bigcreekdad

I've been fishing for muskie on the French in September, and sometimes October, for close to 20 years. While lunge is my target, as my body gets older I like to take breaks from the non stop casting hardware and try for some bass. However, I'm never as successful as I am am in July and August when I throw topwater poppers and wacky worms. Anyone have any advice?

I fish the French usually 4 times a season. My first trip in late May produced some good walleye fishing, but only in areas of current. High water and weed growth even in normally thick weed bays was virtually non existent. Next trip in late June produced fabulous walleye fishing wherever there was some weed growth...but very few pike and bass. Last weeks trip was pretty lousy. Where I fished last August and caught bass all day on wacky worms, I caught so few I quit using them. Weed growth was minimal, and so were pike. Never saw a muskie, although I targeted them 3 or so hours a day at least. Only thing that worked consistently, but not constantly, was small poppers on ultralight. I did see several otters....very cool and more than I've seen in years. Going back in mid September to target muskies almost exclusively....hoping for better fishing.

not me, but I can still dance it.

Will be taking my annual September muskie trip to the French in a few weeks, so I thought this topic might be helpful. My #1 is the Topper Stopper, followed by the Top Raider. I've had success with both. I've tried some of the "walk the dog" baits (i.e. Poe's Jackpot), but never seem to get them into a consistent side to side rythym. Any thoughts on this? So....what do you use? BTW....was on the French last week. Not so good. Water temps went from low 70's day before we got there to 65. Never made it back to 70 other than one afternoon (which was our best afternoon I might add). Also, had 5 straight days of east winds. Never saw a muskie, and the only saving grace was casting small poppers on light spinning rods, which resulted in several bass and a few pike. Took a guide out one day as my son likes a shore lunch....fishing with a worm for lunch fish I caught a darn sheepshead almost 30" in length....it was probably 18-20" deep. Hell of a time getting it in on 6lb mono. Fun!!

You are right....you ARE crazy.

I live in Toledo. Can't drink water. You'd think we had been hit by an atom bomb.

Mike....hope you didn't take offense at the "cruel" comment. It was in jest, and, frankly, your posts are very much appreciated. Keep it up. While I cannot take some of the trips like you do, it doesn't mean I don't want to hear about them. AS for you "creature" mention, I have not seen anything like what was recounted in your posts, but I am a believer.

You are a cruel man!!

Mike....Most of the reels are spares ( one each ultra light spinning,heavier spinning, and one baitcaster) or fly reels/spools with varying weights and types (sink tip vs floating). All fly reels are in padded cases. Other stuff includes....camera, two pairs gloves, portable gps, spare cap and stocking cap, spare batteries for cam and GPS, various tippet and bite wire, extra pliers, etc etc....and I'm sure I'm missing more. I realize that utilizing ziplok bags is a good idea, and I do for some of it, but was just wondering if anyone had come up with a fully waterproof bag with individual compartments.

Can anyone recommend a good waterproof fishing bag to take on your boat? I've got one, and keep all my reels in it, but as it is only one large compartment, it's a real pain to dig thru it looking for something besides a reel. Would like to see some compartments. Any thoughts?

Saw this topic yesterday and decided to save it for this morning with a cup of coffee. Excellent trip report. I want to go!!

Would your "friend" have had access to the rod and reel to enable him to take it? I'm just trying to close the loop on the probability that you are correct in your suspicion. When I was in college, I used to shoot quite a bit. I had a Browning 12 gauge, a .222 cal Remington 700 with a good Weaver scope, and a lever action Marlin 22. After I married, my wife didn't want the guns in the house (I know, I know....but I was still in love, or a wuss, at the time) so I left them at our old house with my mom. With a career going and kids, I never shot guns again for 20 years. One day, I decided to get them, (screw the old bag). An exhaustive search of my mom's house resulted in no guns. At that time, my mom was in the early stages of Alzheimers so she really couldn't help. I find out later that my mom, thinking the Browning and the Marlin were my deceased brother's guns, gave them to my brother in law some years before. I was very pissed, and my brother in law readily offered to give both back. After cooling off, I took the Marlin for critters at my cabin, and left him the shotgun as I had no interest in duck or pheasant hunting. I also knew I could use it on a hunt if I wanted. A few years later, I am at one of my nephews home to see his new baby, and I look thru his gun rack....lo and behold, there is the Remington 222, with Weaver scope. My Irish blood immediately boiled and I asked where he got this....as it was MY gun. He said he bought it from another of my nephews....the same nephew who I had sold a boat to a few years before. The same nephew who had stopped making payments on the boat due to hard times. However, I later find he sold the boat, never told me, and never made any more payments. So, he had struck again with the Remington. We had a little talk about that, and I recovered some of what was owed. I did not ask my other nephew for the gun back. Hard to believe family and "Friends" will act as such. In any case, if you think your "friend" had the access to the rod and reel to take it, then I think you have closed the loop . He is not your friend. Confront him, get the gear back, and turn your back for good.

I'll take either, or both. Congrats to both anglers.

Toying with buying one. Does anyone have any thoughts on the price of the boat only? I looked at one at Cabelas and price was around $10,500. Can't seem to find any pricing info on line

Plug seemed to fit good, and even tried another.....not the plug. Rats!!!

Got up to Crane's Lochaven Lodge yesterday afternoon, only to discover my Alumacraft Magnum 165 has a steady leak. Every half hour or so, I have to run the bilge for 20-30 seconds, then repeat the process. Last night, I beached it. We've ruled out the obvious problems......livewell intake, and transducer mount. I had it up here month ago with no issues. Any ideas??

I'd definitely go to at least a 40....50 if you can. I've had an Alumacraft 16.5' Pro Magnum tiller for 15 years. Had a 50 Yam 4stroke for first 10- 11, now have a 60. Go as high (within boat recommendations) as you can afford. You will be happier in the long run. Good luck, and have fun.

20+ years ago for me. Good for you. Now, if I could only do something about the wine.

thanks guys

Is there one. Might be traveling from the Sault to Dryden. Wondering if there is a bypass.

Hands down, the best piece of fiction that has fishing as a theme is "The Snowfly" by Joseph Heywood. I've read it three times. It's setting is northern Michigan. If you are a fly fisherman, it should be required reading. But any fisherman will get into it. Go to Amazon and take a look at it.

Costa.....sounds like you did well! What section were you in? THe jig is an awesome fish catcher. Surprisingly, I didn't catch a smallmouth in 4.5 days. Glad to here you did well on them as well.

Pete....you are going at a great time IMO. Weeds will be there, but not super thick yet. Also, walleyes should still be relating to the weeds. I'm going back up June 28th for a week.

Just the boat....a 15 year old Alumacraft Magnum 165. It's been a great boat, but it's getting a few issues. I've got major wiring problems throughout. Floor is rotted in some areas. Carpet is quite worn. Obviously, I can (and still might) get these issued addressed. However, I was wondering if I will be looking at any other issues over time....ie leaks in hull (none noticeable yet), gas tank issues, does transom weaken over time etc? I'd love to hear others thoughts.

Fished 4 days out of Lochaven Lodge. Water levels VERY high. Some small islands just plain were unseen. Thus, very hard to find any weed growth. To top it off, both of my graphs quit....one dead, another a boat wiring issue I just could not resolve. So....depth was just a guessing game, albeit an educated one having fished that area many times. Averaged about 4-5 fish a day. Even mix of pike and walleye. no pike over 26". Walleye biggest was 25". Saw a 30 inches brought in by another fisherman. 90% of my fish were on a black 3/8 oz black buck tail jig tipped with a worm. That has been my Spring go to lure for 40 years.