CrowMan

Agree Bill. Every brand of Musky reel seems to have its lovers and haters. Whether its Abu, Shimano, Daiwa or Okuma, I've seen/heard/read of catostrophic failures with everyone of them. Shyte does occasionally happen, and more often than not it's usually due to user error. It's like the truck debate...Ford, GM/Chevy, Ram, Toyota. Two things are a given...everyone has a favourite, and they all eventually will break down. Although, I would advise to stay away from the Piscifun Alijoz 400 (it's a Chinese Musky reel that sells on Amazon for $130). There's a reason all of the mainstream brands listed above sell for $300++.

That's a great combo. Just saw this on a Musky site....looks like the Abu you were originally considering to purchase that started this thread..

Nice slabs...I imagine Crappie tacos might be on the menu ! I see you like the parrot colour jighead. Seems to be the #1 choice up that way...when I was in Clark's in Dryden a few weeks back, they had a bucket full of them. It was definitely the preferred colour for us on Eagle too..

Not much shore fishing opportunities in Cancun itself. If you have a rental car, the best DIY option would be to drive south about 90 minutes, past Tulum, until you come to a bridge at Boca Paila. That time of year, there is good fishing for juvenile Tarpon (10 to 30lbs), Bonefish, Snook and the occasional Permit. Fish both on the lagoon and the flats on the beach side. Keep an eye out for the croc's when wading....I've seen them up to 12 ft long. If you want a great day out, get in touch with Miguel Encalada at Fin Chasers..him and his son are great people and guides. They fish Isla Blanca which is about 45 minutes north of the Cancun hotel zone. They will pick you up in the morning at your hotel for a day of fishing in a panga (small outbord skiff). In January, it will be mostly juvie Tarpon and Snook. I've been out with them 3 different times, and it's always been a great fish filled day. Even small Tarpon are a blast...think of a 20lb Smallmouth...the acrobatics are insane..The Snook are like a Largemouth on speed. I like a fly rod, but spinning tackle is fun too..The fishing is in the channels and cuts of the mangroves...the water is never more than 6 ft deep and it's always dead calm. Feel free to message me for more details on any of the above. https://finchasersmx.com

Now, that's a good friend. Don't expect the same from me...in my house, the loin and tenderloin wouldn't even make it as far as the freezer...LOL

I'm shocked on two accounts.. 1. Someone "gave away" the backstraps 2. They sat in a freezer for almost a year without being consumed Your buddy must have an overabundance of good eats in the deep freeze...LOL

I'm with ya on that, Bill...hence their nickname "Cabbage Dragons". As temps get colder and the weeds die on Shield lakes, don't over look offshore rock piles and points that stick out into the deep basins. Musky will station themselves on these spots to intercept migrating forage fish. The colder it gets, the bigger and slower you want to get..

Fuel efficiency is the primary benefit. It might make sense if you're a charter guy in Florida running trips 365..otherwise, it's a big investment to save a few pennies on gas.

I play in both sandboxes, so I see the craziness on all sides.. Yes, I agree...most Musky baits haven't changed since the 50's...and the paint jobs typically look like they were done by my 7 year old grandson. At the other end of the spectrum, the level of detail on some of the Bass lures these days is ridiculous. Do you really think a creature that has a brain the size of a peanut is going to notice that every single scale on a lure is an exact replica of the real thing. Afterall, these are fish that will eat a spinnerbait...what the eff does a Bass think that is supposed to look like ? As the old adage goes..most lures are designed to catch the fisherman, not necessarily the fish. Imagine losing this on a snag....I'd have scuba gear in the boat on standby....and yes, it's a Bass lure and it's US$..

Grandma's are relatively cheap when it comes to the alternate universe which is the Musky world. At the Musky Odyssey (annual show and meeting) this spring, I saw lures selling for $ 175 each...and they were sold out of some colours...

Yes, they're very similar. Grandma's tend to dig a little deeper and have a tighter wobble...but they're pretty much interchangeable. But hey...with Musky guys...even the smallest things can make a difference. That's why insane idiots like me have both...LOL

Hmmm...those magazine writers are stealing my shyte...LOL. I was posting about those Musky patterns on OFC 2 years ago....hehe I have to say...the one thing I can't bring myself to do is use live bait for Musky. Something about it that doesn't sit well with me...just a personal opinion. Anyway, there's never anything really new in fishing. I find most of these writers just recycle the same old stuff with different words.

