http://youtu.be/n3Mn6V1IzHw (http://youtu.be/n3Mn6V1IzHw)
I had never fished for musky before last weekend. I didn't know what to expect, and I honestly thought those of you who have posted about them were a little crazy. Went to this big, Southern musky party/tournament in MacMinnvull, TN to find out what all the fuss was about. Fished with Yiman and a pretty cool yankee from Illinois.
(http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o762/bmadd88/IMG_20150430_155751359-001_zpsye6juczb.jpg) (http://s1342.photobucket.com/user/bmadd88/media/IMG_20150430_155751359-001_zpsye6juczb.jpg.html)
Set up camp. Didn't have time to find a suitable tarp Doug, I had to make do.
(http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o762/bmadd88/IMG_20150430_183810237-001_zpstzj9l3ss.jpg) (http://s1342.photobucket.com/user/bmadd88/media/IMG_20150430_183810237-001_zpstzj9l3ss.jpg.html)
(http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o762/bmadd88/IMG_20150501_062633646-001_zpscu5z5uez.jpg) (http://s1342.photobucket.com/user/bmadd88/media/IMG_20150501_062633646-001_zpscu5z5uez.jpg.html)
(http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o762/bmadd88/IMG_20150501_063308777_HDR-001_zps7r300yhz.jpg) (http://s1342.photobucket.com/user/bmadd88/media/IMG_20150501_063308777_HDR-001_zps7r300yhz.jpg.html)
(http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o762/bmadd88/DSC_1483-001_zpsuzxs5bot.jpg) (http://s1342.photobucket.com/user/bmadd88/media/DSC_1483-001_zpsuzxs5bot.jpg.html)
(http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o762/bmadd88/DSC_1490_zps08mff3ka.jpg) (http://s1342.photobucket.com/user/bmadd88/media/DSC_1490_zps08mff3ka.jpg.html)
(http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o762/bmadd88/DSC_1523_zpswyv1tiyc.jpg) (http://s1342.photobucket.com/user/bmadd88/media/DSC_1523_zpswyv1tiyc.jpg.html)
(http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o762/bmadd88/DSC_1509_zpsbsd5o39k.jpg) (http://s1342.photobucket.com/user/bmadd88/media/DSC_1509_zpsbsd5o39k.jpg.html)
Yiman tried this first
(http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o762/bmadd88/DSC_1531_zpsdldbsaty.jpg) (http://s1342.photobucket.com/user/bmadd88/media/DSC_1531_zpsdldbsaty.jpg.html)
Blaine Chocklett and his photographer
(http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o762/bmadd88/DSC_1541_zpsdubjgcgq.jpg) (http://s1342.photobucket.com/user/bmadd88/media/DSC_1541_zpsdubjgcgq.jpg.html)
Local
(http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o762/bmadd88/DSC_1551_zpsdexn2m2m.jpg) (http://s1342.photobucket.com/user/bmadd88/media/DSC_1551_zpsdexn2m2m.jpg.html)
(http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o762/bmadd88/DSC_1624_zpsxye0ldgo.jpg) (http://s1342.photobucket.com/user/bmadd88/media/DSC_1624_zpsxye0ldgo.jpg.html)
Stream side lunch courtesy of Yiman
(http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o762/bmadd88/IMG_20150501_192307403-001_zps2wajrd0f.jpg) (http://s1342.photobucket.com/user/bmadd88/media/IMG_20150501_192307403-001_zps2wajrd0f.jpg.html)
Party was just getting started.
(http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o762/bmadd88/IMG_20150501_192313131-001_zpslp6a0c4s.jpg) (http://s1342.photobucket.com/user/bmadd88/media/IMG_20150501_192313131-001_zpslp6a0c4s.jpg.html)
This guy had his own camera man.
