Northwest Fishing Reports

Just thought I'd share a spring tactic that's works for me and a few others I know. A Rapala Husky Jerk or similar bait is a great early spring lure. It's erratic action plus the suspending quality makes it hard for a musky to pass up.
I throw a Baby Bucher Shallowraider alot in the spring as a jerk or rip bait. Three in one afternoon after work a couple years ago and missed a hook up on a fourth on this lure.
Important: What I do with my bass lures to make them compatible for muskies and the tackle we're throwing them on is: Change the split rings and hooks out to stronger ones. I love the Bucher Super rings. Size 5 is a great all around size and 7's good for bigger baits. Don't forget about the split ring on the line tie. If it fails, you've not only lost a good fish but a lure to.
Bucher baby Shallowraiders suspend some like alot of bass suspending jerkbaits but are made for muskies.
Give it a try. Twitch it on slack line and hang on.

Marks the man. He has caught fish on a homemade lure made from a chair leg.=d> =d> He can even get jetskers to help him take pic's of his fish. I have learned a lot from him. Great guy to get to know.
I hope I didn't make your head swell too much Mark.
Bill:d/

Nah...No problem there... Mark is a humble guy.
But I hear he is signing his autograph to the picture
on those flyers that went out............LOL!!
Just kiddin, Mark.
Thanks for all the great tips you generously share.
Looking forward to meeting all of you (and ALL anglers reading this) at the Muskie meeting on the 24th.

Bill,
You're quite the BSer.
I put a new paint job on my chair leg. Actually I named it the Billy Club. I can't paint like the real lure painters do but with any luck a musky will ruin what I did anyway.
Damn I've got the bug. Anyone know anything about Merwin's levels, temps etc???
PS If that jet skier had used the flash on my camera I'd have alot better pic of that one. I guess I'll have to keep my tripod in the boat more.

KUP, You're a BSer to and I speak from experience, LOL.

Yup, all in a day's work.
I thought all muskie fishermen were BSers.
Even some of the women. :d/ whoo-ah

We are not so far removed from the cave, gentlemen:
"When he gets tired of his cubicle, he goes out and tests his mettle.... on a muskellunge."

Well guys I hear Work Sports has a great deal on hip waders. I'm thinking I should go get a few dozen pair and bring them to the meeting. When the stuff starts flowing I'll bet I will be able to rent them for a pretty penny. Any way all fisherpersons are lier's except you and me and now I am starting to wonder about you. This first get together will be a hoot. Everyone remember to bring your camera's this will be history in the makeing. =d> =d> This is starting to get me:-({|= no water in my lake and no time to go south or east#-o
I have been working on tackle boxes and trying to lighten the load on the boat but I need everything. I'll see you guys next week.
Bill

On the East side, Silver and Newman lakes both start producing fish in early April. Curlew, for me, hasn't been very active until mid May. I start with 17 - 20 # floro on my reels for Newman and Silver with Husky Jerks , 1 oz. spinnerbaits in black, white & yellow and my new favorite micro bulldawgs. Silver Lake is very productive with even smaller lures and slightly smaller line. Now that it's after mid may Silver and Newman have gone green on us. Time for larger baits on both lakes. Curlew will stay clear for a while longer, so it needs a stealthy "big fish" approach. I use 20 & 25 lb. floro lines and 50 lb. floro leaders here with my 7'6" heavy rods. I like swimbaits like the Swimin Joe, and crankbaits like Baby Depth Raiders, shallow and deep divers in perch, sucker and millers perch. I have had some rediculously huge fish fallow 6" tubes I rig on big, weedless jigs too. But I haven't been able to try my Bulldawgs out up there yet, and it's killing me. The North ends of these three lakes are the best bet for finding early season active fish, for me at least.