Muskie Food For Thought...

Last night I had to hit the water to enjoy the beautiful weather.  For late October you just cannot beat fishing in 65 degree weather.  The conditions were great and the muskies were eager to chomp down on yet another muskie bait tossed out of my boat.  Not only was I able to enjoy the weather with a couple of buddies (Dingy and Whorl), but I had to check on a few things for the next couple of weeks of the season.  Being that I was out of town for a week and not on the water for a few days, I just wanted to see what the fish were doing for some eager guests that are coming out in the next few days.  Secondly, I wanted to test a theory that I have been hearing from many people the past couple of weeks. 

The number one question being thrown my way right now is, Do Muskies Eat Topwater This Late In The Fall???  I know that for many years, people have been writing up stories in magazines and across the internet, that you have to throw large and slow baits when the water cools.  Not to say that they are wrong about this, but all it does is put a thought in every fishermans head that they have to switch everything they have done for the last 4 months and start from scratch.  This could cause several trips of practicing new techniques and baits and result in fishless trips, and even worse, No Confidence.  Like I tell everybody that comes in my boat.  "Grab a couple of baits only, Throw them a ton, Become confident in what you are doing, and you will catch fish."  Muskie fishing is totally a mind game and second guessing yourself.  Once you lose any confidence you had when you hit the water, the fish has won, and you may as well start fishing for sunnies or perch.  Yes, I do like to switch my patterns and lures throughout the season, and it keeps me on top of the game, but that doesn't mean that I am going to listen to every article written in a paper or throw nothing but Magnum sized bulldawgs because that is what everyone else is doing. 

Muskies eat baits because they think it is a meal for them.  They don't go through the summer thinking that an injured fish on the surface looks good in July and August and then consider it a muskie lure in October and November.  Yes they are smart and usually win the brain battle with a fisherman, but that doesn't mean that they won't eat what they think is food when they get hungry.  Last night I grabbed one Topwater lure and made it a point to catch a muskie on it before I went home.  We hit the water at 5:00 and by 6:45 I had 4 fish chase my bait and landed a fat mid 40 incher.  I also learned that all the chatter from the muskie gods may not be true.  In my head I feel I won the mind game, because I kept telling my buddies that I was going to land a muskie on this bait, and I brought the Mojo to the table, which gave me another Kodak moment that I love so much.

I do not consider myself an expert on this sport, but I am confident when I hit the water, and that boils down to one thing.  Fish in my boat.  If I want to throw a certain lure and I feel good about it, I feel I always have a chance at coaxing a muskie into biting.  Whether it is June or November, the muskies see your bait as a meal, not as a fishing lure, and if they are hungry they will hopefully take a chomp out of it.  The second I lose confidence in my approach, I may as well leave the lake.  I hope this little blurp in my journal helps a few of you guys out with your next trips on the lake.  It is my approach and sometimes it just plain works.  The next time you are out, feel free to try new techniques, because I strongly encourage learning something new every time on the water, but don't be afraid to try a bait that you did well on in July or August.  You may be pleasantly surprised.  Currently, the water temp is at 52-53 degrees which is likely to change soon.  Until next time Y'all, Keep on livin that Muskie Dream!

Hardcore Mille Lacs Muskies....

As I sit down to tell this story, I am almost too sore to even type on the computer.  Yesterday Musky Mike and I hit up the big pond for the famous Fall Fatty's that I crave.  Looking at the picture, you would say that we accomplished our goal, and yes, we kinda did.  However, we were in search of the elusive 50 pounder on this particular day.  It was basically the most hardcore fishing that you can put your body through.  Rewarding???? Yes! But, Very abusive to the body.  We started chucking baits by daybreak and didn't stop until after dark.  When you head to fish for that next state record, you cannot expect to see fish everywhere and catch several,  so we put our time in and made cast after cast all day long with high hopes of that fat bellied beast with each toss of the baits.  The other factor was that the wind was blowing sooooo hard all day and we had rollers crashing over the front of the boat from start to finish.  When you couple that with 48 - 50 degree air temps, you have to call us crazy for even trying.  It was just plain horrible conditions, and we loved every second of it!!!!

This trip had the feel that we were going to catch not just a musky, but some ungodly huge beast that doesn't even exist.  I don't know quite how to say it, but it felt like I was going to be holding the next state record at any given cast.  And rightfully so, because there really may not be a better chance to catch such a fish than right now, and on that lake.  It kinda kept the jump in our step all day, and as we had fish come and go throughout the day, we finally had that encounter with "The Beast."  That's right, we saw the fish that we spent 10 hours casting for.  A monster that could possibly force a scale to show 50+.  Needless to say, we stuck around and spent another two hours trying to make him eat.  The fish was just HUGE!  We didn't know exactly what we were dealing with when we saw him, all we knew was that it was a tank, and if it gets caught, it will probably be flying around websites across the country.  So, hoping we would catch this fish, we tried into the darkness and that is where the picture comes from.  A very healthy and fat 47.5 inch fish.  Judging from the belly on him, he has been eating very well.  It was not the 50 pounder we were looking for, but still an awesome fish that is sure to top out around 30 pounds.  It came on the last pass of the night, and it couldn't have been any sweeter.  I will remember the cold, the waves, the rain, the wind, the waves again, the sore back and arms, the 47.5 incher that we landed, and the state record that still swims on that sweet sweet honey hole of ours.  Thanks Mike, It was the best butt whooping I've had in a long time! 