(http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o762/bmadd88/IMG_20150501_200305111-001_zpsmpsmzwxl.jpg) (http://s1342.photobucket.com/user/bmadd88/media/IMG_20150501_200305111-001_zpsmpsmzwxl.jpg.html)
These two replaced Roger Alan Wade, who sadly had woken up that morning in real serious shape. Day one ended with no muskies for team 09. I had one follow from a small largemouth. Nothing else between the three of us.
(http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o762/bmadd88/DSC_1587_zpsviuuuvyh.jpg) (http://s1342.photobucket.com/user/bmadd88/media/DSC_1587_zpsviuuuvyh.jpg.html)
Day two started off a little warmer, and found us at another remote stretch of water. Didn't see another boat all day.
(http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o762/bmadd88/DSC_1573_zpsd9ghextq.jpg) (http://s1342.photobucket.com/user/bmadd88/media/DSC_1573_zpsd9ghextq.jpg.html)
(http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o762/bmadd88/DSC_1586_zpsdkkzgik1.jpg) (http://s1342.photobucket.com/user/bmadd88/media/DSC_1586_zpsdkkzgik1.jpg.html)
(http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o762/bmadd88/DSC_1627_zpshv72whu9.jpg) (http://s1342.photobucket.com/user/bmadd88/media/DSC_1627_zpshv72whu9.jpg.html)
(http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o762/bmadd88/DSC_1636_zpsgykaslqz.jpg) (http://s1342.photobucket.com/user/bmadd88/media/DSC_1636_zpsgykaslqz.jpg.html)
(http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o762/bmadd88/DSC_1635_zpshhvlo3u6.jpg) (http://s1342.photobucket.com/user/bmadd88/media/DSC_1635_zpshhvlo3u6.jpg.html)
(http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o762/bmadd88/DSC_1600_zps1h8kkmu3.jpg) (http://s1342.photobucket.com/user/bmadd88/media/DSC_1600_zps1h8kkmu3.jpg.html)
(http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o762/bmadd88/DSC_1631_zpsbxpd2x0b.jpg) (http://s1342.photobucket.com/user/bmadd88/media/DSC_1631_zpsbxpd2x0b.jpg.html)
I made a cast to this spot as Yiman was on the oars, and Mike was taking a break. About two feet after my fly left the shadow, one bad ass mother fucking fish appeared. It followed all the way to the boat, it never sped up. I swept wide around the back of the boat, brought the fly back around and in front of his face as part of the biggest figure 8 I could. As I pulled the fly in front of his face again, he jerked his head towards it. And then, that dragon disappeared. We rowed back up and let the hole rest, but the fish never returned. I was jacked. Higher than the saffa. We fished on.
(http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o762/bmadd88/DSC_1646_zpsybxv8zy8.jpg) (http://s1342.photobucket.com/user/bmadd88/media/DSC_1646_zpsybxv8zy8.jpg.html)
Yiman snagged his favorite fly for about the 40th time, unfortunately popping it off. Mike, being the good northerner he is jumped in after it.
(http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o762/bmadd88/DSC_1653_zpsxpbnvowo.jpg) (http://s1342.photobucket.com/user/bmadd88/media/DSC_1653_zpsxpbnvowo.jpg.html)
(http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o762/bmadd88/DSC_1657_zpsxok42mq9.jpg) (http://s1342.photobucket.com/user/bmadd88/media/DSC_1657_zpsxok42mq9.jpg.html)
Yiman wasn't happy about getting it back.
(http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o762/bmadd88/IMG_20150502_154839110-001_zpsydtws7ll.jpg) (http://s1342.photobucket.com/user/bmadd88/media/IMG_20150502_154839110-001_zpsydtws7ll.jpg.html)
Two of Transylwader's favorite things.
(http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o762/bmadd88/IMG_20150502_154755101-001_zpsvrrul0bh.jpg) (http://s1342.photobucket.com/user/bmadd88/media/IMG_20150502_154755101-001_zpsvrrul0bh.jpg.html)
I had the escort service over a shoal on the run back.
