Further North

Pike aren't pests... A lot of folks who say things like that insist on fishing water where pike live for bass and walleye without prepping for them. Leaders work wonders...

Great advice here...but it's worth reinforcing the idea that you don't need big baits. I'm one of those guys that targets them with fly gear...and while we up-size from what most folks think of as typical, I don't throw huge flies anywhere near all the time. Top fly is about 11" long, but the smaller purple one works just as good...better on a lot of days.

Plenty of muskies in Lake of the Woods. Whitefish Bay and Sabaskong Bay are two places to start, there's been a 50" plus fish caught in Whitefish Bay every time I've been up there, the last 4 years... Headed up next Saturday for a week with a bunch of dedicated musky guys, hope we see a lot of fish.

Dual consoles. Really just there to keep the bugs out of your teeth.

Every trailer I've had until now was a roller trailer...current one, under an an 18 fr Crestliner has bunks. I'll never go back to rollers.

Why would you have to sit to fish?

I was never worried about breaking the windshield...I was worried about breaking me. Twice - once while trying to boat a 48" musky and another time while trying to boat a big smallie, I was trying to work my way through windshield and the boat zigged when I zagged...and with my hands on the rod, I smacked my ribs against the frame. I may have uttered a word or three I wouldn't want young children to hear... Not sure what you mean my "half windshield"?

Nope. I learned something from every boat I owned, even the ones I didn't keep very long. My first three fishing boats were multi-species boats and they got the job done, but here's what I learned, for me and how I fish: Compared to a bass boat, there's not nearly as much storage space until you get much bigger...and even then there's always "stuff" kicking around all that passenger space at the back of the boat. Tackle boxes, rods, nets, coolers...all in my way when I went to move around the boat to get a different angle on a cast, or to land a big fish. The high sides get in the my a lot: Landing fish Climbing in and out of the boat. Wide gunnels (most Lunds of the vintage I was looking at) made the issue worse. I typically fish with several rods on deck at the same time. No room to lay them down on the front deck of a multi-species boat. I'm not saying multi-species boats are bad, or that everyone should have what I've got - I'm just talking about what made me make the choice I did. There are millions of folks who love their multi-species boats and how they fish because that's their style. If I had to do it over today with a new boat, I'd be on the Lund Pro-V Bass in a heartbeat. One more thing that didn't work for me on multi-species boats that other people just love: Full windshields. Got in my way all the time, but I know lots of folks who wouldn't own a boat that doesn't have them. I'm a dual console guy, fits my style better. BTW, if you can fish with 5 people in the boat with out folks getting in each other's way, or spending an hour a day digging hooks out of people's hides...you are a better man than I am. Enjoy your search, it takes time to learn what you like/don' tlike about boats and to zero in on what's best for you.

I wish tungsten was less expensive. It works better and its better for the environment...but at several times more expensive than lead, it's just not a reasonable/practical option for most fishermen.

Not to take the topic off...topic...but why fish soft plastics with a loop knot? I also fish soft plastics most often and almost never use a loop knot...sounds like I have something to learn!

Sierra Trading Post is a good place to keep an eye peeled for heavily discounted high quality lines. I see Airflo, Scientific Angler and Rio lines there most often. I just checked and what they have right now is all sink tips or specialty line (one was a tarpon line!) but their selection changes often and it's worth saving a link and checking in frequently. I'll shoot you a link in a PM n a minute or two. Good luck and keep having fun!

I know this is no way to feed a gear addiction...but you can just buy a handle the size you prefer....

