bigcreekdad

Try some silcone spray on the shaft and into the locking mechanism. It should make it easier ( it did for me), but it's still a pain and a lousy desig.

I had an Evinrude cable steer unit for 13 years, and loved it.....got so I never consciously had to steer......it became almost automatic. I now have a new Minnkota, which I'm not crazy about. To lower or raise it requires two hands and a bit of effort to get it seated and unseated...this has been better since I sprayed silicone on shaft, but stil is a pain. Terrible design! Also, the steering mechanism is way too sensitive causing you to oversteer constantly, requiring numerous minute adjustments to get on track. The only thing I like about this unit over the Evinrude is the continuous mode.

Well........your goose is cooked now!! You'll be a rabid muskie chaser til you are finally afflicted with chronic rheumatoid castitis, and can no longer reel and cannot close your hands.

Very nice fish......what did it hit on?

I had two different guides on my recent trip to LOTW. Both were pretty vocal about me being nuts for using mono ( I used 30lb P Line on one real, and 20 lb in a new P Line low stretch on another). I've always used mono, but wonder if I'm taking too much of a risk with it. Also, I caught the 50 incher in my prior post on the 30 lb P-Line, however, as I noted, the hook fell out in the net.

What's your opinion or experience.

Battle was short and sweet. Since we were in shallow water it couldn't go deep, and after running under boat and one short run we netted it. Fish really hadn't begun to fight. Fine with me as the hook fell out in the net, and also helpedwith a pretty stress free release for the fish.

This is my personal best muskie to date....50", and estimated at 40lbs by guide and lodge owner. Fish hit in a high odds spot....back end of a small bay with strong NE winds blowing onto a beach. Fish hit 10' off the beach on an orange on black bucktail, with an orange rabbit/marabou trailer. I about died when I set the hook and the fish came to the surface.

This is the same fish with my guide, Trevor, holding it. He wanted the photo as it was his best guided muskie so far this season.

Spent one day fishing for smallmouth in a hike-in lake where the lodge keeps a couple boats. Used nothing but a flyrod and small poppers. Easily the best smallie day I've ever had. No idea how many fish, but I guessed at 10 an hour for 6 1/2 hours....so, a lot! Ove half we over 14", with the best at 18.5". The fish pictured is an 18 incher....I didn't photo the bigger one as it ws my second fish caught andI though I might do better....prtty cocky eh?

Trip was a spur of the moment deal. My son is an avid muskie fisherman, and has been in Iraq with 10th Mountain Division for a little over a year. He's due home by Thanksgiving. While he and I haved fished the French River since he was 10, I thought I'd look for a new muskie spot for him and I for next summer. Started scouting the net, and came across Crow Rock Lodge out of Kenora. My wife OK'd a 5 day fishing trip ( what a wife!) and I called up there and made a resevation in mid August o fish ove Labor Day weekend. Instead of driving 18 hour by myself, I flew to International Falls, and rented a car for the 2 1/2 hourdrve to Kenora, where I was picked up for the 35 minute boat ride to the lodge. Crow Rock has been run by the same family for almost 50 years, and is a great place. Cabins and main lodge are clean and very well maintained. In addition, food is great, guides are quite good, and boats are 16.5' Crestliners with 50hp Yamaha 4 strokes. As you can exect, Lake of the Woods is huge, and has over 15000 islands. For this reason, and since I was alone, I chose to take aguide 4 of the 5 days ( the oter day I was in the smallmouth lake). I'm glad I did, but I feel I know my way enuf around now that I will take my own boat next time.

Although I caught my PB muskie, and had the awesome smallie day on the fly rod, the trip was typical in that 2 of the 5 days I could only account for 2 pike in total, but that's typical fishing in Canada from my experience. Besides the big lunge, I lost at least 2 others ( thatI could see....fortunately they were not big guys), and had several other follows and surface strikes from lunge. In addition, I landed 8 or so nice pike up to 38". Overall....damn good trip!

Off to the FrenchRiver for my final trip of the season on the 16th.....this retirement gig is going tokill me!

Anyone been up there this year? I had 20+ trips there until Liz and Brian split up a few years back. Just thought it wouldn't be the same ( my boys kinda grew up there fishing trip wise and were good friends with Liz's daughter). Liz and Brian ran a great camp, and I really miss it, as well as that part of the river system. I was wondering if Brian is still running it, and how everything is going. Also, when I was last there ( 2004), there were positive signs that the slot limit was working with the walleye population. Anyone have any current report?

it's on LOTW......northern section

I work part time there in the fly fishing dept. It's like working in a big toy store. Plus you get to talk fishing all day long, get great discounts, see all the new gear, and actually get paid ( not much) for it. The perfect retirement job!! If anyone makes it down.....look me up and say Hi......I'm John in Fly Fishing.

in LOTW over Labor day. Anyone ever b there?

Actually, I am going back in Fall.....third week of September. We stay at Crane's Lochaven Lodge. Good place.

I've been using successfully a Crawford knot for over 30 years......from muskies to #18 flies on a 6x floro tippet. I found the knot in a book...."Lunkers Love Nightcrawlers".....easy to tie, and quite strong.....always test first.....if it slips a bit, retie.....but if seated properly you will love it.

Good luck, and can't wait for your report. My wife and I were just recently talking about going across the pond somewhere, and I said Scotland was my first choice, followed by Ireland. Ofcourse, fishing had absolutely nothing to do with those choices.

"they fought like warrior poets....they fought like Scotsmen"......still brings tears to my eyes and a desire to brandish a sword.

vey nice fish dude

Fish measured out at 44"....no idea of weight, but it had some shoulders and I'm guessing over 20 easy....lodge owner who saw the good pics said probably 25.

