zach

Don't apologize for the way you feel, just for the "non-politically correct" way you went about it. You feel as strongly about this as I do so we are on the same page there. We are passionate people that care too much and want to change the way people act for all of our good. Its an uphill climb that starts by changing one person at a time. Yes fish get killed, yes fish will be killed in the future, our job is to attempt to reach those people and try to inform them about how special of a lake it is and how it needs to be taken care of. I have some good memories there and hope its still in good shape when the smallest member of the Baker Musky Clan starts chasing muskies. I took him there last year at 2 years old and we had a blast catching 'gills and crappies. Let's hope its still in decent shape in another few years for his sake.

Think I can get it back? lol. Let me guess?

Yeah Bob- how come Larry said $15 for that bait and you said $30 for that custom painted Suick? Something fishy is going on!

Anyway to save me a Stan Durst Suick until Saturday?

The small soft tailed Phantom jerkbait (6"). Every single pike and tiger (like 16 or 17 tigers) I did last year was on a Phantom Softail. Color- something bright or something white for shallow water. When the water warms up, it's musky time so I have no idea what pike want when they move deep. I used to fish the soft plastic flukes and did well but you have to them slower than a jerkbait. For me, jerkbaits outproduce spinners 2:1 at least.

Ronix- You'd have to fight my girlfriend for a spot in my boat. What is tournament experience like? It gives us goofy people a reason to fish even harder than we normally do. It's fun unless Solgrande comes in to where you are fishing and immediately nails a 45" on a bait you just sold him the night before in a spot you've been already over 2 or 3x in the past hour. That is a little tough to deal with. That's why he is a "marked" man for this year! Remember Solgrande- I'll be watching you, even when you can't see me, I'll be watching you. Zach "Eyeballs" Baker

I should be down for this one. I have a big fish pattern for that time of year!! Only problem is unless I shoot my 2 turkeys really quick I won't be able to get down until after 12pm when turkey hunting ends. Last year was cool- shot a nice bird opening day and got a 41" northern 2 hours later. That was a good day.

Looks like some decent guys are going! Should be fun, just don't use this info to out fish me next year. You guys know how I freak out if someone other than me catches a fish. I get my panties all bunched up. Just joking (sort of), should be fun.

I am not a fan of fireline either unless we are talking about jigging lakers. I am going to do some research on those Gore lines soon.

Trilene knot here. I mushroom the end of the 80lb or 100lb braid w/ a lighter and use a drop of super glue and have yet to have a failure. I always have some super glue in the boat just in case I get cut up. "Emergency stitches" that have saved my butt more than once. I highly recommend having access to some when out fishing. I have had 2 swivels come apart on the cast, I am going to use the Aussie swivels this year like Larry uses just so that doesn't happen again. Oh, they were supposed to be like 300lb welded swivels that broke on my 2x last year costing me 2 baits. Lost $50 in baits b/c of a $1.50 swivel breaking and lures that didn't float. Just my $.02. Bty, I have never had any issues w/ a palomar knot but use the improved clinch b/c I have been tying it for 15 years. I use that improved clinch for everything from 8x tippet trout fishing to 100lb braid. Oh- before I spend the $$, I was thrilled w/ the Suffix braid last year and think it's better than power pro but have been looking at the new lines w/ GORE fibers in them. Anyone have anything bad to say about them. They are brand spanking new and have my interest.

Larry- I am going to do my best but am not 100% sure I can get some nice ones done before then. I am backed up again w/ orders but will try my hardest to make this one a success just like the last ones have been! I have a huge blister on my thumb as I type now from foiling 2 dozen baits last night and need a few days for it to go back down before I do anymore. As soon as I get through those foils it time to work on the Chautauqua Hatchery Fund baits. I am going to do a nice foiled green perch with fins and will see if I can do another one also for the auction but we will see. I think its a great thing to do, for all of us to benefit from and I will help support this hatchery through my baits as long as I make them. For me its just time, others are throwing up their hard earned money in a tough economy and that's awesome. Like I said before, we have some amazing guys around us and I hope to make a decent bait or two to help support our fishery by raising $ on ebay.

Yeah, John Snow is the inspiration a lot of us guys have. On another note, I was just contacted by MuskieGuy from Ohio and in April they are doing a month long lure profile on my baits. They contacted me and I am freakin' thrilled! I also was sent an invite to do the Michigan Musky Show (it's by invite only) next year along with the Ohio show that is coming up soon. These people contacted me and I think it's so cool. I am so excited for this next year it isn't even funny! You guys have seen me from the start and it's neat to have this venture taking off!

