zach

I am double checking everything now and will finish up one last bait tonight and should be able to post it up tomorrow morning. It just seems like I don't have enough variety. Anyone want to donate a Ed Latiano or a super rare Hughes River jerkbait to help out?

I thought its always May 1st?

Ronix- just be careful about regs.

We have started doing that same thing in our musky contests.

If you could get us good size suckers come October and November I would give you a chunk of change. Impossible to find in our area. I would be interested in at least 2 dozen good size suckers come fall time if you get this thing going. Suckers go for good $ when you can find them. If you guys need some quick strike rigs- I would have no issue making enough for all of us to use. They are easy to make and pretty cheap compared to most musky items.

I am painting some today and will try to get this thing going in the next few days. Sorry about being late but it will get done.

Did they pull it? I wrote a bit. Free launch in the middle lake. Neat place.

These are some that I am finishing up for this coming weekend. They all need a final clear and then they are done. Bob- thanks for the baits, like I really need any more..... I just found that Wiley and Perchbait, go figure?

Tracker Deep V 17, on my second motor. Its like a soup can w/ a motor but we do okay.

10oz cobra jig? Have I been under a rock? I usually see just about everything that is out there and have never seen a 10oz Cobra jig. Where you gonna fish that thing?

Has Been, it looks like we have similar styles. I only go out for pike a few times a year but you and I have almost all the same favorites. I used to love twitching that sluggo and watch those white mouths open up on them to crush em. My other old favorite was that Mepps spoon. Do they make Cyclops anymore? They also used to have a lighter weight Cyclops that we actually did even better on than the normal one. It was like 1/2 as thin as a normal one letting you fish it slow and shallower w/ more action. Haven't seen one in years. Fun topic.

You mean you can't ice fish muskies? Why can't you fish for fish that are out of season? You mean we have to wait until the season opens? Whats wrong w/ snagging? lol. Sounds like this guy makes up his own rules as he goes, bandito style. When does this guys deer season start? April? lol.

Larry I am just a few days away. I am waiting on hooks, split rings and screw eyes and then I will get you a few. Think If I give you them at Road Rules thats cool? I have a few nice ones that may bring a dollar or two in. I thought I would be ready for 3/1. I have like 70 new painted baits all finned out ready to cleared as soon as I get my hardware. May get it today in the mail. My painting has gotten so much better than the ones I brought to PA last month. I am on a roll and the only that I feel can stop me now is me. I will post some pics when they are finished and let you guys pick the ones that look the best for the auction. Larry, remember I have a few BM Shads by Bob M from Ohio. He donated these and told me to put them in the next ebay auction. I really need to do that for him. I promised I would.

Bob- If you can get me a big Molly bait and a Suick or 2, I may give you that Wiley and that Perchbait I picked up in PA for you at the show. If you can't get me those baits , I think somehow I may misplace that Wiley Musky Killer and Perchbait until I find it again the day after the first tournament. That would suck. See what yo can do. How about a dark color and the ugliest brightest color Suick they have and something like a Perch or Sucker Molly bait? See what you can do for me please. Any 10" weighted Suicks for trolling?

Don't apologize for the way you feel, just for the "non-politically correct" way you went about it. You feel as strongly about this as I do so we are on the same page there. We are passionate people that care too much and want to change the way people act for all of our good. Its an uphill climb that starts by changing one person at a time. Yes fish get killed, yes fish will be killed in the future, our job is to attempt to reach those people and try to inform them about how special of a lake it is and how it needs to be taken care of. I have some good memories there and hope its still in good shape when the smallest member of the Baker Musky Clan starts chasing muskies. I took him there last year at 2 years old and we had a blast catching 'gills and crappies. Let's hope its still in decent shape in another few years for his sake.

Think I can get it back? lol. Let me guess?

Yeah Bob- how come Larry said $15 for that bait and you said $30 for that custom painted Suick? Something fishy is going on!

Anyway to save me a Stan Durst Suick until Saturday?

The small soft tailed Phantom jerkbait (6"). Every single pike and tiger (like 16 or 17 tigers) I did last year was on a Phantom Softail. Color- something bright or something white for shallow water. When the water warms up, it's musky time so I have no idea what pike want when they move deep. I used to fish the soft plastic flukes and did well but you have to them slower than a jerkbait. For me, jerkbaits outproduce spinners 2:1 at least.

Ronix- You'd have to fight my girlfriend for a spot in my boat. What is tournament experience like? It gives us goofy people a reason to fish even harder than we normally do. It's fun unless Solgrande comes in to where you are fishing and immediately nails a 45" on a bait you just sold him the night before in a spot you've been already over 2 or 3x in the past hour. That is a little tough to deal with. That's why he is a "marked" man for this year! Remember Solgrande- I'll be watching you, even when you can't see me, I'll be watching you. Zach "Eyeballs" Baker

I should be down for this one. I have a big fish pattern for that time of year!! Only problem is unless I shoot my 2 turkeys really quick I won't be able to get down until after 12pm when turkey hunting ends. Last year was cool- shot a nice bird opening day and got a 41" northern 2 hours later. That was a good day.

Looks like some decent guys are going! Should be fun, just don't use this info to out fish me next year. You guys know how I freak out if someone other than me catches a fish. I get my panties all bunched up. Just joking (sort of), should be fun.

I am not a fan of fireline either unless we are talking about jigging lakers. I am going to do some research on those Gore lines soon.

Trilene knot here. I mushroom the end of the 80lb or 100lb braid w/ a lighter and use a drop of super glue and have yet to have a failure. I always have some super glue in the boat just in case I get cut up. "Emergency stitches" that have saved my butt more than once. I highly recommend having access to some when out fishing. I have had 2 swivels come apart on the cast, I am going to use the Aussie swivels this year like Larry uses just so that doesn't happen again. Oh, they were supposed to be like 300lb welded swivels that broke on my 2x last year costing me 2 baits. Lost $50 in baits b/c of a $1.50 swivel breaking and lures that didn't float. Just my $.02. Bty, I have never had any issues w/ a palomar knot but use the improved clinch b/c I have been tying it for 15 years. I use that improved clinch for everything from 8x tippet trout fishing to 100lb braid. Oh- before I spend the $$, I was thrilled w/ the Suffix braid last year and think it's better than power pro but have been looking at the new lines w/ GORE fibers in them. Anyone have anything bad to say about them. They are brand spanking new and have my interest.

Larry- I am going to do my best but am not 100% sure I can get some nice ones done before then. I am backed up again w/ orders but will try my hardest to make this one a success just like the last ones have been! I have a huge blister on my thumb as I type now from foiling 2 dozen baits last night and need a few days for it to go back down before I do anymore. As soon as I get through those foils it time to work on the Chautauqua Hatchery Fund baits. I am going to do a nice foiled green perch with fins and will see if I can do another one also for the auction but we will see. I think its a great thing to do, for all of us to benefit from and I will help support this hatchery through my baits as long as I make them. For me its just time, others are throwing up their hard earned money in a tough economy and that's awesome. Like I said before, we have some amazing guys around us and I hope to make a decent bait or two to help support our fishery by raising $ on ebay.