As for the f...ing camera.....it being the SECOND one I've lost this summer ( left the first one in cupholder of my driftboat and then had a nice 10 mile drive back to my cabin over some nice old bumpy roads....you're right if you are thinking I'm an idiot)....I ended up buying a reconditioned Olympus Stylus 750 over Ebay for $125 ( the 740 cost me just under $300). Olympus warranties them for 90 days......not that it matters much to me....I'll surely lose it by then.

Two words.....Holy Smokes!!

What lodge did you fish out of?

These are the pictures I finally rec'd from French couple that was close to us on the river From my earlier post you'll rememberr I lost my camera which had better pics.....oh, well, at least I've got some pics to go with the memories

MJL....got photobucket set up, but unsure how to link that site to this to post a pic....you said IMG or something....can you explain further? Thanks

Although I lost mine recently, I was using an Olmypus Stylus 740, and was quite happy with it. It's also an all weather camera, and small enuf to fit in your shirt pocket. I think I spent just under $300 for it at Circuit City.

Finally got pics of French River musky from last week from the French couple (lost my camera on way home). Tried to post them here, but even one pic won't post as I get the "file too big" warning. How are you other guys posting your pics? Thanks

Rich....might see you a couple of the days.....probably leaving 24th or 25th....I've got a green and white Alumacraft 16.5 ft, with a 50 hp Yamaha tiller.....see you on the water

Just returned from a week at Crane's Lochaven Lodge on the French. Temps in mid 80's all week, and way too much sun for my liking. Fishing from Saturday thru Wednesay was pretty much limited to bass dragging worms, although we cauht many. Casting for pike or muskie was frutless. Then, on Thursday, fishing got hot. That day, the weather was pretty much the same temp wise, but abit more breeze and intermittant cloud cover. Result was around a dozen pike, 4 smallies ( biggest 20") and 2 muskie....one 30" and one fat 44". All fish hit a black Buchertail with a stinger hook and orange twister on the stinger. The larger lunge was a hoot to land. He went immediately in the thick cabbage and then jumped 15' and a rght angle from where my line wentin th water. Thus, I had no leverageon hm until I could get the weeds off. THat took sevedral minutes and several tries as he made several runs, all under boat of course. Eventually he found his way around my trolling motor, which required the old pass thru to correct. If I had my trusty old Evinrude troller, I would have lifted it easily when I first hooked the fish, but I've got a gd Minnkota Power Drive hich is apain in the butt to raise and canot be done with one hand ( nice design!). In any case, we finally lande the brute and a French couple fishing nearby who had come over to watch took a few photos of fish, myself, and my son. Fish was pretty tuckered and took a few minutes to revive, but swam off.

Our last day, Friday, myself and a buddy took a guide and our three kids( in total) out on a pontoon boat for the day. As such, there was no seriousmuskie fishing but we all caught fish, and had a damn good shore lunch. Best part ofthe day was fishing the rapids below the Chaudiere dam, where the kids caught mant smallies on worms, and I caught 4 fish from 15-19" on tubes. Good day, and good trip overall. Could have done ith a it less sun, but you take what you can get.

THe sour ending was arriving home to our cabin in northern Michigan and discovering that our cooler is gone from the boat. Must have flown out somehow, as my son never left the car the only 2 times stopped on the way. Always carry cooler in boat ( probably 30 trips at least).....never will again. In any case, the collere held our rain gear, boots, flashlights, assorted gear, and, most importantly.........my camera! Why I put it in there is beyond me. The cameracan be replace......the pics/memories....never. I'm hoping to cotactthe French couplevia email to see if they took a pic of the muskie themselve, and if so, I'll post it here. Otherwise, I'm afraid memories are goinmg to be it for this trp.

I'm going back to Crane's in late Sepember. You can bt this time my camera will be a bit more secured.

By the way, Crane's is a great place.....vey nice owners and staff, and good food.

Fished an outpost camp north of LG4 on a river who's inlet is Roz Lake. Caught several nice brookies and some decent lakers using fly rods. Interestingly, many of the lakers were caught trolling streamers on a long fly line......they are one fighting fish. Biggest disappointment was the pike fishing......only 3 between six of us for the week, although they ranged from 8-14 pounds.

Back to the French River in 2 weeks.......this retirement gig is a bear!

That pic of you and your son with his hand on the tiller is priceless!! Reminds me of my early fishing experiences with my twin sons when they were 5.....they are 24 now, but you'll never forget them. Well done, and thanks for sharing.

As several have already said, try Casa Blanca Lodge on the upper.....call Bryan and see if he does the housekeeping thing.......he didn't used to, but I believe I heard somewhere that this has changed. I fished there at least 20 trips before I moved to Cranes on the "upper lower" French. The upper is beautiful water, and you can't possibly fish all of it. The walleye fishing was getting much better the last time I was there 3 years ago. And bass fishing was always good. Pike I always found to be just fair, but you'll get some. Muskies are big, but you'll work for them. Bryan is a good guy and his boats and motors are always in great condition. If it doesn't work out with housekeeping at Casa Blanca, you can find cabins around the Dokis Reserve, where the landing is.....Bryan will surely direct you to one or two.

I'd also recommend Cranes where I now fish, but they are American plan only. However, there are plenty of places at Wollsey Bay that look like rentals.....you can probably find one Googling online.

Regardless of where you go, you'll love it. At the time you are going, and knowing water condition from my trip there earlier this month ( lower, warmer water than usual for this time of year) I'd really concentrate on weed beds, and the outside edges....you should find most species close. Also, make sure you do some topwater after dinner til dark.....I've had some terrific action on big lunge and smallmouth doing so. Also, if you can stand the mosquitoes, stay out til after dark and pitch some big rapalas over the weedbeds and open water humps for walleye.

Have fun, and report back.