zach

You guys setting the hooks a few times- that has always given me bad results. Just my opinion. When I used to fish spoons a bunch I had no issues going to a single hook. Tigerhunter- you using braid? If your using braid and a half way sharp hook, imo set once and the fight is on. Personally, I would never set more than once as things happen like ripping a hole too big in their mouth where the hooks can fall out easier or ripping hooks out of a skin hooked fish. Even though they are small now, later in the season some bigger tigers should show up in the shallows. Usually the hooks on those spoons aren't the best- if you having issues try a VMC conecut hook (best big hook they make, imo) or a single siwash and make sure they are sharp, check them all day when fishing and resharpen as needed. Best luck and congrats on banging up the tigers on your lake. Is it only spoons you have trouble hooking up on?

Good to see you back on here Mike!!! Wednesday huh? Osama "Bait" Laden, lol. Ever start twisting up you own bucktails yet? I don't see the Rabbid Squirrels in the magazines this year. Time to make your own Old Man. Hows the hand?

I really doubt it will be that dirty. I also doubt that the weedbeds will be 1/2 of what they were last year for the opener. Good luck guys.

Slimey- is it legal to throw musky lures the day before musky season opens? No, being an expert like we all know you are you should know that predatory fish hit spoons and no predatory fish were in season during that time. If anyone has any legal questions please call Slimey at 1-315-ASK-SLIME.

Earlier this year there were some 2x that size spawning. Some of the biggest walleyes I have ever seen anywhere. Don't get caught throwing that cleo though, nothing that would hit that spoon is in season.

Your lucky if it only costs $20 Ronix. Losing a few Plows would really hurt the budget. Problem with the bimini is you need it to pass cleanly through the guides every cast (hence the reason for this sort of leader) and the bimini is a good size knot. Ronix- don't make this whole thing tougher than it needs to be. Keep it simple. We tend (including myself) to make this thing tougher than we need it to be. I am still a fan of single strand wire at times but if I need a single strand wire it means I am using a jerkbait of topwater and there is no swivel on the leader. Just a piece of wire looped on both ends with a smaller than normal (normal for me) size snap. On my phantoms which I will fish all day, sometimes I leave out the snap and wire direct. Keep some spare wire in the boat and you can make up leaders all summer long when they get all bent up. For cranks and bucktails- its flouro. Remember to KEEP IT SIMPLE b/c tying back to back uni's on the water takes more time than just tying on a swivel until you do it a few times! Having fun yet? By the way- even though I fish mostly flouro leaders throughout the season- I don't know how much it helps b/c if a fish is leader shy- what about he 3 big ole 5/0 trebles hanging off the bait? Is that natural and stealthy to have all that metal hanging off? Just a thought, I think- if its time to feed, you could fish a bait off your anchor rope and still get hit so who knows? Not me.

Clinch knot, mushroom the tag end and add a drop of superglue. If you are having trouble tying your canoe knot- have fun w/ the back to back uni-knots! If you don't want a swivel, try the welded rings. Oh- some people use a big nail in a board to tighten the knots off of. Have fun with your knot adventure, been there- done it. You may end up w/ a swivel on your line before too long.

Ha, Ha, Ha- everyone make fun of my new boat, just not my hat! Ha, Ha! Won't be so funny when you see me hook up and put that trolling motor on warp speed and come flying past you. Don't be jealous! My pink boat with custom chair ROCKS and that trolling motor gets me going fast enough! Look for me on the opener w/ the new custom ride! Don't be jealous guys, I can teach you how to make your own boat for under $50 but you need to furnish your own chair. I do need to find the correct adapter to hang up my new radio on that chair. I am looking at rigging options, just don't want to slap it together, needs to look professional! Go BAMA! Go BAMA! GO BAMMMMMMMMMMMMA!

If I don't catch em its back home for a nap!

You fish where the fish are Ronix! Always some nice ones caught early down south on live bait. Problem is their will be a dozen boats already doing it and its a really small area. Some guys anchor, some guys just drift into each other. Combat fishing.