49.5 Inches of Fat...

When I hit the water today, I almost felt like it was my first time again.  Heck, it has been over a week since I touched any water without having a gun in my hand and a duck call on my neck.  Well, I guess we picked up right where we left off, because Bails is pictured here showing off his new PB (personal best).  We actually had an awesome day on the water for only landing this one fish.  We had 14 different fish try to make the wall of fame today, but this very fat 49.5 incher was the only one willing to commit.  Holy Moly are they getting fat this time of the season.  It is hard to judge from this picture, but his hands just sank right into the belly of this beast.  If you ever wanted to catch one of those huge fatty's that you see spreading across the internet, I would suggest bundling up and giving it a shot.  Either with me, or on your own, but it just might give you your new PB.  They put the feedbag on this time of the year, and although it isn't always pleasant to be on the water, the fish still have to eat their meals.  Nice fish buddy!  Oh so close to making it into the 50 inch club.  Boy would that have been sweeeeeeeeet!  Until Next time, Keep on Livin The Dream Y'all!

Recent Happenings....

I wanted to post this goofy picture so I can look back years from now and remember that on October 6th of 2007 it was 89 degrees on the water and we were fishing with our shirts off getting a tan.  Not to mention the awesome time the 9 of us buddies shared on the water that evening.  It was picture perfect, we had two boats (mine and Dusty's) and we filled 9 of us in them.  The list of friends included Dusty, Wags, Miky, Jeremy, Vans, Whorl, Scotty, Nate, and myself.  We slayed a pile of above average Bluegills and Crappies for the local landowners that let us hunt their property throughout the season.  That was our goal and we accomplished it to the fullest.  Thanks boys!

While I haven't been out putting any beasts in the boat the last couple of days, I want to share with you what some of my readers have sent me, and what has been happening on the "big pond" up north.  My tourney partner and good friend Mike has been continuing his streak of giants this year, and has some real hawgs to show for it.  Kent landed this 52.5 incher the other evening and they also tied into a couple of others.  Man  they some fat fish on that lake this time of the year.  The story behind the 52.5 was awesome!  This fish chased the bait on the figure 8 for several turns before it latched on and went airborn with a foot of line out.  If that doesn't give you a heart attack, then I don't know what will.   

Also, You just have to be the happiest man in the world when you get to hold a fatty like this one.  I was sent this pic a few days ago from a past guest in my boat.  His co-worker was up on the "big pond" also and got himself one heck of a hawg.  Just look at the belly on that beast.  Another giant that this lake has been known for over the past several years.  Very, very cool guys!  Keep up the good work!  More pics and stories coming soon.....Who wants to be in them???

Pete's 42 and a Sweet Mandarin Duck!

In hopes of preparing themselves for the hours of casting they have ahead of themselves, Pete and Mark decided to come out and give their arms a workout before the big trip.  They leave in a few days for some famed Wisconsin waters, but wanted to put one of the elusive 50 inchers in the boat that we have been so fortunate to catch lately.  Well, it's tough to plan on catching one over 50 each time out, but we did our best, saw a few nice sized fish, and Pete landed this nice 42 incher.  Most of the action came from Pete's bait, but Mark had an explosion on his topwater after the sun set that we will never know about.  I do however think that it was larger than a perch, and the last fish out of those weeds measured in at 50.5, so who knows.  It was a great evening on the water, who would have guessed it would have been 82 degrees at sunset on October 7th.  Thanks for the fun boys, and good luck in Wisconsin.

Look at the duck that Mike shot yesterday morning.  I'm no duck expert, but after doing some research on it, it is called a Mandarin Duck.  Native only to Asia, China, Japan and some surrounding European Countries.  There are very few of this specie in those countries, and are known to be numbered in only a few thousand worldwide.  How did it get to Carver County Minnesota????  Who the heck knows.  But it is sweet, and will look good on the log above the fireplace.  I plan on doing a bit more research on this bird, and if anybody knows anything else about this duck, please let me know and I will put it on this site fore everyone to view.  I think the MN DNR would also be interested in this rare specimen. This duck was definitely wild too, it was flying with all the other wood ducks and mallards that Mike kept on missing.  For 16 or 17 shots that you missed on that morning, you sure picked the right duck to fold up.  Well done.....Add one more to your wall of fame!