T-Billy

Heck yeah. Slow days most of the year, my mind will wander. Slow days late season, I find it easy to stay focused because of the potential every cast has. The anticipation keeps the blood pumping.

@ol'crickety, if you go again, you might oughta try pitching a jig or trig into that shallow brush on the sunny side of the pond. It's my #1 fall pattern. You can't fish too shallow. The 3.5# I caught the other day was in a tree limb with barely enough water to cover it's back. Sunny late morning through afternoon is prime time for this.

Praying for ya. Hope you feel better soon.

They're just getting started Katie. As the water falls into the 40's, shad schools dozens of acres in size will form. Sometimes they're so dense my sonar will think the top of the school is the lake bottom.

Beautiful fall day today. Colors are about at their peak. This warm weather is buggering up the bite though. It needs to go away, I'm ready for some cold water mayhem. Couldn't get a muskie to cooperate today, so I spent a couple hours pitching laydowns before I headed home. I managed 7 LM with this 3.49# being the best of the bunch. I also managed to find a floater for @gimruis. It was still alive, but just barely. The below pic makes me happy. This shad school was about 8-10 acres in size. I saw another mid lake that was much larger. Things are setting up nicely for Muskiepalooza 23!!! Just need to get past this warm front and get that water cooling again.

^^^All solid advice on how/where to fish it.^^^ When it comes to gear, I'm in the 8' HF camp all the way. The long handle and stout rod makes a BIG difference over the course of a day. 50# or even 65# braid will straighten hooks and get your rig back for you when you snag. Leave the clear plastic sissy line at home. You're pulling a flippin chandelier through the water for crying out loud. Any fish that's willing to hit that contraption doesn't give a crap about seeing your line.

Don't rule them out. Contrary to popular opinion, dead, brown milfoil has produced some biggins for me. They'll use it until it breaks up.

Roger that!!! Almost 13yrs clean and sober now, but there was a time.........

I don't know about Jim making ya seek the Lord, but Mr. Beam will sure make you lie to him. Oh Lord, PLEASE make these dry heaves go away!!! I promise, I'll never drink again. Oh No... no... NO........ Not the room spins!!! Oh Lord, HELP ME!!!!! I swear, I'll NEVER drink again!!!

Shallow and super tight to wood, especially around creek mouths has been my best bet when it's cold and muddy. Sunshine is a big plus, as are light winds. Jig, spinnerbait, grind away all day.

Backatcha Alex. You put a beat'n on some dandy's last winter. Looking forward to watching you build on that experience this year.

I'll be standing on the deck, sporting "The Hat", chucking big double blades and Bama rigs tomorrow morning at first light. Water temps are getting right, and shad are starting to school up in the main lake basins. Muskiepalooza 23 is just around the corner, and I have proper esox gear this year. I also have 17 days to fish in November. YEEEEEEEEEHAAAWWWWWW!!!!!!

Early December Ohio fish. I'll fight icing guides for this kind of quality.

Pressure is at an all time high on the lakes I fish, so is my catch rate.

Might have to pick up a few of those for jigging cold water muskie. Edit to add: Just checked em out, and they're reasonably priced. I'll be picking some 4" and 5" up for sure.

Right hand dominate. Fish lefty reels, always have. It just feels natural to me. It's nice to have most reels available in left retrieve these days. Used to be slim pickings.

All my good worm stories involve a bottle of el toro, and should not be told here. 😆 They probably shouldn't be told anywhere actually. That rot gut will make you take back stuff you never stole.

Gonna be a bunch of big names looking for a new home. I'm a fan of the every fish format and I'm happy to see it return, but I'm far less than impressed with Boyd and Co. Quite the poop show they've been putting on.

Forget fluoro for this task. 50# 832 is the way to roll in cover. That zillion will serve you well, so will most other aluminum frame reels. I'm partial to Lew's Pro SP for pitching. The light shallow spool starts up fast which aids in pitching lighter baits, and holds plenty of braid for the task.

Couple of thick, beautiful fish there @A-Jay. Very nice.

MUSKIES SUCK!!! 😂 7.5 hrs of chucking an A-rig and double 10's and all I got was one lazy follow and a tail nipped off to show for it. Fortunately I haven't lost my touch with the ditch pickles. I pitched up a limit of these lttle guys in about an hour and a half and called it a day.

I caught these two 4 somethings on a double 8 bucktail back in August on the same trip. I figured I'd catch one now and then on big blades, but two in one trip surprised me. Also managed a couple slimers on that outing.

First two fish on the rig for fall 23. 41" and 36". Lost a mid 40's and a high 30's on it also, plus another half dozen follows. They're eating it up in the creeks where the water's in the mid 50's and there's small schools of gizzards balling up. Still too warm in the main lake basins at 61, and no shad schools there yet. First fall fish in the fur hat yesterday morning. Barely over 30". The hat needs to step up it's game. This kinda performance is unacceptable.