Great point, and you mention a trap I fell into when I got back into fishing. IPT is really the definition of speed, not ratio. I only own a few reels with ratios below 7:1, and they all have specific uses...Two are for crankbaits, two are for in-line spinners bigger than size 4, and one is on a musky rod. I prefer higher speed reels, they seem to fit my style better than slow speed rigs. ...my comparison to racing wasn't meant to say we shouldn't watch, read about and learn from the pros, only that we should be careful about blindly following every word they speak. They have different aims and goals than recreational fishermen, and a different focus. What they do isn't always best for us, any more that what I used to do in SCCA races is what I do on my way to work. Even though I was I was far from a pro, just a passionate amateur, I learned a lot of things that make me a better driver (focus, paying attention, what to do to get the most from a car without breaking it, how to control a car past where most people ever go). Pros in any sport are different critters, they have an additional level of drive and need to win that doesn't jibe with what the rest of us do when we're out on the water...unless our goal is to become a pro...then all bets are off...

I really like that approach too. As I mentioned above, I wind up using a wire leader on my spinner baits most of the time...which means I have to avoid baits that don't have a twist to stop the snap from sliding down the wire. This'll make that a non-issue.

Thanks for the follow up, really glad you're enjoying it! Fly fishing is fun and can be a welcome challenge...there's a lot to feel good about when your casting starts to come together. Have you considered getting a line that matches the rod? I would expect you to find that you'd be able to get well past the head and into the running line with a 6 wt. line.

A question, and I don't honestly know the answer: As limp as braid is, does it really impede the action of a bait? I don't enjoy fishing crank baits, so I rarely do it...so tend to get lost quickly here.

I would think so. Read on to see what the other folks have to say, then ponder and reflect a little...then get 'er done! Most important: Have fun with it.

Agree that it tends to be personal preference. I tend towards braid with leaders (for abrasion resistance, not because I think the fish around here are line shy), but I have my crank bait rods set up with fluro.

I'd go one of two ways with this: Set up a new dedicated rig for your favorite way of fishing, or Set up a dedicated rig for a technique you really want to learn. I did the 2nd when I really wanted to learn baitcasting finesse. Had a blast with it and the dedicated rig made it that much easier to learn and get better at.

It's not going to help much...but it's mostly going to come down to personal preference. I've used and like Smackdown, have not used the Flippin' yet. Like others above, I like Suffix 832 and PowerPro. Not a fan of Gliss, or Spider Wire, though there are plenty of folks who use and like both.

You really need to reconsider your personal attack method of having a discussion. It reflects poorly on you...and tends to negate any useful points you might have made...

Here's the thing with modeling our "regular" fishing after the pros...IMO. Sit back for a second and compare Pro fishing to Pro Driving...as in racing.... All of us drive, pretty much every day. Do we engage in very many of the things that professional race drivers do to get their speeds up? Drafting, going juuuust a little deeper into that corner, making a risky pass just to make it to work...or to Cabela's...a few seconds earlier? Heck no. That'd be stupid, and dangerous. Same with fishing...just because a pro does something doesn't mean we should be doing anything that is even close to that in real life. Using "What the Pros Do" as justification for what we do do as recreational fishermen is bordering on absurd... Professional fisherman are provided boats, electronics, rods, reels, baits, line...and they are constrained by time. They have no incentive to make those things last, or to treat them the way we do to take care of our equipment...to the pros, winning is everything, and if a bot gets wrecked, a few reels and rods get trashed...or a bucket full of baits get lost...it has zero impact on them...not really. We all pay for our own stuff and need to treat it differently and we need to act like responsible adults because the dollars come out of our pockets...

Slipping in the knot usually means that the tag end of the line slowly works its way back though the twists and turns of the knot itself. More a phenomenon of braid, and in some cases fluorocarbon. Sometimes taking the simple step of tying an overhand knot in the tag end and snugging it tight to the other knot can minimize this...but there are some knots that just don't slip...at least not enough to matter.

I was going to add this earlier, but got sidetracked...a problem I have her in NW WI is that our resident pike and musky also like spinner baits...this big girl took a 1/2 oz. red and black spinner bait: That's my friend Brian, 47 1/2" musk7, Lake of the Woods, June 2016 At that point, the knot I use doesn't make much difference...gotta have a leader...which means you gotta have a snap...so...no knot...

Not if it works for you.