him a short time but he is a wealth of knowledge and doesn't "outthink" himself on the water. Fish are not that complicated...keep it simple and they will bite. Dan Okray...he made me get back to fishing can be FUN...catching fish doesn't have to be hardcore all the time..huh, you can drink alot, be hungover, hit the lake at noon and catch big ski's? who knew! thanks Chatterbait! Tom Hulbert, if it weren't for him PM'ing me and congratulating me, a total stranger years ago on fish I would catch and to ask questions about my "white dog" I wouldnt have gotten to know his brother .... Spicolis' boat control sucks though!  Mike Hulbert...I was sure I didn't like Mike before meeting him...wow, was I wrong..great guy, would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it and knows how to frickin catch fish! Anyone who thinks they are hardcore should try to outfish this cat...machine. Kevin Cochran, got to know him this summer thru Mike...great guy, great fishermen and he puts up with my boat control all day long! Yah he even lets me run the boat..what is he nuts.? By the way...KC got his heaviest fish this weekend too!!!... Long" x FAT".. Congrats Kevin...glad to be there with the net! John Bette and Sled...just cuz they are good friends who keep me down to earth! cuz my head is so #*^@ big! Just a short list to say thanks...I think often times we don't say thanks enough in this sport...Good luck to everyone this fall. Edited by MSKY HNR 9/11/2006 9:11 PM | ||
| sworrall |
| ||
Posts: 32935 Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | That's the entire concept of community and friendship. Most of the folks you mentioned wouldn't expect a thank you or need one, and there, my friend, is the 'difference' if you get my drift. I've been in this game a very long time, and can tell you the difference between success and failure in many cases is information. The open and unfettered sharing of good information was pioneered by folks like Buck Perry and Bill Binkleman, Tony Portincaso and Buel Coley, Don Worrall and Jim Cairnes, Al Maas and Ted Gwinn and Murph and the Nisswa Guides and Camp Fish folks, Al Lindner and Ron Lindner, and a host of those who came after. I was lucky enough to grow up amongst this group of folks, and learned a ton from all of them. Time on the water is still the most valuable tool in the box, one has to be out there to apply or learn how to apply what one learns OFF the water AND on, so never sell one's self short, I guess. But you know what? None of the expertise or knowledge or accomplishments mean a darned thing unless one can share them with one's friends, family and peers. The folks gripping what they THINK is unique information tight to the chest hollering MINE!!MINE!! need to back up a little and realize what they 'know' so many others already 'know' it isn't even an issue. Arguing over that territory is alot like Crocodile Dundee described as 'the fleas arguing over who owns the dog they are on'. Congratulations on a great fish. Now, go out there and get a bigger one! | ||
| ToddM |
| ||
Posts: 20263 Location: oswego, il | This site is a cool place to be. I can tell you that had I not come on here and posted idiotically some 5000+ times that I would not have the freindships, successes, good times and information that I have and know now. To be honest I would be doing very little if any fishing right now. I am blessed to be apart of it.  | ||
| jonnysled |
| ||
Posts: 13688 Location: minocqua, wi. | |||
| MikeHulbert |
| ||
Posts: 2427 Location: Ft. Wayne Indiana | Thanks bro! But I have always thought that I was a jerk.... You mean I am not?? I'm actually a nice guy....wow, please don't let to many people know about that!!! LOL It is always awesome to add fellow musky hunters into the clan!!!! | ||
| agrimm |
| ||
Posts: 427 Location: Wausau | |||
| GOTONE |
| ||
Posts: 476 Location: WI | Okay... I see... I'm the drunk in the group!!! Tell ya what, bnelson you've helped me learn a lot this year as well (I think I've gotten 13 fish with you this year with an average at around 40). Congrats on a great fish, hell you've got (3) 49 or bigger this year already! I think sometimes people judge a book by its cover. If you haven't read it, maybe you should open it first before you decide if its worth continuing to read it or not. Donnie, Craig, Adam Oberfoell, Brad, and my friend Brian Paul have all taught a bass fisherman what an addiction this fish becomes!!! Also, I may be more of a reader than a poster on this board, but I think I've learned a ton from so many people on here!! Thanks Muskie First (and I'm not trying to kiss a$$ either). Thanks for adding me to your list, Brad........Even if I am the one that "talks the most that you've ever had in your boat!!!" Gotta have fun in your job, your family, your life, and MUSKIES too!! Remember life is too short to NOT take advantage of what you've got! GotOne Edited by GOTONE 9/12/2006 12:03 PM | ||
| kevin cochran |
| ||
| Brad, Glad we had a chance to fish together and hopefully many more times to come. You are a great guy to fish with even though we have our subtle differences, too much ego in the same boat. I was disappointed when you didn't let me give you a musky mohawk when you caught your personal best. | |||
| C.Painter |
| ||