(http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o762/bmadd88/DSC_1667_zpsvugefsnp.jpg) (http://s1342.photobucket.com/user/bmadd88/media/DSC_1667_zpsvugefsnp.jpg.html)
The man behind Towee Boats and HSM.
(http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o762/bmadd88/DSC_1666_zpswbeykef9.jpg) (http://s1342.photobucket.com/user/bmadd88/media/DSC_1666_zpswbeykef9.jpg.html)
BRA getting recognized for a badass mural he painted on the back of that joint.
(http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o762/bmadd88/DSC_1663_zpspslakkh2.jpg) (http://s1342.photobucket.com/user/bmadd88/media/DSC_1663_zpspslakkh2.jpg.html)
And of you'ns that caught a the beast to win. 49.5" long monster.
(http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o762/bmadd88/DSC_1665_zpsvg3fb4q8.jpg) (http://s1342.photobucket.com/user/bmadd88/media/DSC_1665_zpsvg3fb4q8.jpg.html)
Sweet trophy with art from Brad McMinn.
(http://i1342.photobucket.com/albums/o762/bmadd88/DSC_1660_zpsizjudvq8.jpg) (http://s1342.photobucket.com/user/bmadd88/media/DSC_1660_zpsizjudvq8.jpg.html)
I drank a lot of beer, met a lot of cool people, cast till my joints hurt on some beautiful rivers and didn't catch shit. But I had a follow, and it was the coolest shit I've ever seen. Y'all need to make this next year.
Cool report. 'c;
I think.
That's my musky trip. W/o a follow.
Or slicksters.
Sweet.
Awesome and that looked like some pretty fishy water. I've had several follows and a few eats, but none landed. Its about as exciting as it gets to see one of those big fuggers follow your fly.
Looks like an awesome time. My dad is talking about getting an all Franzen team together for that next year. My brother Chris was fishing with Alan, both their girl friends, and Peter Taylor. Here is the picture they sent me of Alan's winning fish.
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c252/ptfranze/325F4E1A-FF91-4341-8A63-DE8DA5BE8091_zpszvaxswrz.jpg) (http://s29.photobucket.com/user/ptfranze/media/325F4E1A-FF91-4341-8A63-DE8DA5BE8091_zpszvaxswrz.jpg.html)
Yea they all sat by us at the awards party. It's a cool time. Lots of free shit given out. And that was a heck of a fish
They guy with the cameraman was Kelly Galloup. Did he fish or was just paid to be there.
Yea there was a little sarcasm there. He was filming for an episode of some new show he's doing. The celebrities each had their own paparazzi.
I was suppose to be a third on @chidester 's team, but got booted off,. Maybe @drifts would like to put a team together?
I say we make it happen next year bro...so we need to start practice as soon as the stripa run is over /'/
Very nice Bmadd. Was wondering how the event went. It makes my knees shake having a musky follow stalk my fly.
I'm still waiting for the 15 foot musky pics. >:D
best report without a fish in a long time if you ask me.
that little river sure has got popular over the last 5 years.
I'm not use to seeing such a skinny river holding Musky. Bet it makes for an interesting fishery.
Killer.
I hope to make it down to that event one year.
Thanks guys.
Big J, those rivers have plenty of deep holes for those fish to hide in. The fish I moved came from less than 3' of water though. It's real cool to see all the different types of water available to an angler on that system.
I could probably get down with that circle jerk.
By the way, has anyone ever been swimming in that river and been EATEN by a musky?
This is how the Virginia Tech Hokies do it. This young Hokie caught this 43" on the 10th cast and was the first muskie of the day, last Saturday. Gobble, Gobble, you neophytes!
http://youtu.be/h5casfE8kmw (http://youtu.be/h5casfE8kmw)
I feel sorry for him, he has been cursed. I caught a musky on my first outing and it was over two years until I caught my second.....
Good Chit, B.
Nothing like a yard full of cock. Game cock that is.....
Quote from: DRIFTS on May 07, 2015, 06:00:40 AM
I say we make it happen next year bro...so we need to start practice as soon as the stripa run is over /'/
Holler I've been itchin for a driftin
Nice.
