Rich Clemens

Probably would have to be my first musky. You know .... the one that starts it all. My wife and I were trolling the North Channel of the French not more than a couple hundred yards from camp. Wasn't even sure it was a fish at first, but I soon knew it was something of nice size. Got her netted and unhooked with little trouble, couple quick pics and released for another day. We measured her at about 43", quite small compared to the others posted already in this thread. I'm hoping that, by the end of the season this year, I can better that.

I love the thrill of musky fishing although the outings are very limited. Ahhh ... the thought of what might just be lurking out there. Sure glad "Catching" was not part of the poll. Second would have to be bass.

Well today worked out very nicely. Did a number of the week-end chores last night. Since my better half likes to sleep in on Saturday, I pulled the boat out of the garage and spent some time getting everything ready to go. Updated the Lowrance software and installed my new Navionics Canada chip - pretty impressive and anxious to give it a try. Engine fired right up on the first try. Mowed the yard for the first time ... now that will be a regular job now until late October. Few honey-do items and spent part of the afternoon reorganizing the tackle box and sharpening the hooks. Even may a little room for a few more lures. Got my eyes on ordering a couple Double Cowgirls to add the the collection of lures that don't seem to catch anything. Oh well .. what's a couple more. Couple months yet to my first musky trip of this year. I have a good feeling about this year. My neighbor is retired and loves to go fishing, so we spent some time this evening talking about fishing and places to go. One of these Saturdays ... we're outta here for a day.

No place around me that I am aware of that recycles fishing line. Mine goes out with the trash. If I'm out on the water or along the bank, it's balled up, placed in the pockets, and disposed of when I get back. It's a sham all the stuff left along the bank down here. Like the others, I gather it up for proper disposal.

Looks like you got everything at arms reach. Nice job Gerritt.

Great looking toy there Mike. Boys and their toys they say.

ASK MY WIFE

Ahhhhh.. Another Pennsylvanian. Welcome my friend. I'm about 1 1/2 hours west of Harrisburg.

Tapout: Whether this helps or not, Dan said it pretty well. I have a similar philosophy. Too often, I've seen people bust their buns all their lives and save for the retirement years, and by the time they get there, health issues prevent them from enjoying those golden years. Even in my own family, I've lost members who passed on just after retirement and never got to enjoy life or do many of the things they had planned on doing. Of course, this applies only to a percentage and not the majority. Patsy and I do what we want to do now ... while we are able. We both like to travel and whether we go on fishing trips or trips to another place or country, we do it because we are able. Sure, we are still planning and preparing for the retirement years, but enjoying life and all it has to offer while we can enjoy it, is a priority for us. This is a personal decision you have to make Tapout and a lot of good advice, whether to GO or not. Maybe the time away is what you need. Come back with a cleared mind, renewed enthusiasm, and put the past unpleasant work experiences behind you.

Definitely a pants-filler.

When I pulled into one of our Canadian camps last year, my cranking battery was dead and wouldn't even hold a charge. Trip to Canadian Tire (only place open on a Sunday am in the area) and I also picked up a Nautilus and it was fine all year long. Granted, it's only been in the boat for one year, so that may not be much of a test for reliability. It's fully charged up right now and just waiting to be put back into the boat. We'll see how long she lasts. Uh-0h ...knock on wood very quickly.

I can see it now ... a whole armada of boats heading out to the bays. Count me in

Nice show Rick. Not quite sure what I'd do if I'd be the one haulin' in a shark. Been a long time since I've been to Florida. Hope to make it back to the keys some day and give it a shot down there.

Amazing what some of us need help with ... isn't it. Good thing there are so many willing to share some personal experience.

Same here Bassman. Nikita's ashes are in our curio, where I have all our our Canadian nicknacks. The family knows that when my time comes ... Nikita goes with me.

Here's mine. The best fishing partner one could have. Even after having to put her down just two months ago, I still miss her a lot Less than two weeks later my step-daughter found a breeder in Ohio that had Airdale puppies ready to go. This is Kia on her first day home near the end of February ... she's grown quite a bit in the last two months.

Not a stupid question at all Fishinggeek. I know it can be done, but in the years since I've owned a boat, I've never had to do it. Probably be a good idea for me to refresh myself so that in the heat of the battle, I'll know how. Helpful little reminders these questions are .. for someone is is that farthest thing from a boat mechanic as one can get.

Welcome aboard. Three musky in one year. I've only caught two in my life and I fish a couple weeks each year, for the past 5 years to get my two. This is my year. For the most part, we're a gentle crew and we like to see new members joining up. Once in a while a post will go astray and I just avoid those. Soft water season is rapidly posting and the cabin fever will take a back seat for while. Hope you join in, post away, and have fun.

Good on you Dano. Looks like he's already an integral part of the family.

Unpack and in the box. I typically have two boxes with me. One is those old plastic milk crates filled with downspout and the larger lures. Smaller box with some of the smaller baits and extra terminal tackle. I usually have a third box that I keep in the cabin with duplicates and the lesser used baits.

True .... But maybe if the rest of us pull our resources together, combined, we could win it. I'm really looking forward to the opener and getting back out there. I need to get better at making the "followers" into biters.

Watching on tape ... that must be pretty cool. Between my wife and I, we're up to 7 G-kinds already. Congrats Brian ... that time will pass very quickly. I can still remember the first time I held my firsts grandchild.

Shhhhhhh ... it'll be our little secret. We'll tell her after it's all over.

Yeah ... I owe a big debt to Lew for letting me know about the musky opener (Thanks again bud). We're also coming in on Thursday and staying until Wednesday of the following week. Didn't want to go all the way up there without a few days of musky fishing. That OFC fish fry last year on Tombstone was a great idea and hope we can do it again this year ... my wife' never had a river-side fish fry before. HOPE WE REMEMBER THE DANG BEER THIS YEAR

Now that there's a real funny one.