Musky will definitely move deeper as the water cools. The challenge with bucktails is being able to get them down in that zone, even at slower speeds. So yeah, that's why rubber like BullDawgs and Medusa's become effective, but I also like to throw jerkbaits and cranks. Even some glide baits like a Hellhound will get down to those deeper edges. I also find the fish transition from weed to rock (on Shield lakes) as the days get shorter. Once the weeds start to brown out and stop producing oxygen, its time to start looking deeper. We usually troll a lot more as the thermometer drops....Jake's, Grandma's, Triple D's are all part of the program. In lakes that have Cisco and/or Whitefish, their spawn in November can be the hottest bite of the year.

Yes of course...it wouldn't be the first time someone got a big Musky on a jig and minnow...lol.

Im not sure what you mean ? I was referring to a big Musky we've moved a few times up in the Wapezi area of the lake. She likes to get a real good look at the lure on the figure 8, but doesn't like to bite... Last year, she grabbed my buddy's 16" Walleye, as he was reeling it in. She didn't want to let go at first, but once she saw the boat, she dropped it. She must've had it crossways in her mouth....the bite marks were at the gills and then again almost at the tail...big girl.

Nice fish. My favourite body of water in the Province....especially the NE end up by Chamberlain Narrows. We often don't see another boat all day. There's a 60 up there that I've locked eyes with on a few occasions. She's a real tease..definitely has a thing for gold and black Medusa's, just won't commit. My buddy jokes that one of these days we should just put a foot and half long live sucker on a quick strike rig...but I just can't bring myself to do that..

Exactly...the Pike have taken that lake over from the Muskies.

I've had a Tranx 400 for over 5 years...it's been flawless. If there is one negative, I do find my Lexa 400 has a slightly smoother drag...not a real issue, just an observation. But that's been the case for 30 years, Daiwa's have always had better drags than Shimano's imo...going back to the Whisker Tournament SS1300 which was the gold standard spinning reel back in the day. The Tranx 500 is just too big and heavy for casting all day...maybe for trolling....but I run a Tekota 600 for that. Not that it's necessary, but I like looking at the line counter.

My "go to" for off the shelf leaders are the "Huskie Muskie" brand fluorocarbon. However, I usually just make them myself...a spool of 100 or 130lb Seaguar Abrazx FC, double barrel crimps, ball bearing swivels, and coast lock snaps...18" long for casting, 36" for trolling. Very easy to do.

Salsa making day today. Grandkids are coming over for probably the last swim of the season. Grilling up steak and shrimp fajitas tonight for the crew.

For what application/presentation ? They have very limited use in my opinion. Some guys like them for finesse Bass presentations like a Ned rig...you sometimes can see the line "twitch" before you feel the bite (strike detection)...but in that situation you're always using a 5 to 10ft leader of fluorocarbon between the mainline and bait anyway. I would never tie hi-vis directly to the bait. They can also be useful if you're floatfishing for Steelhead in a crowd....easier to track your line...but then again you're using a fc leader between mainline and leader. And personally, I avoid crowds like the plague. So, to answer your question...I never use them. I'm all about stealth, even for Musky/Pike leader I mostly use 100lb+ fc rather than steel or titanium wire. The only exception is I'll sometimes use a stiff single strand wire leader on jerkbaits for Musky...helps prevent tangles when casting and provides better action on the retrieve. Just a confidence thing for me.

" Considering a Lexa 400WN paired with an Okuma EVX telescopic rod (8.5) for $350. Not bad for a starting rod/reel combo." My buddy has that combo. If it's in good shape, that's not a bad deal, and it will serve you well with a variety of presentations. If it's the rod rated for 2 to 8 oz and 30 to 65lb line, you don't need anything heavier for the Kawarthas.

I usually make salsa (Pico de Gallo) with my tomatoes. Simple recipe...chopped tomatoes, diced white onion, chopped jalapeños, minced cilantro, lime juice and salt. Everything but the lime and salt comes from my garden. Perfect for football and hockey season with a bowl of nacho chips, washed down with a cold cerveza.

Last season's from cold storage or fresh picked ? Extra fancy grade ? Plus, I'd rather support a farmer in my neighborhood, than Galen Weston and a supplier in Quebec.. I'm only pullin' your chain because my daughter's in-laws are 3rd generation apple farmers in Thornbury...and she didn't marry my son-in-law for the money...lol. It's a tough grind being a farmer in Ontario these days.

That's actually not a bad price, considering a bushel of apples weighs between 40 and 45 lbs. Fresh Honey Crisp (not last year's holdovers from cold storage) are in the supermarkets right now for about $4 a pound. Knowing that they're right from that orchard, and not shipped from California or somewhere, plus you're supporting a local farmer (and the local economy)...I'd say $2 a pound is fairly reasonable.. Shopping for the lowest price isn't always the best value...