Weeds

Yep. China. Good news is the beer is from St. Johns.

Yeah, I think they are made in China too. Pretty sure, I suppose I could go downstairs and check. Or I could head to the fridge and grab myself a cold one. So many options..so little time.

Kind of funny because about 24 hours ago I was preaching about the value of buying used but I bought one of those Tackle Industries Rods. Got it about 2 monthes ago, the Mega Heavy 8 foot Rod, lure weights 8-36 ounces. I think once you add in shipping, taxes/ conversion and duty it came to about 128 Canadian dollars. Looks solid although I'm a little dissapointed that the 2 piece handle does not line up perfectly. I can live with it providing the rod performs well otherwise. Sticking to my philosophy of buying quality stuff used I did pair it up with an Abu 7001i, which I got for 80 bucks like new. Should suffice for Musky/Shark or Krakken fishing.

Musky opener is monthes off. If you keep your eyes open you should have no problem scoring a higher end Musky rod (be it St. Croix, Compre, Fig Rig, whatever) for a 100 bucks if you keep your eyes on the classified sections, hear and kijiji. I just sold two St. Croixs for a 100 bucks each about 3 monthes back. Even if you have to spend a little more, say 120, you can use it for 2 years then sell it for close to a 100. So buy something good, but buy it used!

I was recently shopping for a left reel for musky fishing; I found the choices considerably narrowed being a lefty. The only Abu 7000 series available in a lefty is the 7001i, no high speed or narrow spool options. I bought it anyways as it looked like a killer deal (used). Some of the high end reels are available in a lefty but you start getting into big coin. Alot of the saltwater reels seem to be righty only. Bass gear seems to be available in either left or right handed. I think the fact that the majority of reels are right handers today kind of stems from tradition. I'd bet that half the guys today who reel right handers wouldn't if there had been a good selection of left handed reels back in the day.

Super Shad Rap. I've been throwing the same one for about 3 years now and had lots of follows but never a fish. It never leaked or anything, action seemed good, perch pattern was still nice. Quality was good, just never worked for me. I think I lost it at the end of the season.

I can remember visiting some freinds quite a few years back in the States (Upstate New York) who had a small pond on their property, definately less than an acre. I believe it was spring fed. It had no water flowing in or out but I believe had a good population of Largemouth. I also think the pond (and fish) were pretty much maintenance free; although they were stocked at some point many years before. Maybe toss in a Carp or two just to cover your bases...

I could go with a 7000 series abu of some kind quite happily; I really love my 6501 C3. It spent a little time on the shelf this past fall as some of the hardware that keeps the handle on fell off so I ordered and added a power handle to it about a month back. Really looking forward to getting some casts in with it come June. Again, thanks for all the advice. I'm now leaning heavilly towards a 7000 series Abu, nice to go with a reel that I might actually be able to affford new.

Thanks for all the advice guys. I imagine that whatever I end up with will be in large part determined by what I can get on sale or used and quite likely one from the handfull of reels you've mentioned. I imagine I'd go with a round baitcaster as opposed to a low profile but the Toro 61-HS might be an exception.

Hi, just thought I'd throw this out there. About 2 years back I bought a high speed curado (201dhsv?) thinking it would be good for burning bucktails. In a way it has been, great for smaller bucktails around an ounce but I think it's now suffering from the occasional Magnum Bulldawg I hooked it up to and was never great at pulling in bigger bucks or spinnerbaits. So if I happen to win the lottery or find a truly huge pile of change down the back of the couch I'm thinking of maybe splurging for a new Musky reel; one basically dedicated to working medium to large bucktails. I was thinking maybe a Daiwa Saltist Levelwind although I still can't seem to determine what is available in a lefty, or where I might get it. I've seen some huge line pick up figures but relatively low gear ratios. Anyone have any advice/experience/insight that they'd be willing to share? Thanks, Ross

Hi John, I'll be spending most of my time in and around Cuernavaca, may go to Acapulco for a few days but think I have a good chance of visiting lake Tequesquitengo. Have fun in Cancun!

