zach

My personal goal is to have them switch tigers for pures on Conesus.

Great points Larry and I was always under my own impression that NMA would take care of the Harbor and River and this new Muskies Inc would be for the inland water ways. IMO- how about we focus on the inland water ways that are stocked for muskies. Natural fish deserve to spawn unmolested IMO. Can we agree that changing regs on the Great Lakes is a very tough sell. Inland waterways may be easier short term. By tomorrow night I will try to have a meeting time and place set up. I will attempt to get all options so most people have the chance to make it. Lex has to work all day today so I have the kid and I will stop into Gander tomorrow when the kid is at school and talk to the woman I talked to in the past who said we can work something out. Once I get a set time I will personally attempt to promote it as much as I can. When I spoke to Jay Zahn (ms) the big President of MI he said his Green Bay chapter started with less than 10 people and over the years it has grown into almost 1,000 strong. Chicago MI has over 3,000 members and 3Rivers is around a 1,000 from what I recall. All of them started small and took a chance on this, so can we. This club would also help shorten the learning curve with new musky fisherman and get them the right info to release fish good and all that. We don't have to share our "secrets" but we can get newbies pointed in the right direction. Larry- when is the next NMA meeting? Maybe I can have Solgrande come scoop me up if he is going to the next one? Would be a good thing to see what the NMA members think. I am down to try to present it to them, drink a frosty or five (u guys still meet at the bar?, you used to 10 years ago when I made a few NMA meetings), b.s. and listen to others. Me personally- I just want a choice of musky lakes and options so when my 4 yr old and I go musky fishing in a few years, he has good odds of laying the smack down on some fish. His first trip will be casting at Cassadaga in maybe 2-3 years. I already have it all planned out in my head, lol. Can't wait to start making some small 4"-5" Suicks and some small topwaters for him. The Hatchery at Chautauqua should be our #1 priority. Can we agree on this?

I am down with that. What- Try to get it going in like May with a catch and release season until the normal opener and what- try to extend our NY season until December like Canada? That would be crazy to see what would happen in the 1000 islands and Buffalo Harbor if you could get that extra time. What about the extra stress a place like the Harbor would get in the early season? We dont want to destroy that do we? Chad- thanks for making this sticky.

I agree also, extending the season might be the easiest thing to do since the lakes already have fish in them. All we need to do is look at MN, they stocked Mille Lacs and other lakes and look at them now, people drive 1/2 way across the country to fish it.

Good post Joe- these are all things we need to discuss and get on common grounds about. These are the things that we should go over in our first meeting and discuss on here. Set our group goals and ways to accomplish them. We all have different ideas on what can help esox addicts like us and all of them are good ideas. IMHO We just need to focus on one or two things and go from there. I can tell you that 3Rivers (cpt 16 in PA) has DEC members and guys from the fish commission at meetings, I would like the same. If we could find one DEC guy or fish commission guy to just hop on with us, things would happen quicker. I want those guys at the meetings. Gonna be a long road but if we are unorganized nothing will change. If we form a group, we have more pull and more chance they will listen. You guys ROCK! We have the good people needed for this, now we all have to get on common ground. Mike said earlier- free Baker Baits to everyone- honestly I would like my baits to have nothing to do with this, not trying to "pimp them" or "push them" just a concerned angler that hates driving 80 miles to musky fish. The only thing my baits would do is help us raise $ through fundraisers. Hey Solgrande- you want the promotions job? You would be perfect for that IMO. So I guess the first question, is do we #1- try to get the same fishing regs as PA ( open all Year ) #2- attempt to stock new waters #3- both?

Very nice. I bet lots of guys will come out of the wood work once this thing gets going. Then again, their will be those who say we ruined something too. Any who's. Excited to get us all together with a common cause in mind! Going through paper work today to see what all I need to do. I joined 3Rivers this winter and through them I started getting MI mags. In the last one I was looking at big fish of the year, don't you know it, my little bait caught the 2nd largest fish of the year on Chautauqua according to their records. Look it up if you don't believe me. Super neat. The largest fish according to MI records from last year was caught on a Perch Bait so I can take that, it is the standard for that lake and everyone uses them so I expect that. I am happy with 2nd One last question- what about stocking muskies in the Genesee between Mt Morris and Upper Falls. They would have miles of water, good food base and not as many trout to eat so those guys can't all freak out as much. Imagine like 30 miles of muskie river to fish and no one around? Awesome! PS- Blueeye- if we do get this rolling, think we can have a sticky topic up top on Chapter 69 to talk on? Would be cool?

