Handlebarz

I remember a great day at the spring show with lots of yellow jackets.

This year Muskies Canada have brought back some awesome speakers for musky Sunday including Marc Thorp Big Jim James Linder Gord Pyzer. If you have not heard these guys talking about musky do yourself a favor and get out for it Marc was there last year and he stole the show I loved the biology talk and the stuff about releasing musky was awesome as I could picture musky acting just like he was talking about I saw many others nodding their heads in agreement with his findings on swim bladder. He is worrth the trip alone

Like many others have said I use Floro for the confidence that it will hold up in a Muskies mouth if its in there it happened to me a number of times l we the years big fish just crushable bait next thing I know the line is across the mouth. So far Floro has not let me down in these situations. I also make my own but have been buying the husky musky leaders the last few seasons the price is good for them.

I just booked a booth for the show last night when talking to Andy he said that their are alot more fishing related booths and not all the filler stuff that they had in the past. Be sure to stop by the booth we will be across from the Muskies Canada booth along with beaver lures and another musky booth. I can't wait to actually have time to get caught up with many Ofc members. Chits I hope your not sick this year.

How many will be going to the show this year? Feb13-16?

I love top water musky fishing but the last two seasons I have only had a couple fish go after any top water bait. Here is a video from this past season

Thanks guys will shoot off the emails and messages.

Thanks Joey you better talk to that better half he is trying to start something LOL Thanks were pushing forward Thanks we were going for a first impression point for the shows as each year we set up we try to add something or change it a bit to keep it fresh Thanks Brian

Dan it was great and John was worried about wearing his team Canada jersey I told him if people did not come over because of that they would not buy from a Canadian any way. But if they left because of his accent that I can understand LOL. LOL I wish he thought that he is still in the conversion stages he likes to help out but not full time yet he was having a blast taking in all the seminars and cruising the booths. Thanks Well you don't think that there is a conflict there you better sleep with one eye open LOL (JK for the ones who don't know that we are friends) Thanks Phil yes they are growing fast its so crazy Art your so correct we have many repeat customers that are from the mid west and the south east that have heard about us through musky hunter and the web sites I'm on we felt it was our time to come out and meet them face to face and it was AWESOME. we are looking at some new material as that stuff has lasted us many years we will be sticking to the black and maybe adding some lights on top Thanks Cliff LOL I wish it was always easy going but at times it sure is work but I love it and if I did not love it I honestly am not sure I would be this far. If this was full time it would be easier as the tough days are the ones after 10 hours or so on the road then still having to put time in. No complaints from me my biggest reward is still pictures and stories people share with their fish on our baits.

Thanks Mike we have been growing steady year after year we just let things happen as they will and we have amazing support Thanks Terry Thanks Pete That would be great to be able to support a steady paycheck or at least slow down on driving I hear you there dad told me never cheap out keep up your quality and you will have great success. Shoot me the pics if you can as I hope to update my website soon. [email protected] Jeff we can get them done no problem the Odyssey is a great show. I just wish we had enough volunteers in Muskies Canada to host it every year. Maybe one year out east like Kingston area then the original the next. It takes a lot of work and a strong dedicated core of people to pull it off.

Well I have not posted much as we have been totally swamped with our lure orders and Now bump board orders along with family life and real work life. I have been keeping a eye on the board but just have not posted much I usually get a chance to look at the board when Im on break in my transport. Here is a report from last week when we made a big push into the USA market with our lures. After years of great support in Canada and a fast growing customer base in the USA Danna and I decided it was time we booked a show south of the boarder. January 2014 I talked with Doug Reuter who was starting a NEW show for Chicago and it was going to be bigger and better I booked a booth we were so excited for the entire year. With this being our first show over there we went through what we were informed were the correct channel’s from U.S. customs (CPB) well not totally the correct things happened. 12 hours before we were to cross the boarder we were informed that the shirts were not allowed into the USA. This was crazy as the place I get them from orders them from the USA so they have already been there Oh well leave all shirts at home lets go. NOPE still more hassles after 12 hours on and off the phone were kind of good to go. The Chicago 2015 shirts that never made it Yes we have lots for sale LOL We get to the boarder and are flagged to go to Xray then the dock for inspection no biggie we get that all taken care of and are on the way to Chitown for what should be a 5 hour drive to the hotel NOPE the blizzard and blowing snow extend that drive to around 10 hours no biggie were still positive and dead tired. Does not look to bad but its totally ice covered not fun Dead stopped getting into Chicago area This was not bad on the way home the trailer was totally covered but i was t odead tired t osnap a pic. Good night tomorrow is set up Since we were not in early Thursday we had to set up Friday morning up at 5 am have breakfast then head to the show for 7am get the booth set up and tour the show before the crowds get here at 2pm. We were lucky to have John Cowan schedule a business meeting in Chicago for the same weekend so he came out to help us run the booth for Friday and Saturday along with his good friend Tim O’riley. Tim makes a nice glide/swim bait that he was selling in our booth for the weekend. I was extra happy with the comments that we were hearing about the quality of our lures that has been my goal from day one to always give the best product we can and it was well received in Chicago. Our bump boards were also getting great comments and we sold a bunch I cant wait to get more pics of big slime on them this season. We did a interview with Muskie first its hard to hear as we were so busy we had to do it with customers in the booth. http://muskie.outdoorsfirst.com/videos/01.10.2015/7526/Chicago.Muskie.Expo.Handlebarz/ Muskies Inc came over and bought a bump board for one of their auctions so I gave them some extra baits to help raise money for their club its always great to give back no matter what side of the boarder were on. The reports were 10,000 through the door over the weekend http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20150111/news/150119797/ http://chicago.suntimes.com/outdoors/7/71/280410/chicago-fishing-muskie-expo-chicago-notes I did not keep track of the people at our booth but it was always busy Friday and Saturday, Sunday was slow after noon as the packer NFL game had started and most were in the bar watching or went home to watch it. All I can say is I am truly blessed to have a awesome family to go through this trip out and back with me. I am also so lucky to have such great support from across Canada mainly in Ontario but all the way to our friends out on the east coast. Thanks you all who have helped us grow. I will not start to point out people as I don’t want to leave anyone out. You have all helped us grow in one way or another. Cheers and we will see you all at the Muskies Canada odyssey April 25th

We love the CFL here in my house but I do enjoy the NFL I was a big fan of GreenBay when I first started watching NFL in the early 90's but now I seem to like different players and don't have just one team.

The Thames river was up 2-3' today flowing fast with lots of trees and all other garbage in Chatham

They have been on the case hard from day 1. The MNR can not release details until they actually finish the investigation and file the charges.

Welcome to the site nice videos is this Dane? If so it was nice meeting you yesterday. Hope you guys did not get to soaked yesterday.

Awesome ski Matt

Congrats on the PB

That is great I am very happy to hear that they are producing for you. As for using spinners in the fall yes they are great right through the 40 degree water temps and can be the key when fishing areas that most others are chucking big rubber.

Totally awesome it's great to share the boat with father and son and a great PB is icing on the cake. Glad to know handlebarz played a small part in his day. Thanks for sharing with us all.

True monster good idea to keep the measurement off the Internet. Congrats on a beast and release

Totally covered now from the top of the ambassador bridge.

Looks good here it's about 1/4 covered but my cell camera will not pick up the dark side. Good luck to everyone fishing today

No snow here on LSC today but its still shirts weather. It was a tad bit windy

Awesome report congrats on the PB not alot of guys using the egg heads but the ones that are have been doing great. Nice gar they are great to watch.

Awesome ski congrats that is a piggy