Posts: 1245 Location: Madtown, WI | I am honored to be on your list Brad! Funny....I too had the same reflection last week. But your post got me thinking a little more about it. I think we learn in stages, and in these stages we have mentors that help us along, if we are lucky...and I have been very lucky. My early stages were driven primarily from one person, Jeff Hanson...the guy is a machine. Some people have "it" I think Steve Herbeck has "it", but I also think Jeff does too. He taught me a ton of the basics and how to get into the head of a muskie to figure out how to catch them. My first few years with Jeff were priceless. It has been fun watching Brad grow in his muskie prowess...he has taught me quite abit about taking what you learn and applying it...he is a great example of this. I have said it many times, my sucess on Eagle can be contributed to two gentleman, both on Brads list. Donnie and Craig, both awesome Eagle lake fisherman...and great friends, great teachers...both have very different...styles shall I say Half of the fun though is the continued learning we all get from meeting new folks and fishing with new folks. Plus reading from these type forms. I will take just this year as an example....I have learned a TON just from fishing with and talking with different folks. Travis Koepke....thanks man for shedding the light on the abysis. Paul Klien....watching you work in your bait was priceless and got me thinking a LOT more about how I approach the open water. Charlie Schauer...It is really true, you can fish simple yet catch big fish....but more imporantly...there are people in the muskie world that are truly humble. Jlong.....you keep me thinking....loved the time on the water and look foward to putting our heads together this fall. And thanks for turning me on to the Longtail! Dave Sandstrom....just fish....great passion...great friend. These are just a few that popped into my head. Last week as we had 18 guys from our club with various degrees of muskie prowess and knowledge of eagle, there was one thing that struck me as a big common thread.....actually two things...one was the passion I felt from all these guys....second was the brotherhood I felt....we were all brought together in sharing, congradulating, laughing....all for the spirit of a stupid fish....but man is it awesome! Thanks for putting up the post....really got me thinking on this one.... Cory | ||
| sworrall |
| ||
Posts: 32935 Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | |||
| bnelson |
| ||
| C.Painter |
| ||
Posts: 1245 Location: Madtown, WI | |||
| Donnie3737 |
| ||
| Donnie "Used to be Close Minded" Hunt here....thanks for adding me to your list Brad. I have been a firm bliever in many, many things over the years. I used to say "this works, and nothing else does." Well, boy was I wrong. Watching some of the guys catching fish over the past 5 years out of my boat, doing stuff "I wouldn't approve of...." But, the key phrase...."CATCHING FISH!!" Believe it or not, I am pretty stubborn....I know, I know....hard to believe eh?? This brings me back to the day I opened my eyes to my "missing the boat" as you might put it. While fishing a structure way down west, my son, Weston, 10 at the time, kept asking me OVER & OVER can I throw that Hawg Buster? It's 11:00 a.m., middle of the day, and we're fishing a 12' rockpile saddle. I finally gave in, and said "If it'll shut you up, FINE!! You're wasting your time, but here you go!!" VERY 1st CAST.....48" X 23" HAWG!! It took my 10 year old son, now 17 years old, to turn me into a better fisherman. I, too, have a long list of guys who've helped me. Some more in words, than in "techniques!" Kevin Wegner, Craig Eversoll, Cory Painter, Terry Grafton, Tony Hernandez, and few other poor souls who've been stuck with me in the boat!! When I fished with Brad on Eagle, I saw some awesome "raw" talent welling up....I knew he'd be a good one....and 4 years later, he has taken his ability to a new level. But each and every one of those guys, taught me "something" new....ALL of them! Something happened throughout this process of learning...it became more important for me to "net" big fish, than "catch" big fish. Steve Worrall hit it on the head...I am more excited to net a 48"er for my sons, Weston or Colton, or net a guys FIRST 50"er (like Jeff Walker this past week!!), than I am to catch my own 40#er. Many of you know exactly how I feel....and what a gas it is to take pictures of BIG fish, being held by someone else....knowing because of you, and because you ran the boat right, or were on nthe right spot at the right time, they caught the fish of a lifetime. I haven't run from the front of my boat EVER!! Since I started muskie fishing in 1986, I've always been in the back. I'm not a guide, but I get nose bleeds being too far off the water!! LOL! Steve Herbeck probably gets the big nod as far as "teacher/mentor." Who better to have had as a mentor or teacher than Herbie?? I think I learned how to use the colorful language correctly too...LOL! He taught me BIG FISH techniques, and I truly appreciate him for it!! To truly run down the list, and reflect, would probably take in excess of 10 pages, and 4 hours!! I want to sincerely thank EACH & EVERY member of MuskieFirst, Muskies Inc., Musky Hunter Staff, and just about any big name in the muskie fishing world!! Sincerely, Reflecting deeply, Donnie Edited by Donnie3737 9/13/2006 10:48 AM | |||
| Jump to page : 1 Now viewing page 1 [30 messages per page] |
| Search this forum Printer friendly version E-mail a link to this thread |
