T-Billy

Careful. He doesn't catch wolves, but he does catch lots of skunks. You could end up with a bunch of them via "special delivery".

No offense Russ, but I like gimruis's story better. LOL. Back after 'em again today. Caught three, lost one. 34" 40" and a new PB. 47.5" What a beast!!! Caught it on my last stop on the way back to the ramp at the mouth of a little cut that's been good to me many times in the past. POW!!! Just a 1/2" shy of hanging on the wall. She pooped all over me and the boat. Look close, she's squirting a mess as the pic snapped. ?

Surface temp is 38-40. Same as when I hung it up last Dec. Extended forecast is looking good. It's only gonna get better for the next few weeks!!! Hang on, Muskiepalooza 23 spring edition is underway!!!

First outing of 23 today. Guess it seems fitting the temp was 23 when I launched at 7. Fought icing guides and level wind all morning. First bite came about 9:30. The fish came unbuttoned before I got to see it but it felt pretty good. Didn't get another bite until about 1:00. It was a 36"-38" ish fish that shook off at boat side while I was reaching for the net. Grrr.... I found redemption about five minutes later when I put this obese 44" in the net. One for three ain't good, but given this is the one, I'll gladly take it. I'll be back after 'em tomorrow. Great to be back on the water.

Always. There will be schools of bait and/or cover also, but it's always on some type of structure, usually a point or flat adjacent to deep water.

I occasionally run into a big school early or late in the year, but it happens most often for me with post spawn bass at night. It can be fast and furious with a chatterbait after dark.

All of it. Rock, wood, weeds, docks... It's seasonal.

Welcome aboard.

I'm still with ya Darlin. ? Gonna get started next week, but it'll be a grind. Snowing right now, I expect water temps in the high 30's - low 40's when I hit the lake next Monday. It'll feel good to be out though, even if it's a skunking.

7' MH XF Ark, Tharp Series "Hammer".

Well... I've been at it for 4+ decades now and have ONE trophy bass on the wall, and I'm a better angler than most so...... pretty sure there wouldn't be 30 million big bass harvested over a short period.

That's the only reason I won't get into the swimbait gig. Y'all know what swims in the lakes I fish. It would get expensive very quickly.

100% agree. Big fish have reproduced many times by the time they reach trophy size. Their genes are out there in the younger generations. No harm or shame in getting a skin mount done when you get that fish of a lifetime if you want. That's how I roll, and I'm unapologetic about it.

Congratulations!!!

I'm fine with FFS. I'm sure I'll buy a unit one of these days, maybe soon. I am however, opposed to Randy Blaukat's B.S.

I'd be happy with either. My belt size and my IQ are the same number, and I'm so ugly, when I was a kid, my mom had to tie a porkchop around my neck just to get the dog to play with me.

Say What? ?

7'4" - 7'6" Heavy Fast. 40# or 50# straight braid.

Thanks Alex. I've caught a 6 even, and a 6-10, but they're hard to come by in OH. Pitching with fluoro cost me two that I believe would have topped 7#. NEVER AGAIN!!! #STRAIGHTBRAIDBRIGADE!!! ? I set the 7# goal for a LM to hit the wall decades ago, knowing it was a lofty goal, but possible in OH public waters. I'll keep after 'em till I no longer can. Maybe someday......

I fish for both LM and SM, but since putting a 6-4 SM on the wall in 2018, I've focused more on LM, looking for a 7+ to join it.

I'll second this. I only have the HD, but I liked the first one so well that I bought three more. Absolutely outstanding reels.

I use this snell 100% of the time when using straight shanks with braid. Hook and land percentage is excellent, and they're hooked in the roof of the mouth the vast majority of the time. No knot above the hook eye to get beat up. The cam action causes the bait to land upight every time. It's easy to tie, and I've never had one fail.

? Well... I'm hard headed, and I'll eat most anything so... Seems appropriate I reckon.

LOL. I'm on that team too. 6# XT on my bfs rigs. Braid on the rest.

LOL!!! Remember the time you ate that case of dynamite and freaked Andy and Barney out?