T-Billy

Best bass of the year was this pre-spawn 5.35#. She's a thick girl sport'n a tramp stamp. 😉 My most memorable catch was doubling up on muskie with a 34" and a tied for best of the year 46.5".

Merry Christmas everyone!!! God bless you, one and all!!!

I'll be interested in hearing @Delaware Valley Tackle's thoughts on this. The drag on one of my two Tranx 401's randomly backs off, but not nearly as often as the OP's reel.

I'll take that over Iconelli's idiotic screaming.

I added a pair of Tekota 501HG's to the line up. They'll be handling my muskie live bait duties going forward. Gonna spool 'em with Fins 100# XS Big Game. I have a pair of 7'6" XH Big Cat Fever rods on the way to pair them with. They sport aluminum reel seats, and double foot, one piece stainless guides, assembled on a XH S-Glass blank. Pretty bullet proof construction. I watched a BUNCH of YT vids before settling on this rod. It should give good shock absorption while still providing the needed backbone for driving those big trebles home.

Praying for your dad.

Umm....... No Comment. 😂 They're LEGENDARY in one specific area of Maine. 😉

What rod are you using? This is one topic I disagree with TB on. MH ain't the way to fly IMO. I like an XH flippin stick or a similarly powered swim bait rod in the 8' range much better. A long stout rod takes a lot of work out of it, and does a good job of driving hooks home at long distance.

ABSOLUTELY!!!

Them wimmins oughta know better than putting something expensive on the finger of a simple minded man. I lost mine a few days after our wedding while sledding with the grandkids. I've been wearing cheap titanium rings ever since. Currently on my second one of those. 😂 I've never lost anything expensive overboard, but I have a friend that finally had enough crap from a cantankerous old 20hp Merc, and sunk it in a lake. A mutual friend lit him up for being such an idiot, then went out and drug it up with a hook and rope. He spent around 1k in parts and labor on that hunk of junk over the next few years, never did get it running reliably, and finally sunk it in the same lake after one too many refusals to start. 😂 He ate many servings of crow over that one.

I got out Monday for a few hours. I lost a 40" ish muskie boat side and had two more follows on the A rig. Then I got hit out of nowhere with the flu. Man, it came on fast. I came home, crawled into bed, and slept for 16hrs straight, interupted only by bathroom trips and uncontrollable shivering. Feeling semi human again this morning. Back to work for four days, and next week is looking pretty cold. The week after Christmas is currently looking decent though. I may get to make a Hail Mary attempt at reaching 100 muskies yet. I still need 7 fish. 🤞

No thanks. I spent six months in there in my younger ornerier years. I'd much rather be ice fishing. 😂 We have a winner!!! I need to service some reels, and build some bucktails.

Nope. They're one of my longer casting reels. I'm sure there are lighter spools available for them also, should you feel the need.

Prayers for a successful surgery and a fast recovery Bankbeater.

If I were to start over today, I'd pick up a half dozen JDM Zillion HD's and be set for a LONG time.

I like the traction that x-wrap shrink tubing provides. I've covered the cork on all my muskie rods with it.

I always use a trailer with a chatterbait, and I prefer one with some bulk to it. Fish seem to eat it better when it's got some meat on it's bones.

We currently have ice in some of the shallow parts of our lakes, but they're mostly open and we have a warm up coming. I'll be out Sun, Mon, Tue.

Yeah, most years they freeze over in late December or early January, and thaw in March. Last year we only had ice for a couple weeks in Jan.

Thanks for the vote of confidence. I have nine days off remaining this year. If the forecast holds, the lake should remain open through December. The surface temp is currently at 40, and we have another cold front coming through the next few days. I expect the bite to remain tough, but there will be opportunities.

Well...... That didn't work out like I'd planned/hoped. 🤦‍♂️ The past two years, the week after Thanksgiving was the best week of the year for the A-rig bite. So... This year I scheduled a week vacation for it. We had an Arctic blast blow through last week, and I figured the crashing temps would have 'em putting the feedbags on. NOPE!!! 😂 It shut 'em down. I couldn't get bit on live or dead crappie or shad, let alone lures. I'm talking 2-3 dozen fish per day coming up and looking at my baits, often for several minutes, then swimming off without touching them. I fished 8 of 10 days, a few with highs in the 20's, got blown off the lake for 2, and took 7 strait skunkings. Grrr... Today is my last day of vacation and I was blessed with a bit of redemption. I went 2 for 3. I bagged a 37" on a live gizzard shad, a 36" on the rig, and lost a mid 40's on a live shad. That one stung. Time is running short and I'm still 7 fish shy of the century mark. Looking like I'll get to fish three days next week, so it ain't over yet. 🤞 37" 36" Not biggins, but they're a couple of beautiful fall fatties.

The only thing on my list is spending quality time with my family celebrating Jesus birthday.

I'll second the Freedom Fuel. It was my daily brew before I found the SM Direct Action.

Stocking Mill Coffee, Direct Action. It's a medium dark roast. The flavor reminds me of dark chocolate and caramel. Not bitter or burnt tasting, just perfect IMO. It's my favorite ever by a long shot and I've tried quite a few. Low acid also, so I can drink a whole pot without getting "coffee belly". 1 Tbs per cup, run through the Bunn. I drink it black. https://stockingmillcoffee.com/