Holding down the FART!

Maybe we can do an informal one if you guys want. $5 each going towards biggest fish? I won't be disappointed if we don't do one, it will just be nice to get out fishing in NY. I say a tiger is worth an extra few points since they can be elusive this time of year. Later in the summer its no issue but in May they can be a tough nut to crack. I say add 5" to the length of a tiger for opening days big fish if you get one. So a 36" tiger would actually beat a 40" pike. Any thoughts? I already have my game plan worked out. You will see me fishing the same 300 yard stretch all day going back over it many times until the fish think its time to eat, most likely fishing the same lure all day. Super high confidence bait that got me 17 tigers and some fatty pike (40"+) last year without putting much time in. Those who know me know what lure I am talking about! That bait also rocks for big bass even though I hate getting a hit and finding out its a 5lb bass and then skipping it across the surface so I can get the damn thing off. Darn bass getting in my way! I bet a dollar I know where Solgrande will be fishing. Cpt Larry and Nitro will be there also I believe.

With all this reading Ronix, I expect a few fish pics from you this year!

Mike- weather channel on the ship to shore radio gives barometer. Have fun with the fronts this year, lol! Some people down in Ohio were saying their handhelds sucked and never changed also. Just when you think you know a little bit about fishing- you realize your just a rookie compared to the great ones! I am like a sponge on everything Larry says and you should be also. My catch rates have really improved since I started listening to him. Follow his advice and yours will start to improve.

Lost a piggie 2 foot from the boat thursday and a couple of rips each day but they didn't get good hooks in them. Learned so much about trolling w/ Larry it isn't even funny. He got a big old nasty catfish that we both thought at first was a big ole skie, lol. Man I wish we would have got that good one! My fault I guess but it happens to all of us. Going to PA in a couple of weeks to Pym to some other PA lakes. It was a tough trip- post spawn skies w/ super muddy water and to add a huge cold front on top of it with big 55mph wind gusts. Hey- can't get them all time right?

Ronix- go a head and tie direct to your flouro as long as your bait doesn't spin you'll be fine for casting. Actually do that will make your tip-top last longer since you aren't always banging your swivel up against it. As far as trolling, it is recommended to use a huge ole swivel b/c this will catch weeds all summer before they make it to your bait. Use a double uni-knot but tying 80lb flouro to braid can be fun. When I do this it is tough to use more than more 3 turns on the flouro end of the knot. Good luck bud!

Thanks for doing that Ray ! It helps me out all summer dealing with them.

Good job Solgrande! Don't forget about Ray J also! You guys rock and little Colton will grow up fishing the best musky lake in the east b/c of everyones support. Great job and let keep it up!

No but I have a gentlemen running them for big lakers. I can't wait to see the pics!

Old Man- ever get a pic of that fish? I have only heard about it. Good to see you back on here!

I am so excited!!!

Nitro will himm and hahhh about this responsibility and that responsibility. Tell the ole lady and your clients, "Ohio or bust- See you in a few days"! I am trying to fish Friday to Wednesday outta state! Bob- I will save you a seat. It will be ah, straw, straw, shoot to see who's up first when the rod goes off. 6 baits in the water is my sort of fishing! If it was up to me I would have 48 rods hangin' off my boat and one in the propwash just for good measure. Making one trolling pass to cover the whole lake,lol!

My buddy Bob from Ohio sent me these pics this morning of some fish he got on my baits! Look at this nice 50" musky! He got these on Firetiger. The absolute last color I use and everyone gives me crap about not using it. I might be missing some fish by not using that color, I just think everyone and their brother is running it. I did have one Firetiger color in my box last year but I think I sold it. Damn firetiger.

Uh- I can talk to the guy that makes them and see how busy he is. I will talk to him later today I think. How about a chartreuse or white tailed, white belly perch or something like that for the opener?

I would drive to a place that is known for trophies. Make it happen!