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It's really weird/disturbing how many of us remember this!

Sympathy gift?

Sorry to hear, Mark. Thanks for the reminder. Chris

Wow, just killin' the bigs! Bien Fait!!

Forget Wally World, call Le Baron for the R Type rods and reels.

Wow! Happy Birthday, and many more to come! ....how many is 3 in internet years?

Only looks like 430 lbs to me! That's a lot of Grouper sandwiches!

I've tried both of them. The spinning reel seemed quite tight, but solid, (it was brand new), and the only question mark I had was that the bail spring seemed very light. I didn't fish the baitcaster for as long, but I loved how it felt. Very smooth. They were both on R-type rods, which I really liked. The medium action spinning rod would work for me, because the tip is a little stiffer, which allowed for fishing heavier baits that I would with my present spinning gear. I want to check out the Abu Vendetta rods before I buy one, though.

There's nothing like a trusted fishing buddy. Great to see you guys get along so well!

Done!

LOL, beauty dining room, for sure. There's ALWAYS something to be said for not havingf to set a table.... Looks like a great time, guys!

It was a family thing for me. Shooting, hunting and fishing were my dad's favourite pastimes. I can remember practicing my fly fishing cast in the front yard when I was about 10. My brother started tying his own flies when he was about 12, and does a lot of fly fishing for pike these days. For years I would fish once or twice a year, but got back into it with a vengeance about 5 years ago, thank goodness.

I'm leaving in just a bit for GBay, might be the last trip of the year, as my pal thinks it's time to close the cottage. Hopefully, I'll return with a pic-heavy report. Have a good weekend, everybody: who's wetting a line?

I'm not familiar with the Larry at all MH, but I'm interested that the tube has worked for you. I know some guys love 'em, but I don't know many that would call them their go-to bait. I guess the proof is in the pudding, given the size of that beast.

No. Beautiful fish, though! Welcome to the board; Um, where is Smith's Bar?

Congrats, you guys, All the best!

Funny, I never got around to reading the story, but saw the movie when I was a kid, and was fascinated by it.

Big friggin' fish: too bad it didn't live, absolutely, but wow! Keeping it for a skin mount, I hope!

Glen, those things are great, like REALLY great! That's a lot of work you do to make them too. The only concern I have is that I think you're gonna void the warranty on your cappuccino maker by melting the lead in it, bro!

I usually jerk the bait 3 times before the pause, and make sure there is some slack in the line when you jerk, which gives you more random movement. I also pay attention to the leaders I use fast-lock snaps with no swivel at the lure end, because I don't like any extra weight on the nose of the lure. (Where I fish, I'm just as apt to catch a pike as a bass). I'm no way an expert, but fish crank/jerk baits more than anything, and that's what works for me. Hope that helps, Mike

You'd have to fillet that thing with a chain saw!

Cram, that number came from the interview, if I recall correctly, that he did on another forum. I'd like to meet him, and see the replica firsthand....

Something thing to keep in mind about comparing photographs is perspective. Dale McNair is a 300 lb guy, which has to be kept in mind. O'Brien is quite obviously about half that.

Thanks for sharing your experience and views, Marc. The resurgence of the Muskie fishery in the St. Lawrence and the Ottawa has been amazing. I'm from Hawkesbury: when I was younger, muskies out of that part of the Ottawa were almost unheard of, and now there are a good number of trophy fish in the area, as you know. I won't dare to speculate on the maximum potential size of the species; I'll let others with more studied opinions do that. What is heartening though, is the number of large fish being caught in a variety of different fisheries these days. As to which fishery hosts the possibility of the largest fish, I gotta go with Georgian Bay, but only because that's where I fish!

Beauty rack, pretty wide, too! Now all you have to do is get 'im