Rizzo

Easier to pose with too I guess! You're right though, the little ones do have great markings

I survived the first 2 winters without a blower...last year in February I cracked (best money I ever spent and I got really ripped off!)

I swear someone will catch a fish this year when we get together on the 13th... and I'm doing my best to make sure its me. I went out on the river for the first time this year this past Saturday. Man what a nasty day. Rained a good part of the day but luckily almost no wind, and air temps were reasonable too. Clarity was good but not TOO good (like the river can be some times). I'd say 8-10 feet visibility in most areas. Water was 50 degrees. We launched at Netherby and booted up to Frenchman's then started a zig zag troll back downstream. Other than smacking bottom real good a few times we got diddly on the first trip down the river. We decided to troll upstream rather than down a bit later in the day and this produced 2 small muskies (both around 6-7 lbs). A third small fish (similar size) was caught after I stopped the boat from trolling..fish hit as I was reeling in to check the lure for weeds/zebra mussels. Nothing big, but at least we saw that there are some fish there! We also tried a bit of casting (one follow) and jigging (couple of snags) but had no luck. Trolling seemed to be the choice that day. No photos were taken and 2 of the three fish didn't even leave the water, just a quick release at boatside. Third fish we needed to cut a hook that went through its cheek so it came on board for about 5 seconds.

took the kids tobogganing today. Its terrible...the older you get, the heavier they get. Few trips dragging them up the hill and that was enough for me. dang lazy kids full of halloween candies

Thanks Ted. That sounds easy enough...at least I can see the spark plugs

very good info. My last boat i did these things. This boat (2001 Johnson 50 hp 4 stroke) I pulled the cover off and couldn't even find what looked like a carburetor to spray the fogging oil in (there are a few plastic covers over the engine under the main cover)! Are there different procedures with a 4 stroke?

good stuff! Now go get her before I track her down. Gotta love the figure 8 strike

wow, good memory...but no. I think I posted one I caught up near Parry Sound last year that went about 6 pounds but that was a different fish

all I can see is a little red X, but sounds like everyone else is seeing a nice musky. I'd guesstimate the X at around 5 millimetres

nice looking fish!

Thanks for the comments, and for posting other great "incidental' walleye photos. I was hoping to hear "10 pounder" but I guess I'll have to settle for 9'ish. I certainly was shocked to catch one that big for the body of water

The past 2 years I have caught an unusually high number of good size walleye while musky fishing. I'm talking 6 pound plus fish caught on big baits fished at a pretty good speed (hint to those who want walleye...speed up and get some bigger baits!). Last year I caught a real beauty on Head Lake on a suick, and a giant on Balsam on a 9 inch sledge. I think this next fish is the biggest one yet, and it hit the biggest bait yet. Caught this one in the Trent Severn system last week under bluebird skies in the middle of the day. It was caught in 30 feet of water while I was trolling a deep diving 12 inch custom musky bait made by OFC'er Robin (who I haven't heard from lately unfortunately). No offense, but these fish must taste REALLY good because I can't see anyone targetting them for the fight! It measured in at 28.5 inches in length and a girth of 15 inches. I generally don't weigh fish because I like to get them back in the water as soon as possible, but if anyone has a thought on the weight of this fish please post it here (and then I will give you the co-ordinates of where it was caught)

'cougars' hunt in the dark.....be afraid Brian, be very very afraid

there are no fish in Balsam, tell them to try somewhere else :angel:

Enjoy...and I am one of those who now suffer with dial-up, and I agree, it does suck

there was a post about this same spot on this board within the last year I believe. I think the property down that way is owned by a group of hunters or something like that but my memory of that post is a little vague because that location means absolutely nothing to me

Good stuff Lew and Pete, glad to hear you got into a couple of fish, more glad you got out of there safely!

how about downriggers (this coming from a guy who has never used one) and underwater cameras

man oh man where will it end! I've got a 36 inch novelty Rapala lure (in firetiger I might add), I think I'm going to try trolling it tomorrow. Tie it off to the transom and troll it for a few minutes in the prop wash!

I'll be finding some smaller waters than the actual Bay itself (ie moon, magnetewan, etc) or some other offshoot.

wow, that's a beauty pike. At that size, I'd actually enjoy it rather than the usual "dang pike" reaction

I've been toying with that idea the past few days, but the wind might have something to say about that. Right now the game plan is to find some rocky points at the mouths of bays and see if I can bounce a believer or hooker off bottom. Got a real nice custom bait from Robin as well that will get me down there, I'm sure it will get some water time over the next 2 days. I've never had the patience to troll, but I don't see a lot of casting in my future tomorrow!

not so fast...I'm hoping there are still a muskie or 5 out there with my name on it. I'm fishing the next 2 days up GBay way, then after that its 2 or 3 trips on the upper niagara before the boat goes away

I wish my friends would do that...usually they smack the lure off of me. I've been beaned by spoons, cranks, jig n pig and last week got smacked by a grandma

I'm going musky fishing the next 2 days and with the cold weather we've had I imagine the water temps might be under 50 degrees by now. Personally, I've had my best success in the 57-62 degree range, not sure if I've ever even got one when the water is under 50. What I'm hoping to hear is great success stories from people catching when the water dips below 50. So tell me some things that will boost my confidence for the next two days (or tell me I'm nuts and I should stay home)