What is the #1 thing that really makes you know your pretty good at this Musky thing?
:)
Come on, lay it on me!

For me it is way cool finding totally NEW areas, then taking clients, friends or family to them and pulling Big fish off them when I'm hearing NO one else is catching fish!
And doing this time and time again.
That to me is sweet!
And getting them to Chew on leaders I made and lures I made or painted up to look like who knows what.
:)

Yup, that works for me.

What dose it for you?


T.
Keep on Rock'en!

www.muskytomsguideservice.com

Lake Vermilion
Tower Minnsota

similair thing,
when i help a friend or relative hook up with a musky for the first time. it really makes me happy!!!!
last season it was my brother in law, god son and a friend.
really cool i think. and they had biggest smile on the lake that day.

dannyboy

Being able to consistenly, 80% plus, put fish in the boat, or at least getting them to eat for other people in my boat or myself, under all types of enviormental condtions. Weather, water clairty, temp, type of structure, etc.

Notice I said 80%. Heck even Musky Tom gets skunked once in awhile.

:-)

<>))))*>

After many years of fishing for all species and concentrating now on Muskies my number one pleasure is seeing a 40 inch plus fish swim away healthy after a courageous battle. Absolutely beautiful!

For me it was scoring on 5 of 6 new waters we fished last year the first time out. 3 of those were multiple fish days and the other we caught a big pike and a big bass.

The first sighting of each and every musky while pursuing my passion.
If they have a face full of bucktail or lure so much the better, but even simple follows are very rewarding.

MLK

Shania Twain!

I enjoy virtual casting from my lazy boy chair. I visualized 999 of them last winter. When I got to my favorite spot on Skegemog in the spring, sure enough there was a strike on the first cast. My Muskie Babe (MMB) rolled her eyes when I got snagged while watching her "Trading Places" show last weekend. Only 300 more before opening day. Let me know if this works for anybody else.

Look at the head on that one,

Lathoto

I love these spawning conversations,getting off or getting slapped around!:+

A couple or crimped toes,cramped legs and were off!:+

Living to fish.

For me its being able to catch Muskies with very limited fishing time. I'm married with children and the week-long trips and weekends away are a thing of the past. My fishing outings these days average about three hours on the water and many are two hours or less while fishing by myself. Therefore, I have to hit the water with a good plan so I can locate active Muskies quickly.

I figure I'm not doing to bad because last year I had four multi-fish days while fishing alone with two hours or less on the water. How I dream of more time to fish. :)

Herb

What is the #1 thing that really makes you know your pretty good at this Musky thing?

Well, for me it was last November. I felt like I knew everything, having 8 days in November alone where I caught 3 or more muskies, including a 14 fish day.

But now I've had 3 months to let that wear off and still have about 3 months to go. By June it will be back to reality where catching one fish in a day will be a good day again, and no fish days will once again happen. Probably with regularity. And the ego that I had in November will be put in check.

So back to the original question...I think the answer is luck. When you're lucky and in a good streak, you "think" you know you're pretty good. And then the mighty musky puts you back in your place.

Can't wait for fall!

For me?

It's after being cut off by only 100 yards or so by a local guy that fishes the same lake I do.

Now...this is the part that is so good....he fishes it, I just keep working my way toward the spot. He leaves just as I get close, and I pull a fish out there... He's watching the whole thing...

Doesn't happen often, but its happened often enough to give me a good feeling and confidence on the water I am about to fish, albeit used water...so to speak.

Nothing...I mean NOTHING beats that feeling!!!

Doesn't happen all the time, but he cuts me off about 5 or 6 times through the year....doesn't bother me anymore since I have yet to see him catch a fish on the lake.

Steve

It's when I visualize where a fish should be hold or hiding in an ambush spot, and I fire off the perfect cast and the fish hits almost immediately after the lure starts back to me. *;)

There are two things that still get me after hundreds of fish:
1. Big fish on a topwater, at the boat, in the dark.
2. Getting a big fish to eat on a figure eight.

If those ever stop being a rush I'm moving to the keys and chasing Tarpon every day.

I'd have to say after possibly having a slow day, taking time to stop and think about some secondary or even new spots/structure on a lake that you or others don't normally fish. Intuitively feeling or visualizing, as Hunts mentioned, that the fish will be there and how you're going to catch it. Going to the spot and catching fish. It makes you feel like your thinking paid off and boosts your confidence a bit. ALso, as Will said, top water blowups will always get my adrenalin flowing.

"I get off on 57 chevys"

"I get off on screamin guitars"

Eric Clapton

#1 thing for me is knowing that if I fish muskies outside of Wisconsin I won't be wasting my money looking for big fish.