I went down Thursday and fished. Stuck two. One spit the fly, the other left me with this:
(http://i1312.photobucket.com/albums/t521/Millerj87/IMG_2626_zpsebfeusxm.jpg)
Also had a couple more follows, but just wasn't able to make it happen.
So, Ive been using those ToothyCritter pre-made steel leaders. Obviously I now have no confidence in them after seeing that clasp bent so easily.
Anyone mind sharing their successful leaders/rigging?
http://www.stealthtackle.net/index.php?route=product/product&path=1_2&product_id=2 (http://www.stealthtackle.net/index.php?route=product/product&path=1_2&product_id=2)
Here ya go.
You can buy their snaps separately if you want too.
http://www.stealthtackle.net/index.php?route=product/category&path=15_18 (http://www.stealthtackle.net/index.php?route=product/category&path=15_18)
Quote from: Big J on May 07, 2015, 15:26:50 PM
You can buy their snaps separately if you want too.
http://www.stealthtackle.net/index.php?route=product/category&path=15_18 (http://www.stealthtackle.net/index.php?route=product/category&path=15_18)
Wow, only $14 each. What a steal!
Gotta pay to play I guess.
How about just some 50lb flouro line with a no-slip loop knot in it?
You can make your own with their snaps and just buy your own fluoro. I like to have a swivel on my set up. Keeps my line from twisting. Use to fish 50 lb test to bite tippet to fly, but WMT showed me the light. He also showed me why 30 lb test break section is too light by observing him breaking off a fish with a hook set. I run 50 lb fluoro to a Stealth Tackle 80 lb leader.
10-4
Thanks.
I ran about 30" of 50 lb fluoro with a large no slip loop knot. I then had all my flies already tied with a 12" section of 40 lb wire with loop knots on each end. You make the loop on the fluoro section big enough to put your flies through for easy fly changing. I didn't have a problem with twist, no idea about strength unfortunately.
I'd been looking forward to last weekend for nearly 2 years. The Southern Classic is truly Hardly Strictly Musky. It is a gathering of great folks from all over the country that get together to chase Musky and enjoy tasty food, cold drinks, live music, tall tales with some truth, and much more. It was a blast fishing with bmadd and Mike, our Yankee bud from Illinois. Mike brought down a sweet ride for the tourney. We may not have boated any Musky, but it was a great fishing trip none the less.
I stopped by a friend's on the way out there Thursday morning. His garage looks like a fly shop. He sent me with a few new creations to try.
(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/mt45442/Hardly%20Strictly%202015%20008_zpstfnkk6qj.jpg) (http://s988.photobucket.com/user/mt45442/media/Hardly%20Strictly%202015%20008_zpstfnkk6qj.jpg.html)
The water looked to be in great shape when I arrived Thursday afternoon. The weather cooperated this year. Years past have been blown.
(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/mt45442/Hardly%20Strictly%202015%20019_zpschnh9ktl.jpg) (http://s988.photobucket.com/user/mt45442/media/Hardly%20Strictly%202015%20019_zpschnh9ktl.jpg.html)
Nine fish hit these boards last weekend. Too bad Team 09's did not...
(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/mt45442/25570684-e08b-4955-9848-ba2bd4119dc4_zpsdnmicehz.jpg) (http://s988.photobucket.com/user/mt45442/media/25570684-e08b-4955-9848-ba2bd4119dc4_zpsdnmicehz.jpg.html)
(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/mt45442/Hardly%20Strictly%202015%20051_zps1rge1fim.jpg) (http://s988.photobucket.com/user/mt45442/media/Hardly%20Strictly%202015%20051_zps1rge1fim.jpg.html)
How do these things work?