That is true Gambler and I am surely guilty of it. I will be more careful in the future for the fisheries sake. Once again, I am guilty of it and for some stupid reason think its just us guys reading this and that but in reality it is for everyone to see even if I intend it to be or not. It's the internet and I should know better. I have a real love hate w/ that lake anyways and lets leave it at that, there are much better places to go if you want to catch muskies. She can be way more fickle than bigger lakes like Chautauqua which I think has more 40"+ muskies than anywhere east of Lake Saint Clair. Thats really the place to go to get fish IMO. I love that lake! Thanks for making me more aware, I should have been from the start.

Greg, Since you have only seen a plug or two from me here are a couple pics- I see no reason they wouldn't catch fish in your area and at the very least you know they haven't seen these before and I find that helps.

Pick and choose your arguments carefully bud, we all know how you feel and and its too bad that Albany doesn't want to change the size limit for us. We can try to change things but we need higher size limits on that lake as most fish I have seen killed are less than 40". Learn from my past mistakes bud-

Bty I didn't mean that Wiley's and those other plugs are built in basements. They are professional companies unlike me, I am as small time as they come. Maybe thats good or maybe thats bad but its just the way it is.

I am not too sure that those MOJO's are USA built. Can't go wrong w/ any of those. Check out Bluegrass Musky rods also. Crash Mullins just came out w/ them and have heard nothing but good things.

Sure, I don't have anything ready now but am getting ready for another bait making spree, don't forget that Bob M from BM Shad (Ohio) sent me some baits to donate. Bob's baits catch fish and are handmade one at a time in Akron, Ohio. Quality stuff if you aren't familiar w/ them or haven't fished them. I have some in my box, Solgrande has some, Cpt Larry has some, do you? Bob is a great guy and donates even though he lives in Ohio and doesn't have to do anything for us, he is just making sure we have something for the future. Thats called "passing it on" and his generosity is very much appreciated! I am honored to know him and think if you try one of his plugs you'd be happy. I will do anything I can to raise $ for us, as we all benefit from something like this. I will do a foil or two and will get started later today. Great idea Larry and with Stan Durst's help we should be able to do this and pull it off nicely. I was thinking about sending a BM Shad and one of mine down to Stan to have him work his magic as we all have different painting styles and it shows. Stan isn't going to be painting forever so maybe his plugs would be considered "collectors items"? I have no idea but let's do this! We have some great people around us that always seem willing to support us in these auctions and I hope we do it for years to come, you have my support.

Am I allowed to answer? lol. We have some really good guys that are near legends in our area. Do you fish Wiley's? Great, great plug. Toothy makes one heck of a plug also that catches fish. If we move down to include all the PA guys, we have Leo's, Newmans, Legend Perchbaits and Dale Wiley's plugs. I think all of these except for the perchbaits can be really tough to get. I know I wouldn't sell some of my Wiley's, some are just magic and I hope to hand them down to my kid if they aren't totally chewed up by then. We have some really nice bait makers in our area and we are lucky to even have access to them honestly. Greg- some of us around here know your name even though you are 1/2 way across the USA. As for me- I am just a small time guy- making plugs one at a time. Never skipping a step and never speeding things up just get them done. I try hard b/c I have wasted $1,000's of dollars just to find a few plugs I like and run the way I want them to. For me, my staples are- Wiley's and Perchbaits along w/ the baits I make here at home. Can I turn the question around on you? What are some MI plugs you do well on that we may not know about?

Well thats a cool story!

When my father and I used to do the fly-in outpost trips to Canada we tried just about all of the spoons out there. We ended up using the 1 oz Mepps Cyclops in bright colors (orange) as it seemed to catch us the most fish. Just my 2 cents but they all catch fish at the right times.

Oh, come on Ronix, doesn't everyone have that much for a specialty rod? lol. I wish I could get a St. Croix, maybe one day. Split grips look nice but don't think you "have" to have one. For the $ it is very tough to beat the Gander Mtn 8'6" heavy. Casting and trolling for like $50 or $60 (2 year warranty) but no cool split grip. Just my 2 cents and I would be scared to stick that into my down easters b/c of the nice cork getting all beat to heck.

I am in need of signing up myself +1. Need to sell some baits first though to pay for it.

Thanks guys, Bob- that green on is my version of a Miller Perch. They are always works in progress and have changed so much from the beginning.

Trying to get the ole man (my dad) interested in it to come w/ me.