T-Billy

I'm voting for @cyclops2. I love that guy!!!

I've been using Lucas, Red & Tacky for years in my trailer bearings with zero issues. Good stuff.

Big, strong, fast, toothy, acrobatic in warm water, and love to maul baits at boat side in the 8. The most frustrating, exciting, and rewarding freshwater sport fish we have, all rolled into one IMO. I wish we had those big trout in my neck of the woods @A-Jay. They look like a bunch of fun. A couple of my favorite Zona show episodes were the ones where he and guest were catching those giant trout in harbors on the great lakes late in the fall.

😂 Oh, I'm gone, no doubt about it. Lol. I'll still be bass fishing some, but only part time. I'm looking forward to the post spawn night bite, and pitching grass, but I'm tore up with the muskie fishing . They're so much more challenging and exciting than bass. Their tendency to come out of nowhere and smash baits at boat side is awesome. Add in their size, power, speed, teeth... just tons of slimy fun.

Ain't much of one, but it's one. Lol. First bass of the year. Ended up catching three. First was the smallest, but the biggest was only about 1.5#. Muskie are still being contrary, so I took the flippin stick along today. After months of muskie fishing, a 7'6" XH flippin stick feels like a fairy wand. I did manage to get a mid 30's muskie to eat a Llungen 4" lipless today, but it came unbuttoned. It's a step in the right direction I reckon. I hadn't had a bite the previous four trips.

Jig, spinnerbait, and a squarebill oughta cover it.

Ark's Invoker 7'4" H Mod Fast is the single best rod I've found for those baits you listed. Great tip with plenty of power through the mid and butt sections. Within your price range.

Lol. Yeah, all the "experts" say small baits in the spring. The muskie are saying nope, ya wanna catch me, you're gonna pay the price chucking half pound glides and 3/4 to 1 pound rubber. Gonna have to put my big girl panties on and break out the tube of voltaren I reckon. 😂

My local extended forecast is in agreement @gimruis. It's been really tough lately, but Chad and his client put four good fish in the boat yesterday. Two were really nice. If he does well today and tomorrow, I may get a case of muskie fever and burn a couple sick days Fri and Sat before the cold rolls in. Time is running out on putting some prespawn fat girls in the boat. Surface temps are in the high 40's, even cracking 50 up in the backs of creeks. Contrary to everything I've read/watched about prespawn muskie, he's getting them on big glides and pounder bulldawgs lately. I've got a couple of the 18" 12oz Assault Eels on the way. My hands and elbows hurt just thinking about chucking them all day. 😂🤦‍♂️ Edit to add: That map is looking good for @ol'crickety to start lighting up the Latest Catch thread. Go get 'em Katie!!!

Realistic looking craw baits have never produced well for me. Tubes, beavers, and twin tail grubs have always outperformed them by a wide margin.

I'd wager a regular tube of the same size and color will out produce that thing on a consistent basis.

It's not a necessary evil. It's not necessary at all IMO. If you're happy with braid stick with it. If you want to use braid to leader, go with a quality abrasion resistant mono, or Yo Zuri Hybrid for leader material. An Alberto with an extra wrap through the loop is the only leader connection knot I use and have zero issues with it.

I'm grateful for every bass @ol'crickety, but the little ones aren't what I'm after, and don't get me wound up when I stick one.

I think so. It can get pretty sketchy when the snow flies, but 90% + of the time it's easy money. Lots of responsibility comes with the job, but it's really not that stressful most of the time, and definitely not back breaking work.

Absolutely. Best career move I ever made was getting my class a. Lots of good paying local work out there. Gotta take what you can get that first year, but then lots more opportunities open up. Two years experience with a clean MVR, opens up a LOT of opportunities. The oil and gas industry exploded in my area in 2014. I got my CDL in 16, hauled water for a year, then was blessed to get in with with a large refiner in 2017 hauling crude. Currently gross right at 100k working 184 days a year, with the company contributing another 16% into my retirement, between the pension and 401k. I sleep in my own bed every night. Two more years will get me another week vacation. Then I'll have more days off than work days. Definitely looking forward to that. I feel like I pretty much have the best driving gig around for me, but I was recently looking around just out of curiosity, and there were lots of good paying local listings. A local snack food maker was offering $32 an hour to haul corn from the rail yard to the plant with full benefits. There's a lot of worse ways to make a lot less money than driving a truck.

#2 Only big fish matter. The rest are just fun distractions in between the big's.

Aim a little past where you want your bait to land. Then thumb it to a stop just as it reaches the target. Low and fast is the way to go unless there's an object in the way that you need to pitch over. @Catt has a good practice spot there. I often pitch deep into brush. You have to be able to hit small holes with a pretty flat trajectory.

I could "make do" with one rod, but since I already have about 60 or so, I don't reckon I'll be going that route.

#STRAIGHTBRAIDBRIGADE!!! 🤣 Actually, I am a fan of Big Game braid, but it's made by Fins.

Yep. Good memories Katie. I hadn't thought about those summer days in a long time. Thanks for jogging my memory.

Jitterbugs, and Hula Poppers, and Crazy Crawlers... Oh My!!! Caught lots of pond bass on those when I was a kid.

🤣😝

That they are. My muskie guide buddy isn't a fan of FFS, but he has to use it to keep up with the competition.

This... came outta this... in 40 degree water. My #2 LM, and one of several fish that day. All caught pitching a T-rigged beaver type bait into sun baked wood. Get yer butt out there and get after 'em!!! You 100% for sure ain't gonna catch any sitting on the couch.

Lol. Reminded me of this old SNL skit.