Weeds

I prefer to think of it as the Pikes lack of ability to hit my artfully dodging lures..........

Bah, after countless outings I have concluded that Toronto Pike are the thing of fables, as great a fiction as Sasquatch, the Loch Ness monster or man walking on the moon. The images you see of anglers holding pike in Toronto are photo shopped; an elaborate hoax perpetrated by a devious few. Why?? Who knows. It's peverse I know. They don't blur the background to conceal prominent landmarks but the lushly wooded shores of places like Lake Vermillion or distant shores. You might be fooled by by what looks like something vaguely familliar ocassionally, as if the angler had accidently left some clue as to his location in the picture. More trickery I say! Those recognizable tidbits, say a rail road track or mooring dock are cropped into the image; a cruel bit of deceit if ever there was one, inserted just to keep you believing. Open your eyes! Believe no more!!

Thanks Roy, I'll post link in classifieds. And now I can sleep.

Hi, not sure what the rules dictate. Saw what looks like a sweet deal on a musky set up for someone posted on another fish board, can I post a link to it here? Or in the classifieds here? It would be nice to see someone on this board get what appears to be a good deal, I don't know the seller or anything.

Jeepkings.ca is a really good forum for locating parts and advice. Local as lots of the members are in/around Toronto.

Awesome report. You have my dream job.

I find side arming it to be alot easier than over hand casting, and get better distance and less nests; although I throw a football or baseball sidearm too most of the time. Worth a shot if you have not already tried it.

You've got a pretty healthy budget there. I'd still say C3, I did a fair bit of research and the general concensus seems to be real solid reel for the price, which is cheap (140ish). I bought one last year and really like it. You could spend the extra cash on baits or even pick up a C4 for an extra reel as they are sale for rediculously cheap during the bass reel trade in event, working out to about 80 bucks for the 6600 including tax. Or Just go straight for the C4 and buy a ton of baits. I am no expert though so there are others out there who may have much better advice than me.

Thanks Raf. BIG BAIT!!! I've got the same keyboard, really gives me a good sense of scale...

Not that I've had alot of experience to share but I prefer casting spinnerbaits although I've had better success with bucktails. Not meaning to hijack this thread but what is considered to be a "large bucktail"? I've read a few stories of C4's burning out or giving up when working large bucktails or spinnerbaits but don't know if people are referring to 1/2 ounce mepps, 1 and 1/2 ounce slopmasters or Vibrax musky bucks or 3 ounce Cowgirls.

It might be just me. I know alot of people seem to find mono easier to untangle. With 80 lb braid in the last two years I've never had a birdsnest or knot I couldn't pick out in a few minutes max, and never needed any kind of pick to do it. Probably safe to say at least a hundred outings too. I tried mono twice on two different baitcasters (probably 20ish pound test) and I think both times I may have cut the line out of exasperation.

I think the biggest advantage braid has over the mono is that it is way easier to untangle on your baitcaster on a birdsnest. I can't stand untangling mono.

I suggested the same thing and spent a fair bit of time researching the C4 last night. Seems like mixed reviews. Looks like quite a few folks out there use it for muskyfishing jerkbaits and glidebaits due to the fast retrieve. Some people report that the gears wear out if trying to crank in large bucktails. This is the reel Rich is replacing; it just seems like such a sweet deal for the cash.

I've got a C3 and really like it but I notice that the C4 will be on sale at Bass Pro in a few days. It's pretty seriously reduced with about 50 bucks off plus a 15 dollar mail in rebate plus the 10-15 dollar coupon you get if you do the reel trade in thing. I'm guessing after tax might work out to around 80ish dollars for the 6601 reel. High speed reel (relatively, 6.3-1) with line recovery of 30 inches a turn. Tempted to grab one myself. Not sure if they are as well suited to musky fishing as the C3 though........Somebody else know?

Hey, I know CC has got this posted in extra resources or anouncements but nobody reads that so I figured I'd post it here. Should be cool, look up around 8 and then every once in while after that. Let me know if it was cool cause I'm sure to forget. Maybe bump this too.

You've got a really North American based perspective of what constitutes a pick up truck. Monstrous engine, huge box and towering ride height. Engine size is pretty much irevelant; gearing is what counts. Sure a Hemi engine spits out gobs of power and torque. When is the last time you saw anybody using it? Turn on the news, watch what people are driving in Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, South America, Australia, wherever. Small trucks, small dispalcement engines (often diesels) and almost Never American. Good examples of trucks being used as trucks. Speaking of excessivly powered engines, when is the last time anybody witnessed a real good burnout? You'd figure with all these high powered vehicles rolling off the line these days folks would be laying a little more rubber. Back a few years when I had my fun cars (77 camaro, supra turbo ) I use to peel out all the time. What's wrong with kids today?

Any well used Toyota. Take your pick, good chance better than new domestic. They may not have the same towing capacity or payload ratings as some of the big domestics but they really are tough little mules. Very durable and reliable even with tons of km on them.

I just read the link. Awarding this guy the contract is completely moronic. He should be stripped of the contract and the natural resources minister should be fired/forced to resign for incompetenece.

About 3 or 4 years back a CO approached a friend and me while fishing and we were sitting amidst a pretty good amount of empties. He said CO's had the power to lay charges and this was awhile back, athough he just told us to make sure we cleaned up before we left. We did. Happy ending for all.

I've considered buying Suicks on several occasions as I've heard alot of good things about them. I imagine most folks who use them typically are working them from a boat. Are they a good choice for the shorebound musky angler? Do they cast well? They look great but I never imagined they would be particularly easy to cast any kind of distance. I guess I should spring for one and see.

I can't even see how there is room for debate here. If you want to swear in front of your own kids that's unfortunate but it happens if you lack discipline. I lack discipline and swear in front of my own son sometimes. But I don't toss around curses in front of my brothers kids or strangers kids. Why? Because it's completely disrespectful, not only of the kids but of their father or mother who decides what is considered appropriate language for them. You wouldn't cuss and swear in the presence of a group of old people because common sense tells you it's inappropriate and disrespectful. Should be the same for kids. I know we're all gulity of it but let's not try to justify it.

I tried a few of the minnow bait cranks and agree that they needed tuning. Last dollar store outing I scooped a gold rattletrap, was heavier than the other crankbaits and swam pretty well. My favoutite of the cheapies so far although I've never come across some of those that you've got pictured.

The Abu 6500 has been around for a while they are built tough and can handle the big baits as long as youy dont back lash, I watched a buddy of mine blow up three of them in two days, the abu 7000 are great for trolling they can handle any bait and any fish. Paul That's crazy. I can't imagine the C3's are any more likely to break or "blow up" than any other reel when casting extremely large baits and backlashing. And who breaks 3 reels in two days!? One, ok sure, but you'd think you'd be a little more careful after that and by the time you broke the second one it might occur to you your doing something drastically wrong. But 3!! It's fortunate your buddy takes a crate of C3's with him when he goes fishing I guess. Were they factory seconds or something?

I too use an abu c3 6501 for musky fishing and really like it. I'm sure that there may be better, pricier reels out there but the abu is good enough that you don't know and don't really care what you are missing. Then again you can never have too many reels.....I did just pick up a Curado and wouldn't mind a Quantum Cabo........Decisions, decisions indeed.

Looks alot more truck (frame and suspension) than neon. Would definetly give your insurance company fits though....