Ivan

I saw the Chq Baitfish fund was cancelled for this year. Would anyone care to elaborate on what's going on with it besides what's on the Chap69 website? If this isn't the best place for it, a PM would work. I was wondering if you guys might like to try to organize something with the 3 Rivers Chapter and some of the OH Chapters for the tourney next year. I'm in the 3 Rivers Chapter and know many of the guys from the OH Chapters. I wouldn't mind trying to help facilitate something or at least get the right people in touch with each other to try to make something happen. I'm just trying to figure out what you guys are thinking or planning for the fundraiser, and if this is something everyone might be interested in. I know the end of June date doesn't work for me and probably not good for many other PA and OH guys that fish LSC, but that's neither here nor there at this point. September is probably some of the best fishing, but I don't know how that would work with the timing of when the hatchery would need minnows. I hope to hear from someone on the Chap69 board about this. Thanks, Adam Andresky

Not that i feel your post was necessarily directed towards me, but i hear you old man. I know a couple of us, including myself, have been guilty of that approach in the past. However, the fact remains that the better we all are at handling and releasing our fish as quickly and unharmed as possible, the less delayed mortality and the more muskies there will be for all of us to re-catch. Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United mobile app

That's cool eviltroll...not trying to be judgmental...just trying to help educate. I just noticed your thread was from last year. So, did you try the sucker rig? If so, any personal observations or success with the rig?

Sorry that link doesn't take you directly to the thread I mentioned. From the link I provided, go to General Discussion, then "quick strike rig reminder". Most guys around here, including myself, think that fishing live bait for muskies is just not worth the risk of killing fish. Also, there's really no reason live bait is needed...all the muskies caught by myself and all the muskie fisherman i personally know, have been caught on artificial lures.

Sucker fishing is pretty popular in MN and WI in the fall, but I don't know anybody that does it anywhere I fish (PA, OH, NY, WV, and ON). Here is a recent thread I saw on this topic: http://www.muskyhunter.com/forums/ The guys at the Niagara Muskie Association are your best bet for learning about muskies and proper techniques in your area.

Nice job Justin. That's pretty deep. Tigers must behave quite a bit differently than pures, but I have little to no experience with tigers so couldn't say for sure myself. We've caught a few by accident fishing for pures in lakes that have both. I typically don't fish or catch pures much below 30' down and that usually only happens in the fall. I do understand they can be deeper than that though. I have a buddy that got a big pure 45' down once...that was late fall also though. I wonder if the bigger tigers use deeper water like bigger pike do the majority of the time. Do you or any other tiger fisherman know? May explain why smaller fish were being caught casting shallower water in the tourney. Also, I know tigers are sterile, but do they go shallow like pike and muskie in the spring and still go through the spawning ritual even though they could never be successful? Obviously, understanding the seasonal movements and habits of the fish we target is a big part to catching them successfully.

Kind of hard to predict what may happen with weather this spring. Sure it's cold now, but that doesn't mean it won't be 80 degrees in March like it was two years ago. I've been fishing for pre-spawn muskies in OH for alot of years, pretty successfully, and we usually start around the end of March. April is usually the best month for pre-spawn pigs in PA and OH. If you want to fish Cave Run and get rid of the cabin fever, don't wait until May. Larry is right though....water levels at the Cave can be challenging in the spring. PA and OH can be tough to find a guide though. If you want to catch some early OH muskies, look up Terry Nespeca on Facebook. Maybe Todd Young in PA, but I'm not sure how much spring fishing he does. Red Childress gets some nice pre-spawn muskies on the middle Allegheny River...that's much closer for you also.

I fished there twice one year a while ago...second year of the PMTT I think. I never hired a guide, but know most of them down there. Check out Tony Grant, Greg Thomas, and Crash/Justin Mullins. They all usually have pretty good spring time deals. I think Tony Grant also has rooms for rent. Greg Thomas is full of all kinds of muskie fishing knowledge. Pretty sure all those guys will be at the Ohio Muskie Show in Columbus this weekend, but you would probably just spend more money. Also, I might be wrong, but I don't think there are any seasons or laws of any kind really in KY. It's Kentucky. I know for sure it's unlimited rods down there...a guy could troll 12 rods by himself if he wanted to...just like WV. Pretty lake with lots of standing timber. Good spring fishing, but doesn't suit my style personally. I guess that's why I never went back.

Donating one's time to help muskie fisheries and the sport itself can be a thankless job, and it's hard to make everyone happy all the time. Capt. Larry has probably been more generous with his time and efforts over the years than anyone else I can think of around here. Thanks Capt. Enjoy your free time.