Howdy all, I'm heading down to Mexico in a few days and figured for a change I might actually try to do a little fishing while on familly vacation. Nothing fancy, nothing expensive and definately no guides or charters. I'll throw the nigh invulnerable two piece Ugly Stik in the suitcase, the Daiwa Exceler spooled with 14 to 20 pound Vanish (hey, it works for me) , a pack of Senkos and two white Spinnerbaits. If I get the opportunity I figure I might take a few casts here and there, kind of like I might at home. Anyone got any advice? Are Bass there plentiful and gigantic or few and far between? Any clue as to regulations or if there even are any regarding licences?

If one or two beers gets you stupid drunk you probably should not be drinking anywhere. One or two beers don't tip canoes.

Good move Lew! I left East York about 3 years ago and while it was a nice place to live and grow up I have no regrets about relocating to the Peterborough/Kawarthas. You've got Musky at your doorstep and one heck of a garage; what more could a man ask for?

From a guy who really does not not better, are survival suits much better/expensive than floater suits?

Hard to choose. Been thinking about it for a couple days and while it's a tough choice I'm thinking Musky. It was either Musky or Largemouth and the more I think about it the less different the pursuit of the 2 species becomes. Ambush predators, big baits (if you choose) short but wild fights. Big difference is that fishing for Largemouth is kind of like Flag football whereas Musky fishing is more of a full contact sport, except it involves giant treble hooks too. Largies are fun and games, no one gets hurt and everyone goes home happy and tanned. Muskies? Countless hours, a million dollars invested in gear, cold if not frostbitten, generally no fish and if you are lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time, a good possibibilty of bloodshed. So I'd have to say Musky. Why I have no idea. When I think about it, a Bass fisherman can be contented. I don't think you will ever find a contented Musky fisherman.

I want Lews stuff. All of it. But I'd settle for a spool of 100 pound test braid and maybe a few Spro Frogs. Other than that I'm good...for today at least.

Gary, thanks for the report. I always enjoy reading your posts, both those from sunny Arizona and here in the Kawarthas. Keep them coming. And just to keep you up to date about things in these parts the weather has been pretty sweet here too, had the new regs come into effect this year instead of next I would've been fishing for musky today in a t-shirt.

It's kind of funny Lew but I actually found that I prefered my Cheap 7'6 Spence Petros Reaction Strike Rod in a medium action to the 7'6 MH St. Croix for throwing smaller bucktails and cranks up to an ounce and a half, maybe even 2. Anything 4 ounces and over felt too heavy for the 7'6 St. Croix and the 6'9, although good for Jerbaits, was never really a joy to cast anything with, just to short. Definately a roll of the dice going with an unknown/unproven manufacturer but what the heck.

Thanks for the link Spiel, that's the stuff. That's the other thing that I'm not sure I'd have confidence in, the two piece handle.

Well, I may have completely lost my mind as I sold off a pair of St. Croix musky rods which have been nothing but good to me and ordered something from a manufacturer that I really know nothing about. I sold the St. Croixs because I wanted a rod that could comfortably work/cast any lure, no matter how rediculously oversized it might be. In a moment of utter insanity I ordered over the net a Tackle Industries 8 foot Mega heavy rod for baits between 8 and 36 ounces. The only other time I've ever ordered anything over the internet/ebay it was for some tacklebooty Magnum Super D's (basically a BullDawg knock off) but I was impressed with their quality. Anyone have any experience with these rods, or any of the other xxxh rods out there? In retrospect I'm thinking they may be more of a Gimmick type of thing than very useful but I guess we'll see. I'm hoping to get the rod this week.

Leechman, those look awesome. I've long considered trying to make a few lures of my own. What kind of wood did you use?

Maybe no one cares other than me but, I was hoping for some confirmation, come 2010 Carp becomes open year round, right?

Wow!! I'm blown away! Mid November has always been one of the bleakest of times for me since I moved to Peterborough. No longer I guess. If I understand correctly, come 2010, Carp would also become open year round too, right?

Beautiful fish. I'm hoping to take one last kick at the musky can this morning.