(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/mt45442/Hardly%20Strictly%202015%20066_zpsmrpn5imr.jpg) (http://s988.photobucket.com/user/mt45442/media/Hardly%20Strictly%202015%20066_zpsmrpn5imr.jpg.html)
(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/mt45442/Hardly%20Strictly%202015%20086_zpsygefs7w4.jpg) (http://s988.photobucket.com/user/mt45442/media/Hardly%20Strictly%202015%20086_zpsygefs7w4.jpg.html)
(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/mt45442/Hardly%20Strictly%202015%20088_zpsfmwocqrn.jpg) (http://s988.photobucket.com/user/mt45442/media/Hardly%20Strictly%202015%20088_zpsfmwocqrn.jpg.html)
Cheers to Braden's yellow fly that saw the only good fish.
(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/mt45442/Hardly%20Strictly%202015%20094_zpsboodr4eb.jpg) (http://s988.photobucket.com/user/mt45442/media/Hardly%20Strictly%202015%20094_zpsboodr4eb.jpg.html)
(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/mt45442/Hardly%20Strictly%202015%20096_zps9h0ogz6l.jpg) (http://s988.photobucket.com/user/mt45442/media/Hardly%20Strictly%202015%20096_zps9h0ogz6l.jpg.html)
(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/mt45442/Hardly%20Strictly%202015%20112_zpsxnlz3wh2.jpg) (http://s988.photobucket.com/user/mt45442/media/Hardly%20Strictly%202015%20112_zpsxnlz3wh2.jpg.html)
Action shot, running skinny in the Towee Jet.
(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/mt45442/Hardly%20Strictly%202015%20117_zpswprh0rjm.jpg) (http://s988.photobucket.com/user/mt45442/media/Hardly%20Strictly%202015%20117_zpswprh0rjm.jpg.html)
A new addition to the tournament this year was a river clean up put on by the PigFarmInk folks. It was a great idea and success. All kinds of shit was pulled out of the rivers while anglers fished. We cleaned up trash around one of the accesses we used and brought in this old entertainment center. I think it had been out there awhile.
(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/mt45442/Hardly%20Strictly%202015%20131_zpsl7ofv1yf.jpg) (http://s988.photobucket.com/user/mt45442/media/Hardly%20Strictly%202015%20131_zpsl7ofv1yf.jpg.html)
The day after the tournament I went fishing with another Musky nut. We took his boat out to some waters that would not have been fished during the tournament but couldn't run as far up this trib as we wanted. The water was way too skinny for Musky, so we ended up converting our 10 weight musky rigs to bass rigs and fished for small Spotted and Smallmouth Bass.
(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/mt45442/Hardly%20Strictly%202015%20156_zpsyf0tymv8.jpg) (http://s988.photobucket.com/user/mt45442/media/Hardly%20Strictly%202015%20156_zpsyf0tymv8.jpg.html)
Officially a pune bass on a 10 weight. Big bend. We cleaned up on these for awhile. Then headed home.
(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/mt45442/Hardly%20Strictly%202015%20153_zps7arddawm.jpg) (http://s988.photobucket.com/user/mt45442/media/Hardly%20Strictly%202015%20153_zps7arddawm.jpg.html)
We couldn't figure out this nice Smallie. Hit it with many a fly, never would move. We went over to it as we left and it turns out, the fish had no left eye. Tucked up under the log, couldn't see a thing. Still a nice bass though, prolly round 18 or so.
(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af8/mt45442/Hardly%20Strictly%202015%20159_zpsjziipbn5.jpg) (http://s988.photobucket.com/user/mt45442/media/Hardly%20Strictly%202015%20159_zpsjziipbn5.jpg.html)
I'll probably put down the Musky till next fall. It is time to bass fish. But I am already looking forward to Hardly Strictly 16, rumor is it's gonna be a Fall event.
GD oars. Still don't know why we all thought it was a good idea for someone who only fishes flat water to start learning to row in the middle of good water b';
I've also decided since then that as nice as those Sawyers are - they are really heavy. I rowed another buddy's Towee with much lighter oars a couple days ago and it handled way better and was easier to row. I was going to mention as much to Mike as well.