Larry- once again, sorry to just drop outta site for a bit, but I will make it happen. I really want to help out anyway possible and will do what I can to raise $ and also spread the word. P.S. Old Man- sick baits my man! The Pickle Tuber's huh? Uh oh, no fish are safe now! Here's a few I just banged out as I haven't posted of my work lately. Blazed Walleye Larry- if your still planning on LSC- the guys in PA slammed them on the $9 Bass last year Red Bar Perch Solgrande's St Larry Baits The "Sol Grande" 13" shallow UV Blue Perch UV Blue Frog

Back from making baits. I was hoping for Larry's support and with it I am going to pull the plug and send in info Monday. In no means do I want to run this thing. I will say it 100x b/c I am not responsible enough IMO and I personally don't want to make any decisions. My personal goal for this club would to attempt to stock more lakes with muskies. I would think Larry's fund would stay the same, I don't want any part of that. I will go to Gander and see what nights they have available and get back. I will attempt to inform everyone of progress. I am on board with Ronix and think Conesus is something to start on. I also think it would be the easiest since it already has esox and no trout. What about Honeyoe? Would the bluegill and walleye guys freak out? That is a fertile lake! I personally would love to see everyone, plans trips together and all that. I am thinking if we start asap, for the June tourney I can have a table and attempt to seduce new members. I think its a good thing and will inform Muskies Inc they have the interest needed to start a club. I personally think Conesus could kick out a fatty or two but its gonna be a battle b/c of the amount of pike ice fishermen. It will have its issues but I look at it like this- PA our closest neighbor stocks something like 160 waterways for muskies. We do what? Like 4-5 lakes and a couple of rivers. Another thing to work on is to get the same fishing reg's as PA. They have been fishing for some time now and look at us, all we can do is travel or just day dream about it. Will be back with info on Monday.

So it has been a little bit since I originally posted this. MI sent me the info needed to start up a MI club up here. I have all the info to set up a club but have been so busy for the last 2 months making baits pretty much just for guys in PA. I talked to Gander Mountain in Rottenchester and it sounds that if we get something going they will let us use the store to hold meetings. I need to know if this is something we want/ need? I just see us (NY Musky Fisherman) as totally unorganized and this may be a way to get us all together. As for MI giving lots back to us, as long as you look at it as a fishing club and a place to meet and talk to others like us, it may work but in all honesty, they dont give us much. I would love to meet up once a month, see how everyone is doing, talk fishing and share past war stories. I think we have enough people to get something going if its in our best interest. To start up a club like this, people will be needed to fill spots like Pres, VP, Treasurer, etc. I really want to start something up but I dont want to invest tons of time in something that isn't supported by the majority. So- do I start up this club or what? I talk to 2 MI Presidents weekly (PA and OH) and they offer advice and know how that would help get us off the ground. As for free baits for everyone? Lol, no likely but things like making baits, leaders and sharing tactics would be easy to talk about at the meetings. I have everything here at the house to get this started, are we up for a NY MI chapter? I was told #69 would be the next chapter added if we want to do it. Chapter 69 MI of NY?

I hear you Ray- I am about to sign up for 3 Rivers and its a shame we dont have a chapter ourselves. Going to do some serious thinking about this.

I see your point Joe but to be associated with a national club would provide us some backing if we wanted to do things in the future. I would be afraid that a local club would not have the "pull" that a big club would. I honestly have no idea about this and thats why I posted. Lets keep the discussion going if we can. One things about Niagara Musky is that to the best of my knowledge they don't want anything to do with any "inland musky waters". My whole idea behind this MI thing is to get local lakes stocked and not have to drive so damn far to fish.

I am thinking if we can get even 20 people to start with I will go ahead and get things rolling. Anyone else interested? Remember that NYS is the only state that doesn't have a Muskies Inc chapter in all of the muskies range. Oh- Blueye, I nominated you for president.